Medical question NOT seeking diagnosis! ;)

[kaytieeldr]

Seriously. Well, unless you recognize and have had the exact same symptoms .

I'm trying to find/figure out who to see for help (more information below).

For the last three weeks, I have felt like I'm wearing a REALLY tight shrug or bolero. It's not muscle pain; it's not pain at all. Pain killers have zero effect. Range of motion isn't affected. The discomfort started across the back of my neck, around the front of my shoulders, under my arms and around to my back. It's also sometimes present across the front of my throat.

It's spread somewhat to the full front of my chest down to the bottom of my rib cage, and occasionally down to my waist in back. I feel the same tightness across my lower abdomen/stomach. In all cases, it feels like REALLY strong spandex, maybe 25% content or so? That's the best way I can describe it, or like my clothes are WAY too tight - which they're not.

Plus, my face and scalp are numb. Sometimes I have tingling in my hands and/or feet.

Okay, so far I've seen:

• Nurse practitioner, within days of symptoms presenting themselves. Check lungs - fine. Did EKG - fine. She diagnosed muscle spasms possibly pressing on nerves, and recommended physical therapy massage or chiropractor.
• Chiropractor starting the next day, three times a week for three weeks. Diagnosed sublaxation in sixth (or seventh?) verterbrae/disk. I don't expect miracles but the only change so far is the discomfort has spread.
• Primary care physician about a week after the nurse practitioner. Checked lungs - fine. Checked heart - fine. Asked a lot of questions - including what did I think was the cause? - prescribed a med for a different problem she noted, advised to follow up with NP in two weeks. That's this coming week, Wednesday specifically.

Since there are so many people here with so much varied knowledge and so many different experiences... who, as in what type of medical professional, do YOU recommend I see next?

Thanks in advance!

kaytieeldr

 

[imabrat]

It sounded like you might need to see a neurologist, but then you got to the numbness and tingling part. Um, yeah, you need to get to a neurologist asap! Your face being numb is NOT normal.

 

[PixieTopaz]

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-attack-symptoms/HB00054

 

[Christine]

Neurologist. Sounds like a nerve issue.

 

[Ponygirl]

Maybe your undergarments are too tight? I hope your situation is resolved soon.

 

[scnana]

Did you lift or pull at anything? Years ago I helped my husband move a bookcase and apparently pinched a nerve in my neck. No pain.....just tightness and numbness. Started in my neck and moved into my back and head and then cheeks. It was the strangest feeling I have ever had. I took Motrin and did some excercises with my neck and arms. It has been maybe 25 years and I still have this funny feeling across my shoulders once in a while, especially if I pull at something wrong.

 

[kaytieeldr]

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-attack-symptoms/HB00054

Thank you, PixieTopaz. I appreciate this information, REALLY. I'm not self-diagnosing, but I'm 99% certain it's not my heart. My blood pressure was checked as recently as Friday, my heart and lungs were checked - and fine - twice in the last three weeks, and on my first visit, about two and a half weeks ago, the results of the EKG were excellent.

Well, okay, to insert some humor here: the medical assistant was new and told me I didn't need to push up my sleeve for my blood pressure. The first reading came out at some really scary level like 87 over 60... because she was about six inches away from whatever blood vessel provides the reading!

---

To the other responders: thank you. I had not done anything unusual the day the discomofort started; I work at a desk but am not tied to it, and had not done anything odd - no heavy lifting, in fact no lifting period, don't recall moving funny, anything. No, my underwear isn't too tight but that's EXACTLY how I feel - so I'm discreetly (I hope) checking it repeatedly to make sure! But that, really, is a good way to describe it - it's like my bra is way too tight, but then when I take it off, it feels like I'm still wearing it

Having been diagnosed with seizure disorder almost twenty years ago, I don't have to go searching for a neurologist. I'll be on the phone at 9 AM Monday, making an appointment with the one I've been seeing all along!

Thank you all again!

kaytieeldr

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

With the face being number....could it be "Bell's palsy" (sp?).

I don't know the symptoms--but it seems to come on suddenly but eventually it does go away.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You bring up a good point, Lisa - I could have two entirely unrelated conditions! I'm still going to start - well, continue - with the neurologist as my next step, since he's probably the right person in both cases. We'll see...

 

[Disneylover79]

Wow as I read your posts I think to myself that you are having either a small heart attack or have high blood pressure, did you get blood work done? Did you get your heart lab work done (cpk,ck-mb,troponin)? What if I might as was your BP if you don't want to post it here please PM me and let me know. I am a NP for a cardiology group and if you came to my office I would send you for a Stress test, and lab work and an ECHO done...Women/and some men present completely different then the traditional symptoms...Yes an EKG can be normal and you can still be having a heart attack...please I do not mean to scare you, I only mean to have you get completely checked out, please feel free to PM me for anything you need....

 

[Pea-n-Me]

My DH had something similar. They sent him for an MRI which showed he had arthritic changes in his neck that were compressing some of the nerves that come out between the vertebrae. They said it's not uncommon in middle age.

Here's an illustration of what happened in his case. I hope it's something as simple for you. Good luck. http://www.spineuniverse.com/conditions/neck-pain/why-pinched-nerves-cause-back-neck-pain

 

[Ponygirl]

I'm happy that we've ascertained that your undies aren't in a bunch.

I recently experienced shortness of breath like something heavy was on my chest keeping me from breathing, and chest pressure. I felt like something was binding me, too. I underwent many tests including a heart cath, and as a last resort, my cardiologist finally decided to stop my very low dose thyroid medicine. After a week or so, my symptoms began to fade and finally went away. The medicine was made by a different generic manufacturer than I had been used to taking.

Keep in mind any new medicine, or change in prescription strengths. Also note any new supplements or vitamins and be sure to let your doctors know. It is scary and stressful to experience such things and I hope you get answers soon.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Wow as I read your posts I think to myself that you are having either a small heart attack or have high blood pressure, did you get blood work done? Did you get your heart lab work done (cpk,ck-mb,troponin)? What if I might as was your BP if you don't want to post it here please PM me and let me know.

Not a problem - it ended up being actually (after the stethoscope was placed correctly ) 127/78, and in the same range both both subsequent checks - 128/77 Friday, and I don't remember when the physician took it in between.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Have you tried Zantac for heartburn? Just throwing it out there since my symptoms are pressure and not pain.

 

[smkiya]

My initial thought was 'heart', but you've had that checked... Second would be a neurologist.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Argh! It's a freaking holiday in Massachusetts and the neurologist's office is CLOSED today!! Arghh!!

No, really, it's not that bad. One more day isn't going to make a difference. I'm uncomfortable, but NOT in pain in any way. I know this because my ketaprophen prescription which works for everything else, doesn't make a difference here .