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Doctor insights on: Sharp Pains In Upper Back And Chest

Yes: Even though young (19-year-old) females rarely have heart attacks, they still do. The history of neck problems, may be able to explain the cause of your pain. However, young females still do have heart attacks, and the most concerning fact is that you are worried. A heart attack can become dangerous in minutes. You should speak with your doctor immediately, if this is not possible, call 911.

Chest pains: Pain in your chest is a serious medical condition. It is always a red flag and appointment with your pcp is warranted. Rec.: see your pcp for further investigation. Take care.

Discuss with MD: You need an evaluation, it could be nothing but will need an evaluation and good physical exam, to rule out heart or lung causes. In your age group it is most likley musculoskeletel, but still warrants an evaluation.

Chest pain: May be pleuritis, given your age and asthma issues. May be costochondritis, a very common problem also in your age group. Less common, but more ominous is cardiac pain--get that one checked asap.

Chest, back pain: Please make an appointment to see a medical doctor to discuss your chest and upper back pain and insomnia. A good history and physical exam can help rule out anything serious such as cardiac disease and the doctor can advise as to pain treatment. Often young women suffer from breast cyst pain and muscle/skeletal strain syndromes.

Depends: To answer this question, we like to know the duration of this pain, the nature, provoking factors and relieving factors. Causes can be due to muscle strain, heart disease, lung disease, infections, tumors, esophageal spasms, blood clots, etc. Get checked out!

Muscular?: Often, sharp, brief pains in the chest are due to strained ligaments or joints In chest wall where rib joins to breast bone, called costochondritis. When you bend, turn, deep breathe, or cough this can cause brief stabbing pain. Usually heat to area and Advil or aleve (naproxen) can help. If pain continues to occur, or gets worse, or you get short of breath or other symptoms, see doctor again. Good luck!

Upper back pain?: Have you had a neck injury? Do you work stooped over at a desk? The new pain sounds like it might be nerve-related. Consider seeing a doctor since you have had it for one year already and are getting new symptoms now.

Many: Causes...Get evaluated by your physician.

Muscle: Bending the neck stretches the upper back and posterior neck musculature which in your case could be too tight or strained from certain exercises or activities. Perhaps massage therapy would help the problem resolve. If you're doing exercises that are straining these structures, you may have to avoid or modify them.

Virus: Sounds like an upper respiratory infection, which may be viral or bacterial. If persisting beyond a week without improvement, go see your doctor for an exam. If chest pain is intense or short of breath at all, go see an MD now, not in a week.

Not likely: Not likely lung cancer. Sounds like muscle-skeletal pain, ie muscle sprain. If it persists for a few weeks then it warrants a doctor visit. Your ct scan is normal so this is less likely lung cancer. Lung cancer doesn't make you hurt upon touch. Smokers have a 20 fold risk of getting lung cancer. But that risk goes down significantly if they quit for about 5 years.

Most likely: Musculoskeletal pain.

Call 911: The heaviness, pain or pressure in your chest is always a red flag and visit to the ER or Urgent Care is warranted. Do not drive, call 911.

Not sure but: You need to get checked by a healthcare provider. Sometimes cold water showers can cause some muscle stiffness and constriction of blood vessels, which will exacerbate an autoimmune condition. Sometimes hot water showers can cause a heat-induced cramp. But it is unusual and should be examined by a healthcare professional.

Your back & ribs are: Connected! So anything pulling from the back will also affect the front chest area. So if you feel tight in your chest, the ribs also connect from the spine to the front into the sternum. Once you're back is released, so will your chest feel more relaxed. Everything's connected. So see if you can get a sports massage, or start doing some deep diaphragmatic breathing to release your back & chest.

Back pain: It's difficult to determine the cause of the pain based on the limited description of symptoms. However progressive pain which is ongoing for five months is a red flag. I would recommend that you see a spine specialist or neurosurgeon to determine the cause of the pain and begin a treatment plan to eliminate it.

Mechanical: This is probably muscular. You need evaluation of musculoskeletal system. This will decide if it's muscle, bone, chest wall, lung, tendon, bursa, vertebral, etc.

Probable Rib Problem: This description is most often seen in my practice when a patient has a rib that has gotten locked-down in front. Usually, ribs rise with inhalation or with stretching. If something causes them to stop moving upward, pain in both front and back usually occur. Osteopathic hands-on exam can often find the culprit which can then be relieved with manipulation of the rib (or, sometimes vertebra).

Pain: Pain is the body's way of telling us to seek assistance. See your family doc or orthopedist. Good luck.