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What Causes Right-sided Breast Pain And Pain Along Spine Through Back?

Posted on Fri, 9 Jan 2015

Question: i was diagnosed with esophagitis and was out on omeprazole and ranitidine. I was taking that for almost 8 weeks or so. I was getting a pain by my right breast area and pain along my spine and throughout back. I went to another GI dr to get another opinion and he said that where my pains were it is muscle or nerve related and not from the esophagitis because the meds would have taken care of it. I also get a tightness in my throat. Not sure, but might be anxiety related? I do have lower back disc degeneration and some mild disc bulges in my neck. I have been going to pain management and have gotten some shots in my back. I guess my question is can all this pain be caused from esophagitis? I am paranoid about this. I would think esophagitis pain would be in the breastbone. thanks

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Doctor is right

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking

I read your question and i understand your concern. With a history of disc prolapse and pain not responding to antacids , odds of musculoskeletal pain secondary to nerve compression can not be ruled out.

One other issue with this pain is that it might be a gastritis or a gallbladder stone involving pancreas as that way all this referring pain might not be responding to simple antacids. If you have got liver and pancreatic profiles assessed and they are clear also an ultrasound ruling out any gall bladder then yes its likely a nerve compression.

Take physiotherapy exercises for the disc and do as directed by your physio. Try considering ESI for the relief. They also work like charm.

Now the anxiety causing the chest and throat discomfort, so that is likely too as anxiety is one major reason for chest and and neck pans and may be confused with esophagitis and gastritis etc.

You have already tried the antacids. I hope they have ruled out other possibilities. As disc compression is the likely and reasonable explanation.

I hope it helps. take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please. may the odds be ever in your favour.

Regards
Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (7 hours later)

thanks for your answer. I had my gallbladder, liver, etc checked out. All was OK so you are saying pain most likely is not from esophagitis. Right.?
the one pain I am getting is in the middle of my spine. I also am getting some kind of taste in my mouth. thanks in advance

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes i do

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back!

if the work up as i mentioned has been ruled out then yes, odds for pain to be spinal in origin are highly likely. Let your spine experts be the judge of that.

Take care.
Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (19 minutes later)

hi. I had a MRI of my middle spine and it came out fine. Could it still be spinal in nature? Its like sharp pains here and there in the middle. thanks

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Normal MRI may indicate some thing else

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back!

WIth MRI came fine, i doubt it then too. It sounds more like neurological to me then. Nerve demyelinations and neuropathies secondary to some trigger like alcohol etc may also be the reason here. It may be possible that the compresison is mild enough to be not traceable on an MRI.

I have provided all the likelihoods of the situations here. All it needs now is a simple correlation by an expert which i am afraid i wont be able to do it from here online.

Try some acupressure, acupuncture and physio for a while and see if it helps. Better consult a neurologist too simultaneously.

Take care XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (20 minutes later)

you mentioned ESI for relief. what does that stand for?

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Epidural Steroid Injections

Detailed Answer:
That means EPidural Steroid Injections. they are very recommended in soinal comprssions and disc prolapses. They are alternative for surgeries for decompression. 90 % of the conservative management of disc prolapse has a credit fully shared by this technique.

Discuss it with your neurologist and let them decide what is best. I personally think now that you have mentioned normal MRI findings, i don't see any reason for ESI.

Take care
Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (1 hour later)

thanks. do you know anything about medial branch blocks? They are thinking of doing that. I don't know much about it and I was going to do some research on it. thanks again for your info

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Nerve block for selective branches.

Detailed Answer:
Yes MBBs, Medial branch blocks are very appreciable procedures for the last 50 years, they block the facets and medial nerve roots and they help the pain relief. if the doctors has discussed it and decided , i back their decision and i believe you should opt for it.

EPidural steroids is a general root block, MBB is selective nerve block. Both are same but different in a little procedure. Both are efficacious.

For more details about the procedure visit this link

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/0000-overview

I hope it helps.
Take care
Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (22 hours later)

hi. this is probably a dumb question, but the pain I get on my spine off and on would not have anything to do with my esophagitis would it? I wouldn't think it would, but I had to ask. I also get that pain by my right breast off and on. thanks so much in advance

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No its unlikely

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back!

no its not dumb. You asked a very good and confirmatory question. As we discussed in our discussion, esophagitis would have been responded to the medicines you took. Its likely spinal. As far as chest pain concerned. so spinal nerves supply the anterior chest too so that may be referred to. Anxiety and stomach discomfort too may cause it. But when ever a person gets chest pain there should always be an EKG to confirm because you never know.

I hope it helps.
Good Luck
Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (15 minutes later)

Yes it did help. I did have EKG, and it was fine. Would spinal problem cause my ribs to feel soar just when I touch them on the side? You have been a great help and I thank you

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
:)

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the feedback!

If the EKG is fine then its spinal. yes spinal nerves involvement may cause soreness and aggravation on touch. And is pretty common symptom amongst many others we discussed.

It should get help with the procedures we discussed. Lets hope for the best.

take care XXXXXXX

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar