Chest Pain - General Health Message Board

Angela22F · 03-10-2006, 11:33 AM

Im not sure where to post this, so I'll try here.

I am worried about my mother. She is 45 years old, and is heavy set. For the last week she has been experiencing terrible chest pain. She describes it as being about where the breastbone is, central.

She went to her GP two days ago, who told her it was probably her rib, and sent her home after scheduling a mammogram. This pain does not affect her breathing, and the doctor made her outstretch her arms, palms together and push against his hands, and that did not hurt, but the GP still thinks it is a rib.

She says it hurts most when she lays down, at this point she cannot lay down at all. When the pain strikes, it hurts so bad it takes her breath away. My mom is a tough woman, and doesn't like doctors, so it was very surprising to me that she even went. So I know this has to be bothering her alot.

Does anyone here have any ideas? I'm lost. I told her it sounds to me like a pulled muscle. The mamogram has me stumped, as the pain seems to be situated between her breasts, at the bone and does not involve her breasts at all.

Sideem · 03-10-2006, 03:42 PM

I've read on here that sometimes chest pain could be caused by acid reflux. Does your Mom have constant heartburn? Have the doctors looked into that?

Angela22F · 03-13-2006, 06:45 AM

No. No heartburn or GERD. She is on Naprox now for the pain. The doctor thinks she hurt her ribs somehow and now inflammation has set in. I don't understand. He's not even sending her for any x-rays or any other diagnostic tests for that matter, just a darned mamogram... which is so unrelated (in my opinion).

But thank you, I will have her double check the GERD thing. I've heard as well it can present in numerous ways.

When she was over yesterday I asked her about it again. The naprox is not helping, and when I asked her to show me exactly where the pain is, she told me in behind her right breast, not the breast, but in behind and in through. (If that makes sense). I don't know. I think it's time for her to get a second opinion, but she's such a stubborn woman.

indyana · 03-14-2006, 12:50 PM

I have GERD and have had chest pains for the last 3 years. The chest pains are hard to explain and can come at anytime. Mine have been so bad the I have gone to the emergency room a number of times and fortunately have always checked out okay after being on a monitor. My chest pains can hit me at anytime and can be severe with inbearable pain. I recently had an endoscopy and, finally after 2+ years a reason was found for my chest pains, erosions in my stomach and esophagus which were caused by the reflux which was causing the pain. I had no idea of this up until now, that I was that bad. This sounds like the same place that my chest pains were. If they continue that you should maybe consider going to a gastroenterologists, your mother might have some reflux causing the chest pains, because chest pains from reflux can be just as and even more painful than cardiac chest pains. Hope that this is helpful and that your mother feels better.