Still Unhappy Camper, but Better

[Madalot]

As I mentioned in another thread, I thought I had pulled muscles in my upper back causing pain radiating around from my left upper back to my chest. At first, I was blaming it on doing too much LAST Sunday, but the way things have been going, I'm not so sure.

At one around Wednesday or Thursday, we debated about a trip to the ER, but the chest pains weren't constant and it really felt like it was coming from my back. Still does. I had my husband rub Icy Hot on my upper back last night and for a few minutes, the relief was immediate. It didn't last long though. But I was able to sit in my regular recliner for a few hours, something I haven't been able to do for a week.

For the first few days, the pain was excruciating but I was sleeping okay. Then I was only sleeping 3-4 hours then waking up again in agony. So, I kept Advil by the bed and took 600mg when I woke up and that allowed me to go back to sleep for a couple more hours. But after a night or so, the Advil didn't work. Last night I slept from 10:15 - 11:00, then until about 1:00. After that, it was 15-30 minutes here and there, interrupted by excruciating pain in my left side near my breast. No matter how I lay, the pain was horrible. I think exhaustion just won out and I would doze off despite the pain.

While pulled muscles are still very possible, my sister suggested that this might be something called Costrochondritis. Researching that says it's very possible, but it also said that frequently, Gabapentin is used as a treatment for the pain. I already take 1200mg daily and my pulmo wanted to add another 300 - 600mg at dinnertime, so I did that last night and it did seem to help a little bit.

I know I should go to the doctor and get it checked out, but my husband is so damned busy. He's already taking off Friday for my annual Neurologist/MDA clinic appointment, plus an evaluation later in the day for a new power chair (LONG day coming on Friday). He's told me to call and make the appointment with my PCP to get this pain checked out and he'll work around it.

Another night or two like last night and I'm not going to make it.

[Julie]

Maddy - do you really need to be reminded that e.g. cardiac issues can manifest with pain in all kinds of places, not uncommonly the back? Because the 'rub' you got did help at first, you probably have something else going on, but do get checked out 'just in case', and at least you'll hopefully get answers to what IS going on... I'm sure your husband (who does sound terrific ) would understand.

[Madalot]

I'm going to have to grit my death and bear with this another 24 hours. The only appointment my PCP had for today just won't work. We debated about having my husband just drop me off, but if they want to take x-rays, I'll need my husband there to help me.

I'm going tomorrow morning. This gives me time to check in with my Neurologist to see *IF* I can take muscle relaxants, assuming it is muscular, which I still think (hope?) it is. I seem to remember muscle relaxants being contraindicated with neuromuscular diseases, but have a call into them now to find out for certain.

The pain seems to have settled at my left side, radiating under my left breast. My upper back is more stiff and achy than painful at this point. Although I am still having upper back spasms that take my breath away.

I should have gone last week, dammit.

I guess I'm going to have another sleepless night. That's something to look forward to (NOT!!!)

[jdr999]

I've had a very similar pain for quite a while now. My heart was ruled out many times by X-ray, catscan, ultrasound, and a nuclear stress test. So I have to believe it ain't my heart! But make sure to rule out any heart issues immediatley as I did.

I also try to rationalize my symptoms and after heart, a pulled muscle, or rib injury Costochondritis is the next logical choice.

You should probably also rule out Pleurisy and Pericarditis.

"Pericarditis is a swelling and irritation of the pericardium, the thin sac-like membrane that surrounds your heart. Pericarditis often causes chest pain and sometimes other symptoms."

"Pleurisy is swelling (inflammation) of the thin layers of tissue (pleura) covering the lungs and the chest wall."

I believe both of these can be ruled out through X-ray.

"Costochondritis can be an independent condition by itself or sometimes can be a feature of a more widespread disorder. Examples of illnesses that can feature costochondritis include fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease (such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease)."

[robysue]

Madalot,

Please take care of yourself. If the pain gets worse or if its character changes, you need to get a call back into the doc. With radiating pain in the left side, I'm a bit surprised they didn't tell you to get yourself to the ER.

