Pain under left breast and ache in shoulderblade

[NoPoet]

Don't be scared. If you were having heart problems you would certainly know it.

The problem is likely muscular, or maybe a trapped nerve, or could even be pleurisy (inflammation of the lining of the lungs) or something like that. Does it hurt when you breathe in and out? Especially if you get a stitch-like feeling? That could be pleurisy or even heartburn and is not likely to be something you need to be scared of, but if you get it for a few days have a word with your GP; you might need to take ibuprofen (for pleuritic pain) or an antacid (for heartburn).

Does the pain come on when you move your arm into a certain position? Maybe you've been holding the steering wheel in an odd position while driving for a long distance, or are sitting in a bad posture at your computer, or you tried to lift something that was too heavy for you? Maybe you banged your shoulder and thought nothing of it at the time, but days later you've come out in a bruise.

Breathing difficulties may indicate pleurisy or chest infection, but ask yourself if you're feeling especially anxious, as anxiety is nearly always the problem.

[claire.xx]

Well i only seem to really notice it at night, its only on my left side chest, breast bone and shoulder blade. now u mention it i do get a strange feeling of relief when i press on and around the actual shoulder blade but could that cause pain to chest

[Glasgow_guy]

Hi Claire, I'm going through a similar thing myself at the moment. It certainly feels terrifying, however, I've found some things that have really helped me:

1) Talk to your doctor. Don't feel silly about doing this, but I found that going to the doctor made me feel much better as he put my mind at ease.

2) Read all you can here about health anxieties similar to your own. It has really helped me to be able to learn more about it, the best thing is knowing that I'm not alone in these feelings.

3) Distract yourself. I find the same problem. I get these feelings at night. It's mainly because your mind isn't occupied and you have time to panic about every pain you get. So I distract myself with playing some video games (yes I am a big kid) or watching a movie.If you have an ipod or mp3 player listening to music while falling asleep or keeping the tv on for something to listen to really helps take my mind off it.

I get pains in my chest, in my arm, on my shoulders, between my shoulder blades, in my jaw and neck, but really it's just tension.When you're tense you are tensing your muscles (especially in the areas you are worried about) without realising.Deep breathing really helps and if all else fails just jump back on here and we'll all keep you company while you go through it

[alfisback1]

Hi Claire, I'm going through a similar thing myself at the moment. It certainly feels terrifying, however, I've found some things that have really helped me:

1) Talk to your doctor. Don't feel silly about doing this, but I found that going to the doctor made me feel much better as he put my mind at ease.

2) Read all you can here about health anxieties similar to your own. It has really helped me to be able to learn more about it, the best thing is knowing that I'm not alone in these feelings.

3) Distract yourself. I find the same problem. I get these feelings at night. It's mainly because your mind isn't occupied and you have time to panic about every pain you get. So I distract myself with playing some video games (yes I am a big kid) or watching a movie.If you have an ipod or mp3 player listening to music while falling asleep or keeping the tv on for something to listen to really helps take my mind off it.

I get pains in my chest, in my arm, on my shoulders, between my shoulder blades, in my jaw and neck, but really it's just tension.When you're tense you are tensing your muscles (especially in the areas you are worried about) without realising.Deep breathing really helps and if all else fails just jump back on here and we'll all keep you company while you go through it

This is some great advice, I am going through similar pains as you, and truly the best thing to do is surround yourself with people that make you laugh, I feel great when I'm laughing and having a good time, but when I'm by myself I notice all the little pains and magnify them by 1000. Anxiety is a very slippery slope, I highly recommend talking to a professional about any worries you have, but keep in mind that you're likely fine, and it's just your mind playing tricks on you.

