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What Causes Radiating Pain In Upper Chest, Neck And Under The Sternum?
Posted on
Fri, 13 May 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 13 May 2016
Answered on
Thu, 23 Jun 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : Basically at my wits end.have been ezoeriencing a mixture of upoer chest pain, radiating theoufh to my vack stbtimes and more recentyba feeking if being punched under my sternum.
The pain comes and goes. No triggers eg. Food etc that i can link.
Simetimes gaviscon eases it and more recently panadol.
I have had an endoscopy and the resujts were completely normal.
However last few days i am experiencing on and off stimach cramps and bloating, and foul smelling frequent gas. And i am experiencing slight constipation ir if i go only pellets come out. Or at times my poo can be very slugdy! Sorry for graffic detail but i am very stressef about pain, in pain and just over it!!!
Im getting an upper ultrasound in 2 days.
But if that shows nothing i'm at a loss!!!
Please help with any advice at all!!
The pain comes and goes. No triggers eg. Food etc that i can link.
Simetimes gaviscon eases it and more recently panadol.
I have had an endoscopy and the resujts were completely normal.
However last few days i am experiencing on and off stimach cramps and bloating, and foul smelling frequent gas. And i am experiencing slight constipation ir if i go only pellets come out. Or at times my poo can be very slugdy! Sorry for graffic detail but i am very stressef about pain, in pain and just over it!!!
Im getting an upper ultrasound in 2 days.
But if that shows nothing i'm at a loss!!!
Please help with any advice at all!!
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Your symptoms could be related to a gastro-intestinal disorder, including irritable bowel syndrome or pancreas dysfunction.
I would recommend performing some tests:
-a chest X ray study (as your pain is under your sternum, other causes like lungs or mediastinal disorder, should be excluded)
- an abdominal ultrasound to examine your liver, biliary tract, pancreas and kidney
- some blood lab tests (complete blood count, PCR, sedimentation rate for inflammation, blood electrolytes, kidney and liver function tests, lipaze and amylaze plasma levels for the pancreas).
- a stool bacterial culture and examination for parasites ( a gastro-intestinal infection can cause similar symptoms).
- a thoraco-lumbar column X ray study to examine for possible back bone disorder (although this would not explain the changes in your stool)
If all the above tests result normal, you should consider irritable bowel syndrome as the main cause of your symptoms. In such case, treatment with anti-spastics and modifying your diet (avoiding fried food, spicy food, caffeine, etc.).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Your symptoms could be related to a gastro-intestinal disorder, including irritable bowel syndrome or pancreas dysfunction.
I would recommend performing some tests:
-a chest X ray study (as your pain is under your sternum, other causes like lungs or mediastinal disorder, should be excluded)
- an abdominal ultrasound to examine your liver, biliary tract, pancreas and kidney
- some blood lab tests (complete blood count, PCR, sedimentation rate for inflammation, blood electrolytes, kidney and liver function tests, lipaze and amylaze plasma levels for the pancreas).
- a stool bacterial culture and examination for parasites ( a gastro-intestinal infection can cause similar symptoms).
- a thoraco-lumbar column X ray study to examine for possible back bone disorder (although this would not explain the changes in your stool)
If all the above tests result normal, you should consider irritable bowel syndrome as the main cause of your symptoms. In such case, treatment with anti-spastics and modifying your diet (avoiding fried food, spicy food, caffeine, etc.).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further follow-up it is advisable to consult an emergency medicine specialist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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