Hi, I'm male, 22 and suffer from many of the symptoms I've seen posted here and indeed came here trying to figure out why the sudden onset of stabbing pain was occurring. I've experienced the described stabbing pain on the left side of my chest on a semi-regular weekly to fortnightly basis (though sometimes more regularly) since I was quite young (about 8 or 9). A few years ago for some reason the topic of acute chest pain came up in conversation with my family and I discovered my father experienced it quite infrequently now, but more-so when he was younger.
Through my searching this morning I was directed towards precordial catch syndrome. This is apparently common among children and adolescents, however occurs in adults as well (one of the two initial researchers, Miller, suffered from it). The cause is unknown and there is no cure or treatment. I haven't looked into this particularly deeply and found enough answers for myself from Wikipedia, but as people were searching for a cause I thought I would share my meager findings.
The Following User Says Thank You to davIRE For This Useful Post: saranes (12-03-2012)
I had another bout of pain under my left breast (inside the chest) that lasted a day and a half before I made an appointment with our family doctor, who is a CNP. I hadn't seen her over the last few months as she seemed a little overwhelmed with my onslaught of new symptoms and knew I needed to see a cardiologist; however, the doctor I've been seeing in tandem with my Cardio has been out of town, and I was in PAIN, so I went back to my CNP. She was excited to see me, and even to hear that I had these symptoms because she "knew what it was." She handed me a medical journal printout for hyperventilation syndrome (she told me not to google it, that the only thing I would find was panic attacks and paper bags), changed my beta blocker from metoprolol to bisoprolol, and recommended that once that levels out again I take a daily mild anti-anxiety med.
I'll be honest - I'm skeptical. I don't think I believe anything at this point, or at least don't know WHAT to believe... but I'm hopeful! Has anyone else heart this phrase? Hyperventilation syndrome?
What I have right now is called Chronic Pericarditis or fluid around the heart. Its being treated with predisone. I am also taking high blood pressure med for a condition also involving the heart where its causes spasms in the blood vessels around the heart. It causes sharp pains and trouble breathing. Both of these are autoimmune disorders so I am told by the cardiologist. I don't know if this helps anyone.
The Following User Says Thank You to lirose For This Useful Post: dakotamama (12-15-2012)
I have a prolapsed cervical and Lumbar disc (the neck and back) and i get this same sharp stabbing pain in the left side of my chest. Apart from that I get a sharp needle point pain in the right side of my chest too that almost takes my breath away. I suspect that the pain is due to the nerve being pinched or increased tension as it turned up in my MRI report. The doctors wont find anything, cause there is little they can do about prolapsed disc. I have started taking the Ayurvedic medicine by Himalaya called Rumalaya Forte, it helps relieve the the pain in the spine better than all the treatment that I have done previously. Spent like 5000 Dhirams on ESI, Cortisone and Ozone Injections. I used to get the stabbing pain frequently before, but now its almost never.
I have taken celebrex that's very effective to reduce pain, but this med is also known to cause heart attacks as side effect....
where as the Ayurvedic med has the same effect but with no side effects.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bmpmb
I am 26 and I too have experienced a sharp squeezing/stabbing pain on the left side just behind/under my left breast. They started when I was 15. They are always very intense, usually fleeting, and seem to happen whether I am at rest or walking about. But I never get them when I'm physically exerting myself (running/climbing etc). They happen suddenly and literally take my breath away.
I have no history of anxiety or panic attacks, so those can be ruled out. There is no radiating pain, pressure or numbness in the neck or extremities, so it is not angina or a heart attack.
I had an echo and blood work two years ago when I started having the pains more frequently, but both tests came back normal. Of course, the echo was performed when I wasn't experiencing the pains, so nothing showed up.
I would occasionally get the pains but nothing ever progressed so I did nothing. But recently I experienced this stabbing pain (exacerbated by deep breaths) for 45 minutes which was unprecedented, so I went back to the ER. Had another echo, this time while I was in pain, and chest X ray this time, and again doctors said they looked normal. My blood pressure and cholesterol are perfectly normal. Dr. also ruled out pulmonary embolism. He said hard drug use or smoking could sometimes cause these pains, but I have never touched any drugs or cigarettes in my life. All the doctors say is that the source of the pain is not cardiac and I'm not in danger.
