upper chest pain

Read and learn more about upper chest pain. For more, visit the Pain Q&A website FeelTheHurt.com

Q: what is the upper chest pain i have after a weekend of watersports?
After returning from a weekend of wakeboarding, stand up jet skiing, tubing & swimming, I have severe upper chest pain that i can also feel in my upper back. Still a week later it hurts to breathe deeply. And when i lay on my back, it hurts to get up. At the gym, it hurts to lift weights. While i run it hurts when i bounce. What muscle has been affected? Is it serious or do i just need a few weeks for it to repair itself?

A: you may have cracked a rib or severly bruised a muscle – a week later muscle soreness would have passed.

Time to see a doctor

Q: why do i get upper chest pain when i am running? and how is it prevented?
I am a 14 year old girl who does not have much experience with running and today was the first day of cross country practice. I normally get upper chest “cramps” on both sides right below my shoulder area. I get them fairly soon after i start running along with my side cramps/stitches. I have no idea why i get them. Also, does anyone have any suggestions how to get rid of them?

A: The upper chest pain may be from breathing into your chest, the respritory muscles there are small and easily fatigued. Try breathing into your stomach also called belly breathing. For the side stitches stretch your oblique muscles before running, side bends are good for this.

Q: what causes upper left chest pain in younger people? between heart and arm pit?
I am only 19 and for the past few years ive been having upper chest pain between the arm pit and heart. its sharp and pressure like. Ive had plenty of test they dont see anything
they have done ekg and all of these other test. they haven’t seen anything, i changed my diet and they gave me ultram. but it really didn’t stop the pain. it just happens whenever it wants especially if i bend over more than 3 secs.

A: Well, upper left chest pain with sharp pressure can be a sign of a few things, most of them cardiac problems. I would imagine that they’ve done an EKG and other tests, so I would imagine they would have seen something. Are there any other specific symptoms, any patterns on when you get your chest pain and what helps it.

Q: What does constricting chest pain to the upper right of the chest mean?
I’m asking this question for my Dad whom is having constricting upper right chest pain and doesn’t know how to read it as he has never experienced it before. What does that sound like to you?

Thanks!

A: Could be anything from a pulled muscle, heartburn (acid reflux) to even a pinched nerve in the neck/back (cervical spondylosis). But for a proper diagnosis, he should see a doctor. Good luck!

Q: I’m 22 and have been having upper back and chest pain for the last 3 days. Sometimes dull, others stabbing. ?
For the last 3 days I have been experiencing chest pain and upper back pain. At times it also has been radiating under my arms. Part of the time it is very dull, and others it is stabbing. And then there are times where I have not pain at all.
I’m 22. I have had a cold recently. A little cough, but that has gotten better over the last few days.
Any suggestions or answers would be greatly appreciated.

A: I am not a doctor, but my husband was having pain in his chest, and back. He thought he was having a heart attack. He had recently had a cold also. We went to the e.r., and after a chest x-ray, they told us he had pleurisy. It is mucus, or fluid around your lung causing pain. The doctor explained it to us like this. He said it was like pneumonia, only instead of being inside the lung, it’s outside the lung. I suggest you get to a doctor, and find out what is wrong. Normally it isn’t your heart if the pain comes and goes, but you never know.

Q: Upper chest pain near heart and shooting pain in back?
I had upper chest pain all day today
and when i twist to turn to the tv i have this shooting upper back pain
and the pain in my chest is dull and sometimes sharp

im so scared. because i’ve enver had this before. I dont know what to do beacuse it doesnt hurt that bad but it still hurts every few minutes…
and i keep burping btw

A: When I would tell this to my mom she would always tell me that I had a bad case of gas! Try taking some Gas X to see if the pain subsides. A big sign that it is gas is that you keep burping. If the pain does not go away see your doc.

Q: I have upper chest pain near my right shoulder ?
Im not sure if its my shoulder or something else. It hurts when i move my arm sorta but sometimes if i breath. I thought it was my heart at first but my hearts on the left side. I smoke but im quieting. Anyone have any ideas on what it might be? I know my shoulder hurts sometimes from the way i lay on the couch or my bed, and my dog yanks my arm when i take him outside on the leash.

A: It could be a lot of things, nerve damage, muscle spasms, respiratory infection, etc, it’s hard to tell without more information. How old are you, and are you physically active? Is the pain sharp or dull, and does it seem like a shooting pain? Are you on any prescribed drugs, and are there any knwon medical conditions in your family?

Q: 6 weeks ago I got caught in an armbar. I have shoulder, neck, and upper chest pain. What could it be?
I got an X-ray and there is a slight gap between my clavicle and my arm where they connect. Has this happened to anyone else and what did you do for it?

