Hi, I had a stent fitted just over 2 years ago and have suffered on and off with Angina ever since. Apart from that I have been very healthy. For the past 3 months I have been suffering with upper back pain which gets worse the more I walk or stand up. Has anyone suffered with this. I currently take Aspirin 75mg, Atorvastatin 80mg, Bisoporol2.5mg, Candesartin 8mg, Nicorandel 20mg, Omeprazole and Monomial 90mg.
Awaiting a GP appointment
Hope you hear from the GP soon , it's also worth ringing up your Cardiac Nurse in your local Cardiology Department today and the BHF helpline for advice.The issue could be heart related but there could be other things that would cause the problem too.
Questions they might ask would be :
Does the pain only happen when you stand or walk?
Do you also get any pain elsewhere ?
Is the pain more common in the morning and wear off during the day ?
Are you having any other symptoms that you have noticed happening , not necessarily at the same time you have pain?
When did you last have a medication review?
Do you have any other health conditions that could also cause this symptom like types of Arthritis, Gastric issues etc.?
Hope you get some answers soon, take care , Bee
Thank you, I’ll certainly give the BHF nurse a call.
Please do make those calls as I have not had any back pain since have a bypass, however my consultant explained the back pains I had been getting could be related to my heart issues. I just thought they were sporting injuries and if I had know that not all heart pain is around the chest (front) I would I requested checks etc.
Thanks Frank, I'll chase up my appointment , I did wonder if it was heart related as it only starts when I'm standing in the Kitchen in the morning.
It's easy to think it's your heart when you get any pain in that part of your torso.
Like you I had a HA and angioplasty 2 years ago.
Earlier this year I had "indigestion" pains across my back and shoulders that lasted a few weeks.
My GP took it seriously and sent me to A&E, I was assessed within minutes of arriving and was dispatched to the Urgent Assessment Unit.
I was seen by a superb consultant, within an hour he ruled out my heart.
After Ultrasounds, cameras down the throat and an MRI scan it was decided that it was the stenosis in my spine that was causing the issues.
Thank you, I have an appointment next week, it certainly doesn't feel like any of the heart pain I've experinced in the past.
I had 2 stents fitted 6 years ago. Should have been three but apparently the third blockage was too small to be stented. My angina begins near my stomach, goes up to my neck and jaw and then into shoulder blades/back. Definitely speak to your GP to see if you can be referred back to cardiologist.
Thank you, I have a cardiology appointment next month and now have a Doctors appointment next week. This forum is brilliant as reasurring you that you're not alone
Yes, all started years ago with pain in shoulder blades and back of neck area.How many times do you think I was curtly told, it was a pulled muscle ?
I knew it wasn't !!! I rarely lift a muscle, never mind pull one . . .😉.
My persistence and nagging finally won the day. Diagnosed with Ischemic Heart Disease and severely blocked arteries.
They recommend a quadruple bypass but because of other significant health issues, surgeon refused, saying I wouldn't make it off his operating table 😱. He did agree to try stents and a massive cocktail of life-long medications.
I've now got 3 stents, should have been 4, but like you, too narrow to stent.
Went on to be further diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (Genetic HD). And now, 2023, Microvascular Dysfunction (those un-stentable small arteries now blocking up). And AF.
Moral of the story, listen to your gut feeling.
Heart related pain can be felt in many upper body/arm locations, well away from the actual placement of the heart.
Keep well, keep ticking . 🫀 🫀 🫀
Thank you, sometimes I think we do get to the point where we think its all in our heads. I now have a comprehensive list of questions for my appointment next week.
I think we all know our own bodies and what is normal for us. My angina was linked to my arthritis by rheumatology for 2 years until I had a really bad attack at work and they called an ambulance! Sometimes they make you feel like a hypochondriac!
I will add to what others have said. Definitely get it checked out soon. I have had various instances of pain in my upper back and luckily, so far, have had heart issues ruled out. Mostly they have been either muscular (related to shoulder surgery a few years ago) or, oddly, acid reflux (GERD), which I suffer from. But it was very concerning, for sure. Anyone who has had a heart attack or angina is hyper sensitive to any torso pain.
Thank you, getting it checked out next week. It certainly doesn't feel like an elephant sitting on my chest or the angina crushing pain. Peace of mind will be good.
This is how my HA started from, Sept 21 when I was 48, I was getting random upper back pain and sometimes went down my triceps too, all I can describe the pain was a dull ache like being kicked in the b*******, I went to the doctor he fobbed me off but had an xray but didn't show anything, so I had four sessions with a chiropractor, after the fourth one in Nov this is when she said there's something more to this, so early Dec I couldn't walk far and was getting breathless etc, Dec 7th I suffered a mild heart attack, went into hospital and one of my arteries was 90% blocked so had a stent fitted. Now I'm fine, lost two stone, was only 12 to begin with, I'm a 50 year old male and fitter than I've ever been in my life, I do triathlon sports but don't compete just do them for enjoyment! Loving it! Just literally done my mile swim (64 lengths). I blame 40 odd years of the BBC, Beer Biscuits and Chocolate, I still have them but nowhere near like I used to, hope everything goes OK for you.
Thank you, good to hear that you’re doing really well now.
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