They tend to be rather dismissive. I'm sure doctors are accustomed to seeing a lot worse, but as a patient with unpredictable pain whose causes are unknown, it is very scary to experience.
I will say I tend to experience them more frequently when I have been at my heaviest weight, but I have experienced them with the same intensity at every weight (between 120 to 170).
Some people say it might be acid reflux or gas, but I never experience the "burning sensation" people describe with heartburn, so I don't think it's that. And I doubt it's gas. I have had gas before, and never get these pains when I have gas. And performing "gassy activities" such as burping or farting does not alleviate the pain.
I have not noticed any correlation between my eating habits and these pains. The only other correlation I have noticed is that I seem to get the pains more often when I am sleep deprived, but I have also experienced them first thing in the morning after an otherwise very restful sleep.
My doctor said I should just take advil when I experience the pains. He offered no explanation for why my last episode was so prolonged. Very frustrating indeed. If I continue to experience them I may request an MRI. Not really sure what else they could do to diagnose the pains. I've seen two different doctors and they both came to the same conclusion - it's not cardiac, your vitals are normal, you're not in danger, go in peace.
I think it's possible it may be a pinched nerve, or a rib muscle spasm, maybe due to awkward sleeping positions. But a doctor has never volunteered such a diagnosis.
Try one of the acid pills for gerds you really don't need to have burning. Sorry I'm of no help but its very interesting. My pain is do to lifting heavy things. I had a strkke so when I tire my self out systoms return. My daughter gets infamations in her muscles under her ribs and she said it feels like a heart attack. Hugs
I have been experiencing basically the exact same thing. With an added symptom of chronic leg pain.
The passed 7 months of my life have been total hell.
My problems began with agonising and crushing chest pains which where exasabated by laying down. The pain was unbelievable. I went to A&E a total of 3 times during this part of the problem twice in an ambulance-
Because my ECGs and blood work were "fine" they accused me of bascially being dramatic and told me I was having an anxiety attack. THIS is not anxiety... Over the weeks to come, I had to remain sat up right at all times to try reduce some pain. I developed a cough which was terrible. I couldn't eat. I was like the walking dead. No amount of painkillers the doctors kept throwing at me helped. Doctors and people around me kept on saying that it was pericarditis. But nothing was showing up on my tests. In around June time. I began to develop pain in my calf.. My doctor decided it was a pulmonary embolism I had.. And admitted me to hospital for a CTPA scan... I had no PE. And all of my blood clotting tests were "Fine" along with ECGs. I was finally reffered for an Echo scan. During the long wait for the appointment the pain continued, I lost weight, I couldn't move, I was hot and cold and generally exhausted. By the time the echo came around, my chest pains had began to change. Instead of left sided crushing heavy awful squeezing pain. I started to have stabbing pains in different areas of my chests made worse when breathing in. Of course.. The Echo showed nothing. All a whole, blood pressure, bloods, chest X-rays, every all "fine".
Over the next few weeks, I couldn't walk from room to room without my heart racing. My heart would race pretty much constantly. I began to have difficulty breathing whilst laying down.
I started doing my own research. I had more blood tests, breathing tests, chest X-rays, a total of 4 dipper ultrasounds for suspected DVT, a lung perfusion scan, MORE blood tests, blood clotting tests.
The only thing to date that has been found was a MILD vitamin D Defficiency.
Today... In December, I can barely walk with the left legged leg pain which extends from my hip and groin right down to my foot. And the dreaded chest pain, which varies from the initial crushing and squeezing some days. To stabbing and random to others. And barely nothing on some.
In relation to some of your other posts-
I too have only once experienced an excruciating stabbing chest pain which lasted for 45 minutes plus. The doctors basically turned me away at a and e on this day.
