Left side of Chest.....Am I making myself worse??

[slj2012]

Hi All,
I am a long term sufferer of Anxiety and think I have experienced most symptoms which I am usually quite good at shrugging off as anxiety effects.
Just before xmas I started to experience alot of aches and odd pains in my upper back and left side of my chest. I again put it down to anxiety and so did my therapist.
However, I am still experiencing these feelings. I cant really describe it but it is just under my left breast and under my armpit around my side slightly. It isn't a pain as such but I am aware of something not feeling right. The only way to describe it is almost like a nerve pain..a niggling unpleasant feeling. If i bend forward or move certain ways I feel it more. Also my upper back does ache all over and if i put my arms together behind by back it all feels bruised. I am so terrified of docs etc so haven't been. I think I am making myself worse by constantly thinking about what it might be, as soon as I wake up its on my mind. Therefore Im experiencing alot of dizzyness and balance problems which I have suffered on and off for years.
Can anyone relate to me or offer me any advice PLEASE?

[trainwreck]

I would never discourage anyone from going to the doctor, or discount their symptoms.  But what differentiates us HA people from "normal" people is not the aches and pains that we get.  Everyone gets them. (We actually get more of them because our hyper-vigilance causes MORE anxiety, which in fact does cause pain) But we automatically think it is something very bad.  But the fact of life is that every single person get unexplained aches and pains.  It is how we react that sets us apart. 

I would also discuss your fear of docs with your therapist. 

That being said, I get the same stuff, but on my right side. 

[msgb98]

When things happen especially on the left side of the chest it frightens people. I know I have been there. I have gone to my doctor when it gets really bad. One of the things you might take into consideration is seeing your docotr. But the diagnosis could be costochondritis and that is something that is caused by the intercostal muscles of the ribs. The main side it happens on is the left and it can mimic chest pains of a heart attack.
I would suggest seeing your doctor.

[crikee57]

I will also say that it is not a bad idea to check with your doctor.  However I will then say that I have checked with my doctor about the very same issues and been told that it is chest wall pain or pain in the intercostal muscles as well. My doctor also consulted with a breast health doctor since it was around my left breast and she said this kind of pain is very common in women. I have had my heart checked out and it is healthy.

I continually struggle with the pain and despite assurance from my doctor that my heart is healthy, I still fear the worst.  I do notice that the more anxious I am the worse the pain and weird feeling get.  I understand the weird feeling.  To me it feels almost like the area is empty or not sitting right.  I also get the dizziness and the feeling that I can't get my bearings due to anxiety and panic.  The only thing I can recommend is to see a doctor if it will put your mind at ease and try to work on accepting the feelings as symptoms of anxiety and not a sign of something more.

Be well