Hopefully it is just muscle pain. But you need to be aware of the fact that heart pain in women often does NOT manifest itself in the same way as it does in men. And many women ignore the first symptoms of their first heart attack because the pain just doesn't seem like it could possibly be heart related.

[jdr999]

And to throw another monkey wrench into the equation..

My GI doctor said one "theory" is that excess weight could also be a possibility. When seated all that extra weight is pushed upwards and can apply excessive pressure on the ribcage and chest wall.

I'm not sure I believe it, but anything's possible I guess..

But make sure you rule out any heart issues immediately!

[nanwilson]

Maddie take strength in the thought that we are all here hoping things clear up for you and the answer to your pain is NOT going to be life threatening but an easy fix.
Keep the faith as we all have our fingers and toes crossed that things will work out today.
Cheers
Nan

[Madalot]

And to make this a bit more scary, early heart disease is common in my family, especially with the women. One of my sisters had her first (of 3) heart attacks starting at age 48. My other sister had her heart attack at 53. Our mother died at 64 after having several heart attacks from 62.

I'm 51.

The first indication of anything amiss was waking up twice (10 days ago) to my left hand being totally numb. I wasn't in any pain at that time, just my hand being totally numb. Moving it got it going again and I assumed that nerves were being pinched or something. The weird part was I wasn't laying on my left side -- I was laying on my right side, but figured just the position of my left arm had done something funky.

The back/side/chest pain started about 36 hours after that.

My appointment is tomorrow morning and unless something drastic changes before then, I'll see what he has to say tomorrow.

I'm just NOT looking forward to another night like last night. Just thinking about it is almost making me cry. There was NO position I could get in that didn't hurt like an SOB. I would move my arm and for about 2 seconds think it would be okay, but then it would start hurting again. I'd move it somewhere else and get another 2 seconds, then the pain would come. It went on all night.

I've got half a mind to dig out some old hydrocodone for tonight. Anything to make that pain just stop when I try to sleep. Or at least not keep me awake.

[sleeplessinaz]

Don't fool around - that much pain means your body is trying to tell you something is wrong! Women have different symptoms when it comes to heart attacks- jaw pain, back pain etc. Get to urgent care if your PCP is busy, this is nothing to fool aground with in my opinion.

[jdr999]

Honestly?

Get it checked now.

If you go to the ER or an Urgicare facility they will have the ability to do all the proper scans there and then.

No reason to wait until your PCP orders a series of tests that will take days/weeks to interpret. Have all the important tests done in one shot -- rule out heart, blood clots, etc. and if they find nothing you will followup with your PCP anyway. And you will already have all the test results to bring... Win-win in my book.

Not worth the risks here...

[Lazer1234]

Go to the emergency room now ..... IF you have a narrowing of a blood vessel, it can come off at any time and then it will be much bigger problem. I myself have had a heart attack.

[letsride]

Please go to the emergency room and get it checked

health is all we really have!

[jdr999]

And if you do go the ER route and ambulance is the most efficient way. An ambulance and all that comes with it can be embarrasing but there are definite advantages.

When you arrive in an ambulance you are seen IMMEDIATELY. No waiting.

[DoriC]

Dear Maddy, I hope I'm not piling on but I think your symptoms warrant an ER visit now where they'll do all kinds of tests to rule out any serious problems. If you wait until tomorrow for an OV with your neuro he doesn't have the equipment to do a workup in his office and will send you out anyway. Please don't make us worry about you!

[jamiswolf]

Maddie,
Sorry about the problems you're having. I understand that you strive toward Independence and that sometimes manifests as stubbornness. But chest pain and left arm numbness usually deserve an ambulance ride.

Here are a few hints if you choose to wait. Costochondritis is an inflammation within the chest wall and you can elicit tenderness by pushing on it. No tenderness on pushing means something else...something internal.

Pleurisy and other lung issues are almost always worse on deep inhalation.

Don't take any strong narcotics to mask the pain if you're concerned about heart issues. You could go to sleep and not wake up. Not good. We would miss you.

Best wishes and keep us posted,
Jamis