Intense pain under sternum lasting about 1 hr. at a time followed by nausea

kahoyne

About 2 months ago I started getting this intense pain in my sternum area. The pain slightly radiates up into my chest but mostly under my sternum and down my torso and under my ribcage. I can't even explain the pain, it's different than anything I've ever experienced before. It hurts so bad that I get extremely nauseous and inevitably throw up. This has happened now about 7 times and every time it seems to be worse than the last. I have fibromyalgia so I constantly get muscle spasms and I have a lot of painful trigger points. I want to know if this has something to do w/ it. Confused

The first time it happened, I felt like I was having a heart attack because it seemed to be more painful on the left side. My arms were weak and my hands got a tingling feeling in them. My husband took me to the ER and I got an EKG and blood test. The tests came back normal and the doctors were stumped, which is frustrating. When these 'attacks' occur, there is nothing to do but ride it out. They have lasted up to an hour and they are seriously unbearable! Has anyone out there had this happen to them? The other thing that is frustrating is that since nothing but time helps it go away, my husband feels helpless and my 7 yr. old son can't stand to see me in such pain. Sad

Please... If anyone can shed some light on this or if you have had this happen before, REPLY to this. Please.

Guest · Guest

i have had this same sternal pain. went to er thought it was heart. all test ekgs all normal as well. was told it was muscle spams from my fibro and also I had an old injury.I just lifet to coushoin up on the couch and tried to vaccum under it, in doing so i pulled my rib cage out of it;s facets and rotated my t-spine . therefore i was diagnosed after months and months of horrable pain with rib dysfunction and a rotated t-spine. rhuemy did not help this matter and i was not going to a pain clinic to get injections, already had that done in fla. right after the injury, the dr there just told me my rib cage was very angey.
so to break it dowm i went to chriopractor of all things i waas desperate and she took x rays and i could actully see the injury now old (I'm a radiology technolgist ) so i could read my own fiml and i knew it was my bdoy. my chiro does not believe in popping and cracking and maipulation she uses what they call and actavater on my trigger poitns and we did agggressive work 3 times a weeek for 2 months now i'm down to 1 or 2 times and the results have been great i've had alot of pain free days. maybe you might want to check this out. for me it works honestly. i was in so much pain i was ready to do anything never thinking i would go to a chirop. i also get light masages and take muscles relaxers prescribed by my rhuemy. hope this helps it's woth ging a try . look around and try to find a chiro that uses this method it's a little hand held unit that thye tap the triiger point with. who would have thought it would work. also she put me on a tens unit slight electrical shocks or massages I wear on some tight muscles. what ever you do in exercising do not do squats the pain i got from that stunt was unbearable and bed ridden couldn't even get up to go to chiro once i was able she got me back on track and that was last week today i've been pain free, until the next bout. holing my breath,hope this helped you good luck prayers go out toyou and family hang in there people do care, bev

lindylou2 · Newbie Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 1

hi,

I too have had this several times and it has lasted between 5 hours and 2 hours each time.
The final time i went to ER because i thought it was my heart but all the tests came back normal.
the doc thinks it is GORD (gastro osophogus reflex disease) and i am awaiting an appointment for them to put the camera down my throat (lucky me!) apparantely your osophogus goes into a spasm and it mimics heart pain.
I also suffer from crohns disease so it could have something to do with that.

you have my sympathy because it is an awful experience - here's hoping you don't get it again.

xx

shorrocks · Newbie Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

hi, I too have had this horrible pain. I went on a site for fibromyalgia and one of the possible symptoms is called costochondritis, tietze's syndrome. What I couldnt believe, as I have been experiencing this on and off for a good month now, that my family doctor and rheumotologist hadnt "heard" of this. I have had x-rays, cardiologist visits, all sorts of tests and when I read about this it blew me away. I hope this helps you.

BAMedSc. · Newbie Joined: 31 Jul 2008 Posts: 8

Hello Shorrocks,

Intense pain under sternum lasting about 1 hr. at a time followed by nausea

LIFEFORM SOCIAL COMMUNITY NETWORK