Hi everyone, just wondering if anyone has had the experience of sharp chest pain, off to the left (yes pretty much directly over my heart - but don’t jump to that conclusion, I’m 37).
It is very intermittent, often refers through to my back, very sharp but not always intense, mostly just very annoying, sometimes appears more as sharp pain generally within my rib cage. Had it about 3 months on and off.
I have costochondritis, and apart from this pain I’ve described not even slightly coinciding with flares, it’s not even remotely like the costo that I get.
I’ve been kind of busy with GI issues to bother raising this with the doc, but now I’m wondering both whether I should, and if so, what can they do anyway?
I had that, everyone thought it was my heart (at age 30!), Work ups at the ER, cardiologist, etc. My nurse practitioner ended up putting me on Nexium as a shot in the dark (I had NO other GERD symptoms). All my "heart" problems went away.
It was honestly some of the most searing knife-like pain I've ever had.
(I am not a dr. and don't play one on TV, so take what I've said with a huge chunk of salt).
Hi Marietta, I do have GERD, it had never occurred to me it might be related to that. I’ve been ignoring it for a few months, so I suspect if it was my heart, something worse would have happened by now - I might talk to the GI about it next time. Thanks
Before I even finished reading I was thinking costochondritis so this is interesting. I agree that it is unlikely your heart but don't be surprised if they have to do a huge workup to rule it out. Better safe than sorry. I'd definitely try a proton pump inhibitor because they are OTC with few side effects and it might be a good idea to jump on it before seeing the GI doc again. That way you can say you've already tried it. Ribs can easily be dysfunctional on their own and I often have to get adjusted to take rib pain away. Most chiropractors can adjust ribs.
I find a good NASID helps my costocondritis and PPI OTC helps the GERD, I would try both and discuss with Rheumy at next visit. If you develop chest pressure and/or cold sweats and /or shortness of breath go immediately to a hospital......
