Fibromyalgia Support Group

my name is lydia!! i have been experiencing a nonstop burning pain that radiates from my lft chest to my left arm. It stops around my elbow joint. I have had it for a year now and it burns so bad. Does this sound like fibro? The doctors keep looking at me like I am crazy and I am so frustrated from going to the E.R. and crying when they can not find anything

Hi lydiaf and welcome to our group. All I can say is if that is your only symptom, then no it does not sound like fibro. I would still ask your doctor about fibro if you are concerned you might have it, but fibro does not usually present itself in one part of the body with one symptom. Find a doctor familiar with fibro and talk too them. Left arm is more a warning of heart trouble, but I would think they would have checked that in the ER. I hope this helps.

Hello Lydiaf,

Welcome to our group ~~~~~

I don t think your arm burning would be Fibro either ...unless this is the onset of it. However, if the burning has been going on for a whole year already, I seriously doubt that it is Fibro.

What exactly did your dr. tell you when you described the burning to him/her? I would have thought that he/she would have given you some idea as to what it might be or referred you to someone who could dx it.

Sorry, I couldn t be of more help !!

Marilyn

I would consider perhaps a nerve causing you trouble. This doesn't sound like fibro though. If your dr. isn't helping, you need to find a new dr.

I'm with Cornbread. It sounds like a pinched nerve. Since you've had an EKG and an MRI of the brain already (both negative) and since you've had this pain for over a year, have you gone to an ortho specialist or any other doctor for this pain? Has your doctor sent you for Physical therapy? Have you had an EMG? How long ago did you have the EKG and MRI?

I've read your posts in the GERD forum also. What you described doesn't sound like fibro.

If I were you, I'd find a different doctor that can refer you for tests from specialists.

WELCOME Lydiaf, First I'd like to welcome you to this family. You have come to the right place for support, understanding and advice. Are you on any meds. Does this pain come and go, or stay? How often do you have this pain? Is it all the time or once in a while? I had this same pain and I was hospitalized and they did a Flexsig and told me that I have a severe case of Acid Reflux Disease. Mine went from the left side of my face and jaw, down the left side of my neck and into my shoulder and down my left arm and made my left hand tingle. I really thought I was having a heart attack and my husband did to, he's a heart attack survivor and he knew what to look for. Acid Refux can and does mimic a heart attack. I would check with your doctor and tell him what's going on. He can do some tests to see if it's Acid Refux. Again, Welcome. I hope that I helped you? God Bless You. shortstuff

Did your doc check into upper gastrointestinal? I know that at the beginning, first 6 months or so, I was having pain in my upper chest and tightening in my ribs. Tests came out fine. Of course.

It does sound neurological if it's that's isolated of an area and has not changed. I am just basing that on all the hundred or so doctor visits that I've been on.

A lot of people suggest chiropractors for such things, too.

I wish you well.

Hello everyone!! Thank you so much for responding!! It all started after taking two maximum strength women a day vitamins and eating Mrs. Winners lol. I went to sleep woke up only to feel this crushing burning sensation in my left arm and chest. I seriously thought I was having a heart attack. I have been to three different E.R.'s and they all hooked me up to an ekg and took various cat scans of my brain. I even went vanderbilt march of 2008 where they gave me an mri of my brain with contrast dye. Everything came back fine. I did not have an health insurance so all the physicians would not even try to find the problem once the testing became too expensive and now I have a federal funded insurance that most of the good doctors do not accept. My life has taken a drastic turn. My grades have dropped and I have e.r. medical bills It had been going and not to mention I lost my job. My family is getting frustrated with me and everyone thinks I am going coo coo when I say I am feeling this pain. It has been on the same side for exactly one year and the pain does not go away until I sleep. It burns soooo bad and sometimes it feel as if my muscles are tightening up around that area!! I am so clueless and have looked up my symptoms on the internet countless times. I have changed my pcp and I pray the that this one will be better!! Thank you so much for your support!! It really means the world to me because gradually everyone is giving up on me!! God Bless!!

Have you seen a neurologist? How about a chiropractor? Might be something to check into if you haven't already.

Oh, my goodness. I am so sorry that you sound like so many of us here on this site. I hear you about the family thing, too. YOU are not 'coo coo'. You definetly are not. I know what you mean about the squeezing and burning.

I encourage you to stay with this site for support. We feel your pain. I know it's so hard. BIG HUGS for you!