Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Do Persistent Chest Pain And Pins And Needles Sensation In The Hand Indicate?
Question: Hi doctor, my brother in law is 29 years old he has been suffering from chest pains for the past 1 weeks and pins and needles on the left hand. He went for an Ecg and it showed clear, what could it be? He's worried it could be a heart problem. It really hurts him he's chest every evening the pain. Like sharp pains in the corner of the arm. And jaw pains aswell. Left toe pains aswell
Brief Answer:
I would recommend performing further tests:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that it is important performing a comprehensive differential diagnosis of different causes that may lead to this clinical scenario:
1- Cardiac ischemia. Although his resting ECG has resulted normal, I would recommend performing a cardiac stress tests to exclude this possible disorder.
2- A cervical spine bulging disc, could cause chest pain and radicular pain irradiatin in the jaw and in the arm. A careful physical exam coupled with a cervical X ray study is necessary to investigate for this possible cause.
3- A musculo-skeletal disorder could cause sharp chest pain, which is exacerbated by body movements or breathing. I would recommend performing a complete blood count and inflammation tests (PCR, sedimentation rate) to exclude this possibility. I would recommend trying ibuprofen for the pain. If his symptoms are relieved by ibuprofen, this would be another argument in favor of musculo-skeletal pain as the main cause underlying his symptoms.
4- A lung disorder. A chest X ray study coupled with respiratory function tests may be needed, especially if the pain is associated to shortness of breath.
5- Anxiety could also mimic all this clinical scenario. If all the above tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as the main cause of his troubles.
You should discus with his doctor on the above issues.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask me again whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend performing further tests:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that it is important performing a comprehensive differential diagnosis of different causes that may lead to this clinical scenario:
1- Cardiac ischemia. Although his resting ECG has resulted normal, I would recommend performing a cardiac stress tests to exclude this possible disorder.
2- A cervical spine bulging disc, could cause chest pain and radicular pain irradiatin in the jaw and in the arm. A careful physical exam coupled with a cervical X ray study is necessary to investigate for this possible cause.
3- A musculo-skeletal disorder could cause sharp chest pain, which is exacerbated by body movements or breathing. I would recommend performing a complete blood count and inflammation tests (PCR, sedimentation rate) to exclude this possibility. I would recommend trying ibuprofen for the pain. If his symptoms are relieved by ibuprofen, this would be another argument in favor of musculo-skeletal pain as the main cause underlying his symptoms.
4- A lung disorder. A chest X ray study coupled with respiratory function tests may be needed, especially if the pain is associated to shortness of breath.
5- Anxiety could also mimic all this clinical scenario. If all the above tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as the main cause of his troubles.
You should discus with his doctor on the above issues.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask me again whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
