Pins needle numbness and pain

[Loppylola]

Any one get pain in left shoulder and down the arm after carrying a shopping basket ,it really made my husband feel ill,to the point he thought he was having another heart attack,is this normal,he is also getting alot of numbness and pins and needles

[Sunnie2day]

This should be reported to the medics, it could be something or nothing and they are the only people who can determine what it is.

I experience something similar in my left arm and shoulder (and hands if I let it go on too long) and sometimes it's my thoracic outlet syndrome (from nerve damage in my left arm) BUT sometimes it's a signal my recurrent pericarditis is trying to flare up. And I'm suspected to have microvascular angina - a shot of the GTN usually helps but if it doesn't, I'm back to worrying it is either the nerve damage or the pericarditis.

So, when I have the symptoms I'm straight onto the medic to find out which it is. Only the medics can determine what is going on and they never make me feel a time waster when it turns up 'just' the nerve damage, they remind me every time the symptoms could be a heart related thing and it's better to have it checked than to ignore it and go on to an acute flare of the pericarditis, or worse, a heart attack.

Please let us know how he gets on.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! Unfortunately you do not say anything about the time frame of your husband's heart attack and subsequent treatment. I had problems with my right arm and hand (particularly the fingers) after my quadruple bypass. The issue was caused by the ulnar nerve which runs from your neck to the tip of your third finger. This can get "nipped" where it passes through the shoulder as they split the breastbone. It took about six months to get to the point it wasn't really that noticeable.

[Loppylola in reply to MichaelJH]

Hi ,its been 2yrs since his double bypass,and 2 years since his 1st heart attack that resulted in being stented before his bypass 2 mths later,he had a stress test as he has suffered with all kinds of stuff since his bypass,breathing problems,chest pains,arm pains,leg pains,every kinda pain really,the result was that it looks reassuring but there is a area of scarring on his heart consistent with the small heart attack he had when he was stented,small really I thought how could being stented to save your life be small,he also have heart disease, hope this helps

[Qualipop in reply to Loppylola]

The damage from a heart attack CAN be small as mine was. I had two stents and have two more smaller blockages but after the scan was told "Oh that's good, the damage is minimal". I too have recurrent left arm pain but then I have a very badly torn shoulder and herniated discs in my neck so it's impossible to tell what causes each event. I always ring the GP.

[lilymeg]

In 1995 my husband had pain in left arm and shoulder when carrying a case. I sent him to the Dr - end result = he had a 95% blockage of his right coronary artery. He is fine well, has had no recurrence of cardiac problems and keeps his cholesterol in the low 4 range. I am 77 and he, my toy boy, is a mere 74.

[Loppylola in reply to lilymeg]

Hi ,its been 2yrs since his double bypass,and 2 years since his 1st heart attack that resulted in being stented before his bypass 2 mths later,he had a stress test as he has suffered with all kinds of stuff since his bypass,breathing problems,chest pains,arm pains,leg pains,every kinda pain really,the result was that it looks reassuring but there is a area of scarring on his heart consistent with the small heart attack he had when he was stented,small really I thought how could being stented to save your life be small,he also have heart disease, im thinking of getting a second opinion,because surely something else is wrong,he still has a 75% blockage on one artery so maybe its that but drs haven't said it is

[lilymeg]

If he arm and shoulder pain he should see a GP at the very least, if the GP is worth their salt they will automatically refer him to a cardiologist. If he doesn't say that you think he should be.

[Alison_L]

Hi Loppy. I have a similar problem. I can no longer wear a rucksack as, within a few minutes of putting it on, my left shoulder and neck will start hurting. I believe it's to do with having an ICD fitted, but of course the docs just say it's musculoskeletal and nothing to do with my heart or anything they've done to me.

Worth getting a second opinion, I'd say. xx