What Causes Recurring Tightness, Pain, Swelling On The Left Side Of Chest?
Question: I have, for the past three years, suffered with reoccurring tightness, pain, swelling feeling on the left side of my chest. It started out three years ago as a sharp pain, like a knife in my heart and then radiated to my jaw, down my left arm and behind my shoulder blade. Well, when this would happen, I thought I was having a heart attack and my blood pressure would go off the charts. I went to an insta-care during one of these attacks and was sent to the hospital. I was checked out and told my heart was fine. I was later put through all kinds of heart tests. It was determined I had chest wall inflammation. Once I knew it was not my heart The symptoms calmed down. It was like it was also stress related. A year later it started up again. I changed doctors and the new doctor insisted I go through the heart test again. Nothing was found. December of last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer in my left breast with pre-cancer in my right. I under went a double mastectomy. Well, I am now dealing with the chest problems again. It is not as painful now, but the tight feeling with uncomfortable heat on my chest radiating from my chest to my jaw. I am now worried about my heart. You know a little anxiety. Do you think it is my heart or costochrondites?
Brief Answer:
Go for tests to reassure...
Detailed Answer:
Dear friend,
Welcome to Health Care Magic
As you have cleverly summarised, this could well be Costochondritis and Anxiety
Anxiety causes pain – pain causes Anxiety – a vicious cycle sets in…
However, at this age, the wise option is to have stress imaging - like stress ECHO or Treadmill exercise ECG, may be with thallium isotope) – to exclude Coronary Artery Disease…
Rather to rule out and reassure… / - treated if a problem is found / Happy, if it turns out otherwise
ECHO is non-invasive / and can be repeated in 6 months to one year…
Take care
Good luck
Go for tests to reassure...
Detailed Answer:
Dear friend,
Welcome to Health Care Magic
As you have cleverly summarised, this could well be Costochondritis and Anxiety
Anxiety causes pain – pain causes Anxiety – a vicious cycle sets in…
However, at this age, the wise option is to have stress imaging - like stress ECHO or Treadmill exercise ECG, may be with thallium isotope) – to exclude Coronary Artery Disease…
Rather to rule out and reassure… / - treated if a problem is found / Happy, if it turns out otherwise
ECHO is non-invasive / and can be repeated in 6 months to one year…
Take care
Good luck
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
I had an ECHO with treadmill ECG twice last year, prior to my breast surgery.
What was your inference " cleverly summarized ".. I wasn't trying to be clever and I sense in this response a somewhat sarcastic attitude.
I was hoping for more questions. Like when exactly do I have the attacks and how long so they last and are they all the same..
Actually, what do I expect for 18.00? I, should have known better. I was just looking for some reassurance it wasn't my heart. And really how can you correctly and honestly answer this question.
Thanks, but you do not need to respond.
What was your inference " cleverly summarized ".. I wasn't trying to be clever and I sense in this response a somewhat sarcastic attitude.
I was hoping for more questions. Like when exactly do I have the attacks and how long so they last and are they all the same..
Actually, what do I expect for 18.00? I, should have known better. I was just looking for some reassurance it wasn't my heart. And really how can you correctly and honestly answer this question.
Thanks, but you do not need to respond.