Does anyone else get an ache in their chest which extends down the arms and into the hands and pins and needles in hands.
I am getting it both in and out of an episode of P-AF, this is a new to me. It has been happening for a couple of months. It is not something brought on by excercise
I asked at the arrhythmia clinic on Monday and they say it is not AF related and not to worry see a GP if it continues which is easier said than done. I think if feels AF related but it could by lungs that is why I am asking.
Written by
doodle68
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I get this regularly and have it currently. I have had every cardiac test in the book and my EP says its is not cardiac related. I have Afib and SVT.
I have been told its gastric driven and as I have gastric issues I am pretty sure that is the cause. It often feels like rheumatic pain but it isn't as I have been extensivley checked for that too. The pain often feels muscle and nerve driven. Its a wearing pain and at times I loose confidence and think it is heart related but I think in truth in my case it is gastric driven. I empathise with you. A hot water bottle often eases it somewhat.
Hi Meadfoot thank you so much for your reply, that is reassuring . I have asthma and my chest isn't good at the moment so wondering if it is that . No gastric problems here, no reflux I am pretty sure it is not gastric related. It really does feel like my heart area and extending to the tip of my fingers.
my pain is exactly the same. Its scary and unlike anything else I can relate too. Its been goong on for a number of years now and comes and goes but is there most days. I am pretty convinced it is nervous system driven although I dont know the mechanics of it but I find any area of weakness in the body soon becomes extra sensitive. Have you asked your medic about it.
...Hi Meadfoot, I spoke to my EP (via his nurse) and he said unless it came on with excercise not to worry it was not heart related.
I have been diagnosed by x ray with severe osteoarthritis in my spine and both hips and have a programme of excercise I do daily from a private physiotherapist (3 months wait for NHS) so it could be related to my spine . It does have a muscular feel at times.
It is hard to describe, the chest ache comes first then the arms and hands, it lasts from a couple on minutes to hours. I was scared because I know chest 'pain' with AF can be serious but it is not really pain . Reassured someone else has similar.
Now thats made me think. The spine connection could have something to do with it for me too. I will look into this aspect further. Somehow right at the back of my mind, hitherto dismissed, has made me wonder about spinal nerves and if there was any connection whatsoever. Sometimes its as if our mind has this vague unformed suggestions intended to prompt us.
I have had costachondritis suggested as a cause but not sure about that however when the pains we both suffer are particularly intense then I can feel the cartlidge between my ribs are extra tender. If nerves are involved then that makes sense.
I had excruciating epigastric pain for three years even having my gall bladder removed as the potential cause. However the pain didnt ease and I was later diagnosed with ACNES a epigastric nerve entrapment, a rectal sheath injection solved the problem immediately alongside intensive physio. Again mainly linked to a nerve origin. Makes us wonder doesnt it. Good luck for some ease.
Sounds neurological to me if heart disease is ruled out. I used to get terrible pain in my shoulder and arm, GP diagnosed frozen shoulder but eventually a physio diagnosed a trapped nerve in my neck, two weeks of exercise and lifestyle adjustment and it went!
I'm so glad you posted this as I've had a horrible bout of something similar this week and the husband got really worried looking up signs of impending heart attack.In got these pins and needles running up and down both legs and often the left arm soon after getting my first AF diagnosis. I recall posting on here and others pointing me towards 'peripheral neuropathy'. I later found out that these symptoms are often reported by those suffering anxiety. It was mentioned in a talk given on Virtual Patients Day in 2021.
My recent bout is due to having missed out on my massages this year, using my phone a lot over the Christmas period (instead of my laptop.), high anxiety due to external circumstances- recent floods here and water lapping against the house. 2 days later and BOOM the pain of pins and needles heat, chest, arms, legs, back, almost unbearable.
Here's what I know:
Vagus nerve has many pathways, including chest, neck, back, shoulders, heart, larynx and stomach. So digestive issues really can give us symptoms similar to a heart attack.
In my case I can trap my sciatic nerve on the left, which goes all down the leg and can go up the back. I also discovered a nerve cluster called the Brachial plexus. It's in the arm and it goes all over! Multiple branches. Holding my phone now in my left hand and I can feel it starting up again.
What helps?
Physical therapy.
Find a good massage therapist and treat yourself as often as you can. Takes time for them to get to know your body but totally worth the investment.
I also do yoga. A gentle style called Vinni yoga. Everyone in our class is over 60 and we go at an appropriate pace.
I've found Feldenkrais very beneficial too. It works in a less direct way than massage by helping send messages to the body that it can move in different ways.
Others here will have tried other Physical therapies with success.