I have also experienced a tingly cold sensation after a heart pain which spreads outwards all into my neck and back. It feels like my body is reeling after the awful pain.
I fly to Italy tomorrow after cancelling my summer trip, in home to have a nice Christmas with my family. But I'm terrified of possible worsening during the flight.
It's safe to say I have gone from being a perfecty healthy non smoking or drinking or drug taking happy girl. To an over weight, exhausted of pain, anxious girl.
In total to date. I have seen 4 consultant specialists in various fields. 7 various GPs on occasions too many to mention. Nurses and A and E doctors probably in the hundreds mark.
There are so many more factors there are just too many to mention.
I wish you all the best of luck in a diagnosis and.. I feel your pain guys. X
The following user gives a hug of support to HarrietVJones: dakotamama (12-15-2012)
That sounds really alful !! After having a stroke I know what your brain can do what you want it to do,with hard work.Did you try medatation. Also this may sound stupid but go to the Dr. OZ site and send this letter to him. I will keep you in my prayer Harriet,I don't know if you belive in God he has been there for me a few times. I had surgery on one occasion and ask that he hold my hand and I truly felt his hand. Once that happens you never let go. Hugs Carol
hmmm very odd symtom and so many people going thru a similar pain...
Well I was just lifting something and felt a crack, or tear or rip sensation. and immediatly felt the stabbing pain. I've been trying to figure out if it's a cracked rib, collapsed lung, heart murmor or somethings loose inside my chest poking internal organs....I was told it could be the muscle in the pectoral area, that does kinda make sense because whenever i put pressure on that left pec it hurts baad, or raise my arms above my head. But the stabbing? Unsure why its such a jolt of pain at times. It had been hurting me for 4 days, then began dissapating. Until today, it pulled or ripped or tore again and is hurting a hellof a lot worse than the past few days. all i been using as a medicinal relief is this pad i put on my chest that has lidocaine 700mg, with methylparaben and propylparaben preservatives. I dont have good health insurrance so i've got no choice but to stick this out and hope its not permanent heart/ribcage or muscle damage. oh and btw i'm 29/male with pretty decent health, im just a smoker. with hypoglycemia and adhd. o.0
hope i was of some help. and hope to learn more from yous. =P
I also experience that kind of pain in the chest: short, painful stabbing in the left side of my chest and it doesn't happen regularly. i mean, i can just feel it anytime, anywhere, whatever i do. our family has a history of heart problems that's why i rushed for check-up, but all my med exams (e.g ECG, x-ray, everything) were normal. still, i experience those chest pains 2 times a day, sometimes nothing. it's annoying when they tell me i'm perfectly normal even if i feel i'm not! one morning i had that stabbing in my chest for 30 minutes and i can't speak/move/breathe heavily because it increases the pain. anybody with the same condition but with different med exam result can give?
This sounds exactly the same to what has been happening to me-- it scares the **** out of me and everyone thinks im anxious or crazy but im not anxious atall when it happens. I hope we'll be ok! It's ben happening to me for years but over the past two months its been very consistant and not its happening daily... I went to the doctor last week he took an x ray but ...haven't heard anything yet
I've experienced this too and it makes me feel like a hypochondriac when I complain, I'm not, I'm just scared and I think it's natural to be worried. However sharp pains are usually not related to heart attacks, I have heard that a heart attack is more like pressure on your chest, like someone is sitting on you.
I have this same sharp, stabbing pain in my left chest. I have had it off and on since I was a kid. I am now a healthy 30 year old. I was always so scared but now I know it is not cardiac. I just don't know what it is. It is always brief but sometimes repeats when I breathe or move too abruptly. It's been happening at work lately and surprises me so much I will gasp!
No idea what causes it. Doctors suggest reflux. Very strange.
My Dr. that gives me my colonoscopy said pain like that is from the fat layer I am 170 lbs and was probaly 160 when he told me that so I dont know if that would aply to you ,its something you could ask about. that layer of fat does press on all your organs. Stay well be positive.
Re: sudden, sharp chest pains on left side 
