Chest Pain. But not THAT kind of chest pain. I think. (Read 331 times)

mab411


Proboscis Colossus

    Been having some mild chest pain on my last few runs, in the area around my heart.

     

    I know, I know...get to a doctor immediately.  And I do have an appointment for this Tuesday (his closest available opening).  But there are some things about this that lead me and my school's PT specialist to think this might not be cause to sound the big alarm bells:

     

    1.  It's a very mild pain - around my heart, yes, but a far cry from the "I'm comin', Elizabeth!" variety.  Does not alter my breathing or stride at all.

     

    2.  It doesn't do any of the things typical of a cardiac event, doesn't get worse, doesn't radiate outward, and most significantly, goes away entirely after the first couple of miles.  Like, goes away to the point I keep forgetting to call the doctor after the run.

     

    3.  No other symptoms.  No nausea, no dizziness, no tightening, no shortness of breath, no irregular heartbeat etc,

     

    4.  It feels suspiciously like the pain I experienced after an injury summer before last, either a strained muscle around there or a cracked rib (never took x-rays so don't know for sure).  I recovered fully from that injury about a year ago, but maybe I lifted something or otherwise did something to slightly re-injure it.

     

    5.  I know this doesn't rule anything heart-related out, but I'm 37.

     

    Like I say, I am headed to the doctor, but does this sound familiar to anyone?  And besides a heart issue or the injury I mentioned, what else could it be?

    "God guides us on our journey, but careful with those feet." - David Lee Roth, of all people


    Not dead. Yet.

      I'm 37 also and had some weird pains going in there similar to what you mention.   Went to the doc and he said it is most likely heartburn.  They gave me a stress test to be safe, and when everything looked fine, they put me on a strong heartburn medication.  I haven't had a problem since.

       

      Go to the doc, but it's probably nothing.  You are a runner after all!

      How can we know our limits if we don't test them?

      Mysecondnewname


        I'm 37 also and had some weird pains going in there similar to what you mention.   Went to the doc and he said it is most likely heartburn.  They gave me a stress test to be safe, and when everything looked fine, they put me on a strong heartburn medication.  I haven't had a problem since.

         

        Go to the doc, but it's probably nothing.  You are a runner after all!

         

         

         

         

        mab411: you are smart to go see your doc.   Good luck to you!


        some call me Tim

          I've had some issues with costochondritis in the past that freaked me out and had me thinking something was wrong with my heart. Also reflux. Good on you for getting checked out... if nothing else, I thought the stress test was fun.

          BeeRunB


            Sometimes you can get pain in or around the sternum from of an injury like a pull or strain (like the oblique injury baseball players get). That happened me to last year after some hardy work in the yard and putting a machine together using hand tools. It lasted about a month or so. It was like a dull pain in or on the edge of the sternum that I could ease if I stretched my arms behind my back. It never lasted long and usually happened when i moved a certain way. Sometimes it would pop up in a run, but would go away after a stretch back. Faded away and haven't felt it in over a year now. Chest pain in the beginning of a run reminds me of a few true stories I've read about runners eventually dying or having a heart attack while on a run. They had been feeling discomfort in the beginning of their runs, that eventually went away. They didn't now it was a warning sign, which many people don't get. So, you're doing the right thing in this case. Hopefully it's nothing bad. Keep aspirin handy until you're cleared. Good luck.

            mab411


            Proboscis Colossus

              Chest pain in the beginning of a run reminds me of a few true stories I've read about runners eventually dying or having a heart attack while on a run. They had been feeling discomfort in the beginning of their runs, that eventually went away. They didn't now it was a warning sign, which many people don't get. So, you're doing the right thing in this case. Hopefully it's nothing bad. Keep aspirin handy until you're cleared. Good luck.

               

              Well, that's not good.  I have a lot of training runs scheduled between now and Tuesday.

              "God guides us on our journey, but careful with those feet." - David Lee Roth, of all people

              sbpbrent


              Ludwig Classic Maple

                One thing you should do (because you have nothing to lose and everything to gain) is to take an aspirin every day between today and Tuesday. It isn't going to hurt you.

                Marathon PR: 3:25:35 Fall Classic, 2014

                1/2 Marathon PR: 1:35:59, Mt. Sneffels Half Marathon, 2014

                 

                mab411


                Proboscis Colossus

                  One thing you should do (because you have nothing to lose and everything to gain) is to take an aspirin every day between today and Tuesday. It isn't going to hurt you.

                   

                  But, but...my machismo!

                  "God guides us on our journey, but careful with those feet." - David Lee Roth, of all people


                  Prince of Fatness

                    Well, that's not good.  I have a lot of training runs scheduled between now and Tuesday.

                     

                    Say that you do not run between now and your doctor appointment on Tuesday.

                     

                    If it turns out to be nothing, what have you lost by not running?

                    If it turns out to be something, what have you gained by not running?

                    Not at it at all. 

                    mab411


                    Proboscis Colossus

                       

                      Say that you do not run between now and your doctor appointment on Tuesday.

                       

                      If it turns out to be nothing, what have you lost by not running?

                      If it turns out to be something, what have you gained by not running?

                       

                      True.

                       

                      But, the answer to the first question isn't "nothing."  I'm in the middle of a training cycle, and while I wouldn't necessarily lose fitness over five days, it's an uncomfortable amount of time off, to the point I'd probably need to look at adjusting the plan.  Not to mention, if the doc thinks I need a stress test, it would probably be a few more days until I could get in for that (though I realize if he thinks I need one, then I definitely should be taking time off).

                      "God guides us on our journey, but careful with those feet." - David Lee Roth, of all people

                      Trent


                      Good Bad & The Monkey

                        Almost all cardiac-related chest pain is nothing like what is in the textbooks.

                         

                        Me, I would not run. Me, I would get it checked out ASAP. Tuesday? As in 6 days from now? Dude.

                        mab411


                        Proboscis Colossus

                           

                           

                          Me, I would not run. Me, I would get it checked out ASAP. Tuesday? As in 6 days from now? Dude.

                           

                          *shrugs*  That's the first available time he had, not sure what else I can do.  I am going to try to call tomorrow to see if I can plead my way in tomorrow afternoon, but I'm not optimistic.

                          "God guides us on our journey, but careful with those feet." - David Lee Roth, of all people

                          Trent


                          Good Bad & The Monkey

                            Ask for a referral to a cardiologist for a stress test immediately.

                            cookiemonster


                            Connoisseur of Cookies

                               

                              *shrugs*  That's the first available time he had, not sure what else I can do.  I am going to try to call tomorrow to see if I can plead my way in tomorrow afternoon, but I'm not optimistic.

                               

                              If you decide to go for a run anyway and develop chest pain you go to the ER and tell them you have chest pain that is new.  That generally gets their attention pretty quickly... even in 37 year old runners.

                               

                              From an ER standpoint, all chest pain is cardiac until proven otherwise.  I've seen 37 year old athletic patients get sent to the cath lab for presentations similar to yours.

                               

                              I'm with Trent.  Six days from now?  Come on.

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                              "C" is for cookie.  That's good enough for me.

                              cookiemonster


                              Connoisseur of Cookies

                                By the way, I'm not advocating you go for a run to induce chest pain.

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                                "C" is for cookie.  That's good enough for me.