Nerves are buggers! Once they get fired up they can continue to grumble long beyond the original problem.
Try not to worry. Get help in getting to know and being kind to your physical body.
I want to second your thoughts above, Singwell, esp. re anxiety and the darned vagus nerve, which is so tricky. AF causes so much fear and anxiety in itself, I used to take a small dose of Ativan to relieve chest tightness and mild aching around the heart when an AF episode came on. I found that using warm water in a hot water bottle, laying it on or near my heart, had such a comforting feel that I didn't need the Ativan anymore. I also had success using EFT, or "tapping," to get rid of anxiety--that actually can work well, because you are tapping on certain acupuncture points.
Due to AF I started sleeping sitting up (lying down triggered afib), and sitting seems to cause many more aches & pains... then the inflammation got much worse for me w/ my inflammatory bowel disease, and I notice many "weird" pains in back, shoulders, neck... AND I have numbess that started in feet and gradually crept up legs and "other parts"--the doctors all say "that's the inflammation." So I think a combination of our anxiety and our inflammatory status is indeed causing many of the stray symptoms we notice. And we're a sensitive lot, so we definitely notice every little thing! God bless and heal all of us! Diane S.
Hi - not intending to worry you but I agree with Aingeful here - I had a heart attack a year ago that lasted hours as I hadn’t identified it as such as not what I would call pain - ache in shoulder blades and down arms (both) so please get checked to rule this out
Hi there, I am new to this site and this symptom is one of my most uncomfortable, as you say I get a weird pain (but not pain, it's hard to explain its just uncomfortable) in my left side of chest/shoulder area and runs down my left arm with a tingling/buzzing feeling, It comes and goes pretty quickly, I am also in permanent AF and awaiting an ablation in march 23
Hi Crgj I get the buzzing too in my chest and shoulders and the ache is across my chest and arms with tingling/pins and needles in my hands .
I have my own theory , I think it is similar to the ache I get in my throat sometimes on the left hand side which is related to AF interfering with the blood flow to the carotid artery in my neck .
I think AF is a cause, it is interfering with the blood flow .
I am in P-AF most of the time now and waiting for an ablation next autumn .
Goodness! You have described what I have experienced off and on for years. I thought it was just me!
At one point I was seeing a gastro consultant and a cardio for different problems and took the opportunity to mention this. Mine is like a dull muscular ache. A bit like a stitch but never a sharp pain. I needed umpteen very unpleasant scans for the original problem and the gastro said this ache wasn’t gastric related. The cardio similarly did echo and scan and said he could see nothing and said the area I indicated (area of left breast and ribs below) was unlikely to be heart related if the pain wasn’t brought on or exacerbated by exercise. As this discomfort comes and goes - I have always blamed my hiatus hernia or trapped wind. I suffer with acid reflux.
My breast screening results are fine. I recently had the dire cough that’s doing the rounds and as a result was sent for a chest X Ray. Also fine. The person who mentioned nerve entrapment has got me thinking as I have recurring rotator cuff issues in my left shoulder.
Like other posters I find that gentle exercise and warmth help. I also favour sleeping on that side. I’m sorry others have a similar issue but am so glad it’s not just me!
Thank you all who have replied , apologies for not replying to everyone in person but I am feeling unwell today being in AF and having started taking flecainide again which makes my symptoms a whole lot worse .
I am pretty sure my 'odd feelings' are AF related and to do with blood circulation.
It could even be beta blocker related, my legs are cold with pins and needles a side effect of BBs so it would not be surprising if my arms and hands have odd feelings too .
It is reassuring to know others have similar symptoms, it is so hard to describe to a Doctor .my EP was not at all concerned.
I've been told my pains are arthritis. From my shoulder all down arm to fingers, lots of other arthritic pains as well, Most seem to related to sports injuries from my youth. But it means no one can do anything about it, Pain killers can help but if I took them everytime I was in pain it would be 10 a day, not a good idea.
I just used to get the box of frogs in the chest and a very high heart rate when in a.f. Now l get unbearable pain across my shoulders , down my arm and a new one , strangely on the roof of my mouth. I know these pains are connected with my a.fib because they only come on with it and disappear when back in N.S.R.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
thank you so much for your reply, that is reassuring . I have asthma and my chest isn't good at the moment so wondering if it is that . No gastric problems here, no reflux I am pretty sure it is not gastric related. It really does feel like my heart area and extending to the tip of my fingers. 
Recently Diagnosed with AF
CHADSVASC of Zero But With History of AF - Is An Anticoagulant Recommended?
new and still learning
Holiday insurance with AF
New research into AF
