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What Causes Burning Sensation In Chest While On Oxycodone?
Question: I am 48 and I take oxycodone for a back issue and I am also a smoker for over 30 years. Other than that, I am in pretty good condition. I exercise a lot and I have real good blood pressure. Lately though, I have been having like a burning sensation in the left side of my chest and the left side of my face is going numb. I went to the emergency room about a month ago because of this and everything checked out but its still happening. Can you give me some insight?
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
The fact that the symptoms involve both your trunk as well as your face renders heart, lung or esophagus related causes unlikely (would have had other signs spotted in ER as well).
When considering the nervous system and the spine issue the chest symptoms alone might have raised suspicions of a pinched nerve, but then again the facial involvement excludes that.
So that would leave us considering a brain issue, a possible lesion on the right side of the brain which receives input from the left side of the face and body and might explain those symptoms. For that reason I would recommend scheduling a brain imaging exam, possibly with MRI.
Now whether at the end of the day I have a high suspicion of such a brain lesion, whether you should be alarmed....not really. While brain lesion manifestations can vary depending on the area your description is not typical, usually cause more numbness than burning feeling and involve the limbs on the same side as well. So I would consider also psychological factors coming into play such as stress and anxiety. The fact you drink a lot of coffee can contribute as well as it stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, the system which is activated in case of danger and stress, thus contributing to raising anxiety.
However before reaching hasty conclusions and attributing it to anxiety other causes must be eliminated. For that reason, since the face numbness is persisting, as I said before a head MRI is advisable.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
The fact that the symptoms involve both your trunk as well as your face renders heart, lung or esophagus related causes unlikely (would have had other signs spotted in ER as well).
When considering the nervous system and the spine issue the chest symptoms alone might have raised suspicions of a pinched nerve, but then again the facial involvement excludes that.
So that would leave us considering a brain issue, a possible lesion on the right side of the brain which receives input from the left side of the face and body and might explain those symptoms. For that reason I would recommend scheduling a brain imaging exam, possibly with MRI.
Now whether at the end of the day I have a high suspicion of such a brain lesion, whether you should be alarmed....not really. While brain lesion manifestations can vary depending on the area your description is not typical, usually cause more numbness than burning feeling and involve the limbs on the same side as well. So I would consider also psychological factors coming into play such as stress and anxiety. The fact you drink a lot of coffee can contribute as well as it stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, the system which is activated in case of danger and stress, thus contributing to raising anxiety.
However before reaching hasty conclusions and attributing it to anxiety other causes must be eliminated. For that reason, since the face numbness is persisting, as I said before a head MRI is advisable.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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