Angina versus Costochondritis

I have noticed that when walking or cycling, after about 15 minutes or so, I get a pain on the left side of the chest. Typically this stops when I get home. It feels like an ice cube is pressed against the chest, a sort of freezing sensation. The pain doesn't spread anywhere else and I don't feel out of breath. So far, this sounds worryingly like angina. .*But* when I press on the area, it feels tender, particularly over a small area of bone. This sounds more like Costochondritis (an inflammation of the chest wall). I spoke to clinician over the phone, who initially said it sounded like angina, but when I mentioned the tenderness on pressing, switched to saying it probably *wasn't* angina. I wondered what anyone who suffers from either condition or knows anything about them thought? I also wondered if there was an AF link?

[Buffafly]

I’ve had angina (verified by blood tests) and in the chest it is in centre under the breastbone and feels like a strong squeeze or ‘braking’ sensation and stops you in your tracks. You would have to be very determined (or stupid) to continue with what you were doing when it comes on. I am stupid and tried to carry on stuffing washing into the machine, nearly passed out. Other peoples experience may be different but it doesn’t sound like angina to me.

[Hidden in reply to Buffafly]

That's interesting and clarifies things. The freezing sensation doesn't worsen but just stays constant, so I guess that tips things in favour of costachondritis.

[etheral]

Hi, sounds like it would be prudent to have tests such as a stress test to rule out possibility of angina. It's probably costochondritis as you describe the tenderness, but ruling out coronary artery disease could save your life if it is not costochondritis.

[Auriculaire]

I was told by a doctor that if you can reproduce the pain in the chest by pressing on it it is unlikely to be heart related. I have suffered with chest pain for years and my sternum is nearly always tender . Also there are what are known as trigger points in various parts of the body for fibromyalgia. There are two on the upper chest. When I poke there the pain is agonising.

[Hidden in reply to Auriculaire]

Thanks for the reply. I hadn't considered fibromyalgia but I guess that's a possibility too. For the moment I will monitor it and see the GP if it worsens or isn't better after a week.

[Bagrat]

I was diagnosed with costochondritis many years ago. I have over time had a weird collection of chest pains and am always reassured if I get one I've had before as it didn't kill me last time.GP prodded both sides of chest and left was more tender. i said he'd prodded harder that side but he said not. There is a stress related element to costochondritis I'm told.

[Hidden in reply to Bagrat]

Thanks for the reply. I went out this afternoon and had the same sensation but it was milder. I carefully monitored breathing and heart rate and couldn't detect any difference. It's definitely a cold sensation rather than a pain as such.