Angina

[Overseventy]

I have AF and the Doctor is now querying angina as well . I have this tight burning chest ,am tired and breathless but also have a bad back which I thought was muscular could the two be connected I can hardly get out of bed at the moment.

[BobD Volunteer]

Has your doctor gven you a GTN spray and has it helped the pain? That is a short order test I would think. When angina was suspected with me years ago that was what happened. Since the GTN spray did not help it was decided it was somethng else.

[CDreamer]

I could only comment on connection with your back - if you have been inactive because of your heart conditions - it’s reasonable to think that your bad back has been exacerbated by inactivity. Backs like movement. My back often becomes painful poor posture and/or having to rest too much. Walking or movement of any sort always helps, trouble is the other conditions require rest so it’s a no win situation…….

Even though it’s painful if there’s nothing mechanically wrong with your back then keeping moving as much as possible does help.

[GrannyE]

I am sorry not to be able to answer your questions. I am no expert in heart problems because I am still on a learning curve myself but bad backs are something with which I do have experience. What I do know is that as CDreamer says you have to keep moving. There are some gentle exercises you could do and as one doc told me you can do 2 or 3 ten times a day. When you have a bad back your muscles have gone into spasm and you have to get them out of it. You therefore need to stretch the muscles. Take one or two tennis balls and sit on them or lie on them. You will know when you have it/them in the right place because that hurts the most. Try bringing you knees up to your chest and holding it. That opens up the back of the spine. Put a folded towel in the bed at waist height. Your buttocks and shoulders are on the bed and the towel fills in the hollow. This works for when you are on your back as well as on your side. Put a small cusion/pillow between your legs when on your side as this straightens the angle of your top leg. Same cushion under your knees when on your back because straight legs put a strain on the back. Always put something in the small of your back when sitting.See if you can get to a chiropractor or osteopath so they can put the offending bit back in place.

Both bad backs and bad hearts are so debilitating. Good luck.

[Ppiman]

As I understand it, there are various kinds of - and reasons for - angina. I expect your doctor is in the process of ordering more tests on your heart to determine the cause and treatment?

Steve

[Auriculaire]

Poke your chest where it hurts. If this makes the pain worse it is more likely to be skeletal. Your doctor should check you out for pulmomary embolism as well. This does not always present with a cough. If your pain worsens on activity and gets better with rest angina is probably more likely