A: go to the hospital

Q: What should I do about my chest pain,.upper abdominal pain(left and right sides)and general feelling sick?
I’ve had my gallbladder removed 8 mo’s ago,but that didn”t alleviate my pain. On a scale of 1-10, I say its a 10!!!! The chest pain is getting worse and it feels like I am having mini-heart attacks. On several trips to the ER they have found nothing wrong and I still feel like I am literally dying, I have no energy and I feel completely ran down. During the “attacks” I feel hot and sweaty, my heart is pounding,my head is pounding,pain shoots up through my chest into my shoulders, and neck and my right arm feels really heavey and strange feeling, plus I feel nauseous. I have blacked out before because the pain was just so intense and it felt like I couldn’t breathe. I have had chest x-rays,EKG’s,and a chest CT scan
and nothing has been found. I don’t know what else to do. My family life, career,and social is falling apart because I can’t do anything because I feel so horrible!!!!! Someone Please Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A: I’M SO SORRY THAT YOU ARE FEELING SO POORLY. TO BEGIN WITH I WOULD GO TO SEE A CARDIOLOGIST AND UPDATE THEM ON ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE MENTIONED. I AM SURE THAT THEY WILL NEED TO DO A FULL WORK -UP ON YOU AND THEN IF THEY FIND NOTHING CAN OFFER YOU SOME ADVISE ON WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE

Q: What should I do if I have unexplainable upper back and chest pain?
For a week I’ve been having this horrible pain in my chest everytime I swallow. For 3 days the pain went to my back. So now I have both upper back and chest pain, everytime I swallow. I went to my doctor 3 times and to the Emergency Room once, but they have no solution. I tried Motrin, Mylanta, Advil, and Ibuprofen. Yet, no medicine works. Is there anything I can try or do to relieve this pain? I have not been able to eat or even drink a simple thing like water without pain.

A: Have you been vomiting?
Did you recently choke on something?
Stop the Advil/Ibuprofen (same thing) and take Mylanta at least 4 times a day (after meals and before bed). Eat 6 small meals a day instead of 3 large ones and try to always have something in your stomach. Thick foods may be easier to swallow (milk shakes, puddings etc.).Stay away from acidic, spicy and greasy foods.
Get a referral for a GI (gastrointestinal) specialist.

Q: What could be the cause of this chest (upper right side) pain?
Wednesday I ate and half hour later I threw up everything I ate. Thursday I start feeling a light chest pain but today it takes a whole different level: I can’t yarn, laugh, caught nor take deep breaths. I have insurance but it’s such a hassle to go to the ER and get an X-ray now (10:20 PM for me now). If you were in my position right now, would you be worried about this pain? I am in my mid 20s….

A: Definitely go into the ER something could be seriously wrong. Do you know if you have asthma (do you have chest tightness as well?)? You may also have some sort of chest infection or something. If I was in your position I would go into the ER since it is better safe then sorry, sure it will take a while but if there is something seriously wrong then that time was well wasted.

Q: What is causing the upper back and left chest pain I have been having?
I am only 14 years old, but recently I have been having shooting and throbbing pain in my upper back, in my chest, and on the upper left part of my body. I know that it isn’t a heart attack or anything like that but I need some reassurance, and whether I should see a doctor immediately.
no I haven’t been doing anything really out of the usual as far as exercise goes.
Also it just happens at different times of the day. It seems as though it comes and goes on its own

A: Have you been doing strenuous exercising or work that could have
caused the pain .Does it come at certain times of day or activity ?
I think if its been going on for awhile you should get some advice from
a doctor to ease your mind.

Q: How serious is upper right chest pain?
I’m 21 years old. Since I was 4 years old until 17, I used to dance twice a week + PE at school.
Meanwhile, in this 4 years, I didn’t do any exercise (perhaps once in a month).
During those exercise, I’ve got chest pain. It is hurt more when I put in my stomach and bounce.
Is it serious or just a muscular pain?

A: I’m not a doctor, but it doesn’t sound too serious. If the pain came on all on it’s own, and is consistent with the exercise, it can probably be attributed to that. Another important thing is what type of pain it is. You say you used to be pretty active is dancing and exercising, but you’ve tapered off quite a bit. If it’s only happening when you exercise I think you probably just overworked inactive muscles. Also, if it’s closer to the surface of the skin it is less severe than if it was deep inside the tissue. If the pain persists, you need to see a doctor. If the pain goes away as a result of resting up, it could be caused by the exercise.

Q: Can upper back pain and chest pain/muscle pain come from coughing too much and for too long?
I started with a cold/cough about a month ago. About 2 weeks ago, the cough was still going and my chest wall and muscles were hurting pretty bad. I went to a doc who told me it was just from all of the coughing. Since then, the cough is still here, and now in addition my upper back is hurting a lot when I cough. Should I go back to the doc?

A: If the pain becomes unbearable I would go for a doctor visit. BUT you can experience all your symptoms from coughing.

You can break ribs from coughing hard. When you start to cough really hard, hold a bed PILLOW in front of your chest. It will lessen the pain from the cough.

Drink plenty of fluids. Believe it or not, the fluids help flush your body out. (water or juice only)

An Xray would clear your mind. If you continue or start running a temperature over normal I would phone the doctor.

Q: Pain in left upper chest when running for a while?
After running for a while I tend to get a sharp pain in my upper chest. I don’t stop and keep running because it happens often and I think it is normal. What could it be?
Not out of shape and run on a consistent basis. Has been there for years.

A: i’ve had the same thing happen to me a lot. im not sure what it is but ive always ran through it and been fine