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What Causes Upper Left-sided Chest Pain When Lifting The Head Up?
Question: I am on Metoprolol now since about February. My BP was spiking out of the blue for about a year and they chalked it up to anxiety since my bloodwork and cholesterol was great. Now every time I gargle with my head tipped back or lift my left arm straight up over my head I get aching pain in my upper left inside of chest. Any ideas?
Brief Answer:
Likely possibility of a muscle strain
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to health care magic,
I have read your query and understand your concern.
The fact that you have shared here, your left upper chest pain is occurring with movements (head tipped back or while lifting left arm) indicates a muscle strain on left side of chest.
Any strained muscle when stretched gives severe pain, so this could be because of muscular or musculoskeletal origin, the first possibility comes in my mind.
You may try below measures and symptomatic treatment for some relief.
1. Avoid repetitive overhead activities by the left hand especially.
2. Give adequate rest to the involved muscle group and avoid any movement that causes pain. Do not carry any heavy object or bag on your left arm.
3. Apply ice packs for about 15 minutes twice or thrice daily over the affected area.
4. Apply diclofenac based topical ointment and see if gives relief or not (available over the counter)
5. You can take also oral pain killers (ibuprofen or aleve) if pain is severe or topical application does not give relief.
EKG can also be done to be on the safer side. However, it is highly unlikely to be having some heart origin.
In case,if chest pain is persisting even after 1 or 2 days with this symptomatic treatment,I will suggest you to see some local doctor or your treating physician for further evaluation. And continue to take your anti-hypertensive medications as prescribed by your doctor.
Hope this information will help you.
Thanks and Regards,
Dr.Sandip Kabra.
Likely possibility of a muscle strain
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to health care magic,
I have read your query and understand your concern.
The fact that you have shared here, your left upper chest pain is occurring with movements (head tipped back or while lifting left arm) indicates a muscle strain on left side of chest.
Any strained muscle when stretched gives severe pain, so this could be because of muscular or musculoskeletal origin, the first possibility comes in my mind.
You may try below measures and symptomatic treatment for some relief.
1. Avoid repetitive overhead activities by the left hand especially.
2. Give adequate rest to the involved muscle group and avoid any movement that causes pain. Do not carry any heavy object or bag on your left arm.
3. Apply ice packs for about 15 minutes twice or thrice daily over the affected area.
4. Apply diclofenac based topical ointment and see if gives relief or not (available over the counter)
5. You can take also oral pain killers (ibuprofen or aleve) if pain is severe or topical application does not give relief.
EKG can also be done to be on the safer side. However, it is highly unlikely to be having some heart origin.
In case,if chest pain is persisting even after 1 or 2 days with this symptomatic treatment,I will suggest you to see some local doctor or your treating physician for further evaluation. And continue to take your anti-hypertensive medications as prescribed by your doctor.
Hope this information will help you.
Thanks and Regards,
Dr.Sandip Kabra.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Answered by
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