Trapezius muscles, chest and shoulder pain

[howwchin]

Hi, I am 59 and had two stents done almost a year ago after suffering a mild heart attack. After the procedure I started on Pepsolan gastrointestinal tablet, Nebivolol for high blood pressure, clopidogrel, aspirin and statin. About 4 months later decided to stop the statin due to severe muscle cramps despite the doctor's objection. I also suffered from frequent blackouts due to very low blood pressure, so I stopped the Nebivolol. I also stopped the Pepsolan since I don't have any problem with the stomach. I have been on clopidogrel and aspirin ever since, but I started to have very severe pain on my trapezius muscles and shoulders and minor chest pain about four weeks ago. My breathing is ok though. I have good appetite and sleep well at night, though not longer than 5 hours at a time, probably due to age. I was thinking of visiting the doctor but is hesitating due to Covid-19. Has anyone experience similar symptoms and have found ways to overcome the pain, I will really appreciate your sharing. Thank you so much.

[scotsrish]

The best thing you can do is get checked. Our ER keeps the covid seperate from anything else especially possible heart problems. Don't forget another heart attack puts you right back to combining all those nasty meds once again.

[howwchin in reply to scotsrish]

Hi Scotsrish, thanks so much for your advice. I am actually residing in Doha now and the number of Covid-19 cases are still multiplying very fast daily. I know I can't afford to contract the virus, so this is the gamble I 'll have to take. I am also taking precautions by practicing a healthy lifestyle (avoid sweet food & drinks, eat low carb diet with plenty of veg, sleep early, exercise regularly, drink plenty of water, reduce stress). I really hope the virus problem will go away soon so that I can resume my visitation with the cardiologist.

[Qualipop]

You say you stopped the tablets. I assume that was your decision not your GP. Why on earth didn't you ask for them to be changed instead or the dosetweaked? I couldn't tolerate my BP tablets but hey were easily changed and adjusted. Same with the statins. There are plenty of alternatives.

[howwchin in reply to Qualipop]

Thanks for your comments Qualipop. I had the same thinking as yours during the time and even put forward my problems to the Cardiologist but he insisted I continue with the same drugs saying that my body will slowly get used to them. But the blackouts and severe cramps were too much to bear so I had no choice but to stop them. During this period I had a brother in-law who underwent a bypass and put on heavy medication and guess what happened about a year later? He had to be put on dialysis. But I also need to confess that I don't simply stop the medications without taking any precautions. Besides changing my lifestyle and eating habits, I am also taking a few herbal supplements. Ganoderma is one of them.

[Qualipop in reply to howwchin]

Afraid I'd have asked for a second opinion. I do understand. Ticagrelor made me feel I couldn't breathe. It was so bad I begged my GP to change it and he refused saying I had to see the the cardiologist. Well I was due another angiogram in a couple of weeks so I stopped it. Cardio was furious because I needed to be on it for the angiogram but he did change it and gave me an extra dose so he could do the angio. I was fine on the alternative. They have a standard set of medication they give to everyone but they should be much more open to realizing they don't suit every person.

[howwchin in reply to Qualipop]

Hi Qualipop, I hope your angiogram will be done successfully. I agreed with you. There are many alternatives and better drugs out there. For my case, my drugs and treatment costs were borned by the insurance company and I learned that they actually negotiated with the hospital to provide cheaper alternatives. So yeah, if you know there are better drugs available out there, better to buy them yourself in case you bear your own costs.

[Qualipop in reply to howwchin]

The angiogram was done last year; just fine. Fortunately we don't have the problem of insurance companies dictating what drugs we can have. We get what we NEED.

[S11m]

I have not heard of pain in the trapezius as being a symptom of anything.

In Doha, you do not find it difficult to keep warm? Trying to keep cool can result in sitting in a draught?

Do you take Magnesium - it helps with cramp.

[howwchin]

Thanks for the advice S11m. Yes, it is summer time here and outside temperature can go up 50 °C. So my office air-conditioning is always put on full blast. I felt too cold at times and had to request them to reduce it. But there are many colleagues sharing the same room and some started to feel hot. The sudden change in season here could have contributed to my pain. Winter time here in Middle East is from December to March and it is very pleasant during this period. I do have a bottle of magnesium salt which I apply directly to my chest, back of neck and sole of my feet but the effect cannot counter the power of the statin. I guess I am really allergic to this medication.

[S11m in reply to howwchin]

When I was in Australia, I asked someone what it was like there in the winter - he looked at a colleague and asked:

"Winter was on a Thursday last year, wasn't it?

He said that a friend had been in London for a year, and 'slept in' one Sunday morning and missed Summer altogether!

[Graft01]

I had shoulder and back pain which then progressed to chest pain and goes what? I was having a heart attack. Women dont always present with classic symptoms though

[howwchin]

Thanks for your feedback Graft01. I visited the cardiologist last Thursday and after the ECG and blood test, he confirmed there was no sign of a heart attack. That was a relief for me. Now I am in the quest to find out what is causing the pain.

[kvttykatkitty in reply to howwchin]

Did you ever find out what it was? I also went to the ER and was checked for a heart attack and there were no signs. I had one sharp pain in my chest, which is why I thought it was heart-related (I've never had a heart attack but I do have cardiomyopathy). But then. tonight I have another pain between my shoulder blades and a bit in the middle of my chest and now my right arm is a bit sore. I've had a previous trapezius injury.

[Alfydoo]

Hi Howwchin. I read your symptoms and circumstances as a mirror of mine . My big problem is the pain in the back again in the very same area as you ! I’m reaching out to see if you made any progress or indeed managed to stop these pains ? Best regards seasoning greetings