Dull pain in back behind heart

by Loretta
(British Columbia, Canada)

I have, periodically over the last 2 years, gotten a dull pain in my upper left back.
It is directly behind my heart. I understand that this type of pain can be associated with arterial blockages. It is only a small area affected.

I am an anxiety sufferer, so when this is happening I begin to get panicky. Today, when this happened I felt unable to take a deep breath, but I was also anxious. This feeling (unable to take a deep breath) only lasted for a couple of minutes.

I have mentioned it to my doctor but he, as usual, made a little "joke" about angina and shrugged it off.

It doesn't seem to be a pulled muscle as it doesn't change with movement. BUT...if I press on the area, it does help (or is it just diverting my attention?)

This is driving me nuts! I have a doctor who refuses to put me through a test or two that will ease my mind or find out the problem. I'm 42, overweight and I don't think it's unrealistic to want to rule out anything serious.

Atypical Chest Pain

Your chest pain is unlikely to be serious given the nature of the pain and the fact you have had it on and off for 2 years. The pain is helped by compressing the chest wall and this would be in keeping with a musculoskeletal pain. Heart pain is not improved by pressing on the chest wall. Atypical chest pain like this is very common and always a source of worry for those who suffer with it. In women, the slipping rib syndrome is a common cause. This is a condition where 1 rib rubs on another giving rise to pain. It is usually treated with pain killers and sometimes physio or even professionally surgery. Your doctor should always treat you seriously and if you are not happy with them, change your doctor!




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