[aveeava]

Hello all, im a new member to this site but deff. not new to reading things on this site. I have to say when i saw this post i knew exactly what you were talking about. Im 20 years old and get tons of pain under my left breast and weird left solder blade pains. I've also been battling really badly with GAD[generlized axiety disorder] and figure that to be the cause of most of my pains. as far as my left shoulder blade pain I have a sebacous cyst that ive had for many years now and im waiting to get it removed, that causes a lot of my back pain. I also have a pinched nerve back there....or so the lady at the ER told me. I would go to the doctors maybe and see if you can get an X-ray because you might just have a pinched nerve causing you to have pain in your left shoulder blade and lower chest area. And if you do have anxiety issuse then the pain is probably nothing to worry about, even though its hard not to worry with anxiety. Hope everything is okay

[**twinkle**]

I was having lots of pain on my left side. Particulary (sp?) in my shoulder, kneck and chest. I was convinced it had something to do with my heart, but my doctor said its just muscle tension.
If you can, treat yourself to a nice massage.
Sometimes i use DeepHeat and it works a treat.
Hope this helps.

[Gabriel]

Hey all,

I am a 30 year old male from Kent, UK. I have been sufferring from a pain in my chest left of the centre of my chest (sternum) for over two and a half years.

The pain comes and goes and varies in severity - I would best describe it as an ache then a pinching pain and under my left shoulder blade aches also. My left ribs on my side are tender also and I get tingles (very gentle) every now and again in my left hand.

I have been in hospital 52 times and had every test that modern science has (according to doctors) and been dignosed with everything from Costocondritus to stress to acid...its just simply ridiculous - getting diagnosed is just simply pot luck it feels.

Anyway, when the pain comes on - if I start to tense the left side of my chest - guess what my whole left ribcage feels like it needs to go crack (if you get what I mean).

I have had so many ecg's they know me by name now and most of my details but always perfect (yep perfect), my heart rate is always strong and solid, blood pressures perfect, cholesterol is perfect, oxygen levels perfect, blood tests show no strain or markers for heart trouble. I even had all my organs checked and all ... yep you guessed it...fine!

I even had a stress test and they had a specialist read my results which were 8 mins long on level three - and they were yep you guessed it...fine.

So what is it? - I used to get serious anxiety attacks that usually started with a cough and then I couldn't stop sometimes throwing up (or trying too) until I got myself under control. This could be due to my brother dying aged 24 in 2007 of sudden adult death which as you can appreciate for a close family shook the very fibre of my reality.

I have a family history of heart trouble including my dad, my brother and both grandparents on both sides - so basically genetically I wrote myself off but medical science is saying otherwise???

I should be feeling elated but all this time later the ache continues and no let up - any doctors or specialist reading this and fancy a stab at a diagnosis - Im listening.

And for those suffering these symptoms my heart goes out to you as it is the most frightening feeling in the world thinking your dying and no-one knows why. Anyone who wants to say hello can email me on GabrielVHelsing@live.co.uk

When panicking remember the brain has just sent a rogue message for your body to react and YOUR OK!

Gabe

[S_Hopkins]

Hi,I have been having these symptoms for the past 3 days.I finally went to the doctors today and they have given me tablets to take,sent me for a blood and urinal test.But they advised me to take plenty of hot showers to stretch my muscles and to sleep flat at night and sit up straight where possible.

Hope this helps all my fellow sufferers! :O

Sammi

[malisobel76]

I have been having trouble with my left shoulder and ribcage for quite some time. The pain seems to migrate from one place to another in the ribcage, but I have a fairly consistent pain right below the shoulder blade. I have suffered very much anxiety over this. My chiropracter is convinced that he can fix it, but after every adjustment it seems to get worse. I definately think that anything you feel will only feel one hundred times worse when anxiety is involved. I have a lot of guilt and fear from being a smoker for so many years (about 13 yrs, quit for 8 months) so I constantly convince myself it's lung cancer. I think that my pain comes from anxiety and from my adjustments...

[B-gal]

Hi there,

I was on here just the other day asking advice with very similar ailments. I had a pain around chest area and shoulder blades which worsened with breathing in, and also had a crushing sensation around the back of my chest and front of my chest. Im pretty sure it was anxiety, I'm currently waiting on test results about something different and this pain came on the day before I went to the doctors and think it was just the stress. But after finding out from guys on here that it was a classic anxiety symptom, it totally disappeared. Such a strange sensation that I was causing the pain myself.

Hope you feel better and that it will be as simple for you
xxx