Left back and left hand pain, heart attack or carpal tunnel?

It varies: Symptoms of heart attack are classically crushing chest pain that radiates into the jaw and left arm. Other symptoms can be back or arm/hand pain. If you have any question whether you may be having a heart attack, you should immediately go to your nearest emergency department. Carpal tunnel syndrome is related to compression of the median nerve in the wrist and is not a heart attack.

Needs evaluation: Symptoms of left sided pain and numbness in the arm can often be confused with a heart attack. However, it is critical that any symptoms of left arm pain associated with any cardiac issues such as chest pain or shortness of breath have an evaluation to rule out a heart attack.