What Causes Stinging Or Burning Chest Pain Every Few Weeks?

Posted on Sat, 27 Sep 2014

Question: Hello There

Here is my Dillemma and what I have been dealing with for years. I am 31 now. This has been going on since early 20s

Constant left Chest Pain. Feels like a Dull Ache that sometimes is tolerable but sometimes it flares up to a stinging, Burning muscle spasm.

For the last 3 to 4 years years i have been to the ER on multiple occassions. Always get the Nine Yards EKG, Chest XRay, Blood work. Everything checks out great, Im discharged. Last visit was this week and the time before was in August. In then many times over years.

I saw my primary care doctor who is a lung specialist as well. Gave me a full physical and at the end said im Healthy.

8 months ago i was diagnosed with a Hiatal Hernia and Acid Reflux. I probably had that for years. It causes Weird Symptoms. My GI Doctor thinks im experiencing the symptoms she diagnosed me with. It is very frightening.

My Primary care Doctor gave me Carefate this week and my GI Doctor gave me Dexilant.

I have had this awful sensation in my chest and at times i rather have my leg hurt all day, Nobody thinks I have a Cardiac Issues and give me clean XXXXXXX of health. Could this be Stress and Axiety, It makes me panic for years :-/

I need some assistance please!

Hope all is well

XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Saumya Mittal (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Part of gerd

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
I think I can tell you why you have the pain
You have said you had Hiatus hernia and GERD
Now that means the gastric acid comes out into the stomach

Now heart and esophagus (food pipe) have similar nerve supply
So when there is acid in food pipe, the nerves send signal to brain.
Since the supply is same, the brain confuses it
and reads it as heart.chest pain
It is called referred pain

The best idea for this would be to get acid free
1. bland non fatty diet
2. sleeping with head end raised
3. avoiding tea, coffee, alcohol, smoking
4. avoid non veg diet
5. medicines- proton pump inhibitors- esomeprazole 40 mg once daily on empty stomach half hour prior to first meal
This should help you

Best of luck
Dr Mittal

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

Follow up: Dr. Saumya Mittal (23 minutes later)

Dr Mittal

I really appreciate your time and your advice! Its really a good feeling that we have a site like this that connects people with Medical Professionals 24/7 outside of our own Doctors.

That is very comforting because I have had this same constant dull ache since my early 20s that sometimes flares up like a burning spasm. Its always there, Sometimes its more scary then others but it does damper daily life at times.

My GI Doctor and Primary Care Physician who have been practicing for Many Many Years assured me i dont have Cardiac Issues.

Also i did see a cardiologist one time with no referal just made an appointment and she graduated from XXXXXXX and Harvard. At the time she spoke with me, Listened to my heart EKG me. I did not have insurance at time so she did want to put me in debt with Tests. She assured me ER did a very thorough job. Smiled and said your alright kid. At beginnihg of appointment she said who said you needed to see a cardiologist haha.

How can HH and Gerd cause constant discomfort? I read can a hernia put strain on the Heart and lungs by interfering with the Vagnus Nerve so it feels like your heart?

My Gi says it can cause shortness of Breath, Some scary symptoms?

Im waiting for the day I wake up and am pain free, I forgot what its like to feel good or normal :-/

Fatigue, the discomfort, Out of breath

Is there any way to cure this? Chiropractor?

Thanks for your time

XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Saumya Mittal (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
hi

Detailed Answer:
hi
the jist of your query is
1. y acid is causing pain
2. treatment

I have already explained the first part.
Now heart and esophagus (food pipe) have similar nerve supply- vagus nerve
So when there is acid in food pipe, the nerves send signal to brain.
Since the supply is same, the brain confuses it
and reads it as heart/chest pain
It is called referred pain
the acid can move to the esophagus more easily due to the hiatus hernia

For treatment, the best would be to make sure there is no acid in food pipe. right?
best way to do that is to either close the hernia (surgically) or to stop acid from being produced. For this latter, we have a simple and usually safe medicine-
proton pump inhibitors- esomeprazole 40 mg once daily on empty stomach half hour prior to first meal.

the other measures that can help you are
1. bland non fatty diet
2. sleeping with head end raised
3. avoiding tea, coffee, alcohol, smoking
4. avoid non veg diet

Again these i had mentioned previously.

please feel free to ask a further query if this is not clear.
best of luck
Dr Mittal

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

Follow up: Dr. Saumya Mittal (8 hours later)

That Sounds Great! Thanks

Last thing i would like to know from this is being that its on the same nerve track and that i contantly through out the day, It never goes away. Can excersise or exertion aggravate it because it seems it burns more.

Ive been examined by doctors, Nobody thinks i have a heart issue given the time and being actually diagnosed with Gastritus/Colitus/Reflux and a Hiatal Hernia.

I have got so many opinions but sometimes you question is something being missed because its just a scary area to have pain in regardless if its serious or Non Serious.

Im 5ff 8 197 lbs, I think i should get down to 150 to 160.

My Primary Care Doctor has been practicing for almost 40 years. He is a lung specialist to. He listened to lungs and Heart other day. If he thought i had a problem he would get on the ball. Hes a very thourough doctor.

This has been going on since early 20s so you think im in the clear to?

XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Saumya Mittal (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Issue explained

Detailed Answer:
yes XXXXXXX exercise and exertion can increase the problem.
The more you exert, the more your abdominal muscles contract.
With a hiatus hernia, the acid will come into the esophagus that much more easily.

So it will hurt more.
I think you should try proton pump inhibitors and other supportive things I suggested earlier.

Best of luck

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

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