can someone help please? - Lung & Respiratory Disorders / COPD Message Board

karen32 · 11-30-2004, 03:00 PM

Hi, I'm new here. 32 yrs old, and for years I have had a recurrent problem with chest pain. It is not predictable, it does not occur after strenous activity, in fact, it usually occurs when I am doing hardly anything at all.

I will be sitting or laying down and all of a sudden the left side of my chest will have a sharp, stabbing pain and i cannot take any kind of breath other than VERY shallow. If I try to breathe deep it's like I'm encountering a painful, stabbing knot. The stabbing pain is very localized, however it will radiate up towards my neck and into my back. It usually only lasts for 3-5 minutes, but in that time period I am completely immobile. I would say it happens about once or twice a year, and again, completely unpredictable. Once it happened as I was reaching up to put something on the shelf in my closet and it knocked me flat on my back onto my bed. the most recent occurrence I had just gotten into bed for the evening.

I've been trying to find information about this, but all that I've found talks about the pain lasting for a longer period of time. Is this something I should be concerned about? Have any of you ever experienced this?

I also experience chest tightening on occasion, where it feels like someone is sitting on my chest, and this heaviness envelopes my chest, my left shoulder and down my left arm, and into my neck. The last episode I had lasted a good 20 minutes, I was about ready to call for help! Again, this is infrequent, usually occurs while I'm in a resting state, but very scary when it's happening.

Can someone please assure me that I'm normal

Thanks!
Karen

ldolson · 11-30-2004, 06:03 PM

I think I would definitely get a good work up done by a cardiologist and a pulmonologist to see what is going on. Have you been to any doctors for this or have you mentioned it to your primary care physician?

karen32 · 11-30-2004, 08:46 PM

I haven't ever mentioned it to my doc because it is so infrequent and I never remember to bring it up. But I have started to become a little more concerned about it these past few years, so better put it on a list to discuss. I always hate to bring up stuff that is infrequent, for fear that I will get the "it's all in your head" look. But I've had some other health issues come up in the last year that have made me take a step back and really evaluate the rest of my body. Not necessarily a bad thing. Thanks for your response

Karen

americansage · 12-02-2004, 01:44 AM

I do not know about the chest pain radiating everywhere, but with me I have always had the sharp pains since I was very little. I call it cramping of my ribs. It is like there is a nerve in my rib cage left side that gets aggravated when I lay down a certain way. It mostly happens when I am sitting down with that side resting against the arm of the couch or when I lay down on that side. Especially, if I stretching that are of my rib cage just below my left armpit. Usually, when my cramp acts up I notice it when I try to take a deep breath and I cannot b/c a rush of pain radiates through my chest. Only a handful of time has it been so bad I could barely get a little breath without the pain racing through my chest wall. It does hurt. But, I do not consider it dangerous b/c it is not related to my heart. It is only an annoyance at most. So when you get the cramping for only 20 minutes at a time consider yourself lucky. Mine usually last a couple of hours. As long as I do not take deep breaths or move too much the pain is manageable. As fast as it comes it goes away. Usually if I move and stretch the area I can popped whatever is out of whack back into place. One time I actually heard a snap where the pain was and it suddenly went away. But the chest tightness should be explored.

angel_bear · 12-02-2004, 03:34 AM

Yes ... !!!! That sharp stabbing, I can't take a proper breath pain ....

Your quite right, it IS a cramp !!! Usually found in smokers or ex-smokers or people prone to brochitis or asthma because the chest muscles are tenser.

I stopped smoking 3.5 years ago .. and have only had an 'attack' of that particular cramp ONCE ...... tops TWICE in this time. It used to happen quite frequently.

It's like when you get a cramp in your legs, you have to stretch it out. By taking small breaths, and trying each time to expand just a fraction, you will find it easier to work through.

Panic will make it worse, guaranteed.

It's not your heart unless you feel a crushing pain, a pain in the jaw, or pain radiating down your arm. Of course, if your really concerned, see your GP, that's what they're there for. But other than that, it's just a 'sorta normal everyday cramp" just not in an 'expected' area.

I'm not a medical person, but I have worked in the medical field for over 20 years, so I hope this helps a little bit.

Oh .. and when it's happening, try sipping at some luke-warm'ish water. I don't know why, but it helps soothe..

cheers
Sally