Chest and back pain.. Looking for some advice

**sensitivesoul21** · 07-25-2010 06:12 PM

Hey,

Have been experiencing chest pain on and off for a the past few months now. It's a dull pain that comes and goes. Also I've experienced waking up one early morning with terrible chest and back pain. It was sharp and in the middle of my chest. The pain went round my rib cage and into my back. It was so horrible i had to get up at 5 in the morning and just sit in the chair downstairs for at least two hours before it went away. I took two ibroprofines (sp??) to get rid of it. It scared me because I have a history of heart disease on both sides of my family and I'm only 21 i don't want to start getting heart problems now esp with potentially moving to the UK next year.

**ItsASecret** · 07-25-2010 06:37 PM

Are you overweight? That can be a contributor to heart problems even without the genetic component. Even if you are in tip top shape you should have a talk with your doctor simply because of the family history of heart disease. This is something they may want to keep an eye on, and yes you are right you do not want to have to deal with heart problems so it is better to catch anything before it even begins.

**sensitivesoul21** · 07-27-2010 05:38 PM

nope not overweight. Yea i definately will keep an eye on it. I guess your right

**white ant** · 07-30-2010 03:31 AM

Hey sensitive, I don't really know what's happening but I am also a chest pain victim, and my doctor adviced me to stop drinking a lot of caffein, chocolates, greasy food and to excersize a lot. And about the back pains well maybe it's because of your siting positions, try sitting upright for a couple of days. If that doesn't work out then you have to consult. PS: Do not rely on painblock tablets.

**~.stella.~** · 09-01-2010 08:23 AM

I think it would be in your best interest to see a doctor about this. You need a chest X-Ray to rule out a pulmonary embolism. It could also be something called "Costochondritis", which is an inflammation of the chest wall muscles. (This is what I was diagnosed with, and take Ibuprofen for it when it flares up).
But really, until you have a chest X-Ray, you really won't know why.

**Hopeless Dork** · 09-01-2010 09:29 AM

It could be something as simple as acid reflux... or something a lot more serious... seeing a doctor is the only way to give yourself peace of mind and be safe. At your age, even if you were overweight... the risks of it being heart related (unless you have a genetic contributor) are fairly slim... but making an appointment, explaining your symptoms to a doctor is going to be necessary for things to improve.

From the waist up its hard to pin point what is the problem when there is pain... because the organs are all smooshed together in one little area and the pain signals they send out can head anywhere on the upper body... For heart related issues sometimes people get pain in their arm, jaw, chest, back, but some serious digestive problems can present with pains to chest and back... and gall bladder as well can shoot pains off into areas you wouldnt think would hurt if you had a problem with your gall bladder.

Are you on birth control pills? Do you smoke? Because the most serious risk would be some sort of bloodclot, while those aren't the only things that can cause that (blunt trauma, sitting in a tight spot for hours, recent surgery and many other things).

If you feel ANY shortness of breath, any nausea, any irregularities in your heart rate get to an emergency room RIGHT AWAY. But even if these symptoms don't present like they are all that serious, chest pain should NEVER be taken lightly... I'd get in to see a doctor right away anyway.