I had what I can only call a horrible "arm attack" 2 days ago---suddenly, out of nowhere as I was sitting watching the television---my right arm started hurting SO bad from the bicep, into the elbow and down my whole wrist, that I thought I was going to pass out. I had cold sweats, nausea, and chewed 2 aspirin as soon as it started. However, since I had NO chest pain with it, I had my doubts as to it being heart-related. Also, both of my arms became a splotchy-red, and there is even a bruise where it hurt the most under my right forearm.

Unfortunately, I hesitated in going to the ER because of not having chest pains, but when I woke up later that night with my arm starting to hurt again (not nearly as bad) I decided to go in. When I got there, it was classic for someone my age (mid-30's): They let me SIT there getting no tests or anything for something like 6 hours. By the time they had given me an EKG and bloodwork, it was beyond 24 hours since the attack and I was feeling fine by the time the Doctor finally showed up to talk to me. The EKG and the bloodwork showed normal and they sent me home.

Since it was more than 24 hours since the attack, I read that the heart enzymes that show damage may have returned to normal (if thats what it was), and the EKG can be unreliable especially so long after the episode. So I wonder---has anyone had an attack in their right arm like that (I know its usually on the left, but not all the time), where it feels so "pressured" or "cut off" that youre gonna hit the floor...or during a Heart Event your arms got a splotchy red? Thanks for any insight or experience!

Hi Phlox,

My lab report for my visit to the ER 3+ years ago state the blood marker Troponin levels in the range of 0.04 - 0.49 are consistent with myocardial infarction. CK-MB is a protein released from dead cells and found it the blood stream. Also creatinine found in the brain, heart and skeletal muscles cells begins to rise in the blood stream within 4-6 hours of a heart attack. It peaks 18-24 hours and returns to normal in a few days.

It is not necessary to have chest pains with an MI. I didn't! I was asymptomatic until heart failure due to a prior MI. Informed that nausea and sweating are classic signs of an MI, and there can be pain in the left arm, shoulders, back and sometimes to the right arm.

An EKG can/should be able to determine heart muscle damage sustain from a heart attack. Not time sensitive.
Splotchy-red and bruise is inconsistent with a heart attack. Possible it is vascular related i.e. a blockage.

Phlox,

The enzyme results seem to confirm that the arm pain isn't connected to your heart. I think you can be reasonably assured that you didn't suffer a heart attack.

(My first chest pain about a MILLION years ago was one of those "all day in the E/R" events: "HELLO, I'm HERE, Has everyone FORGOTTEN me?" I think they do that so you don't come back.:jester: )

Thank you very much for the replies, I appreciate them big time!

Okay so from everything so far I would have to agree it is highly doubtful it was an Attack....but Im stumped what it was, and why it has been off and on since. I am just trying to rule things out before my visit with the Doc on Friday--is it possible it could Heart at all, or does having no MI mean that my heart is fine overall? One things for sure--despite the RUQ discomfort & fatigue Ive been experiencing for awhile now, I know that it is NOT a Gall Bladder problem considering the attack on my arm. I guess I have to go from there...

I am confused about something you said Ken--if I had vascular blockage wouldnt it be constant? I do have a history of clots, I had one in my left SCV at the ripe ol' age of 22 in fact, with the doctors "guessing" it was from the range of motion at work---but they fully admitted that was a guess. That also affected my arm (left one), but it was constant and the arm started turning blue and swelling after a few days, with viens showing trying to get around the blockage (I had no idea what it was, thought I injured it which is why it took me so long to get it looked at). With this problem in my right arm though...it isnt constant. And during that "attack" it came on suddenly, not slow like the clot on the left. Also, my right arm just felt SO tight, like it was cut-off, or swollen from the inside. In fact it is bruised in the middle of my arm, as if that was the case!

Definitely not heart? And....is blockage always constant? Thanks again for your help guys it really is appreciated.

Phlox, it can be an effort induced thrombosis and an imcomplete blockage so it wouldn't have to be constant. I believe the problem is vascular and not neurological based on swelling, discoloration, etc.

I can't help you out with the arm pain, but I'm sorry to tell you that I had a normal EKG and normal blood enzymes after having a huge chest pain. I ended up with a triple bypass. They did a stress test and then a heart cath to diagnose my problem.