What Causes Tightness In Chest Along With Pain In Neck?

Posted on Tue, 24 Feb 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 24 Feb 2015 Answered on

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I started with tightening in the chest with a sharp pain in the neck and pain radiating to the back. I feel the pain in the back when I breathe. Now the tighten in the chest is mild, the pain in the shoulder is an ache but the pain in the back is very sharp. It stops my breathe to bend over or to lay down. It is also causing my elbow and wrist to ache. The pain is on the right side.

Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Relax, it seems an extra cardiac pain

Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thank you for your question on HCM! Regarding your concern It seems that the pain characteristics are compatible with an extra cardiac cause (no myocardial ischaemia).
I would say that the first suspicions lay on a pleural or pericardial pain (modulation by respiration, pain irradiation pattern); but we have to rule out a radicular pain (from spinal cord) as it is modulated by posture.
To begin the differential diagnosis you need a careful physical examination to confirm any pericardial or pleural friction rubs, and associated findings. Probably a prior inflammation has affected pericardium or pleura. Did you have a flu or cold recently, fever or coughing? Some blood tests like complete blood count, erythrosedimentation rate, PCR, helps to differentiate an inflammation. You need an ECG, chest X rays study and a cardiac ultrasound to confirm directly pericarditis and pleuritis.
To elucidate a radicular pain you should perform a radiography of the cervical spinal cord.
So to conclude, to cut it clear and short for you: you must consult an internist and perform the above exams to rule out any of the three mentioned causes.
Hope to have been helpful to you! Feel free to ask me whenever you need! Best regards! Dr. Iliri

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T