Left shoulder pain anxiety

[Tasguy]

Hi had shoulder pain for almost 3 weeks and because it's in my left shoulder and left forearm I worry it's heart related. I more my shoulder and it doesn't hurt so I don't know where the pain comes from I'm worried it's referred pain. I did go to hospital two days after it started they did ecg and blood test and believe it's musclure but I can't stop worrying about it

[Croix]

Dear Tasguy~

It is very worryng to have an ongoing pain in the left arm with no obvious explanation

Do do think the diagnosis may be incomplete/incorrect, or is it the fact that you can't stop worrying about it that is causing you distress?

Croix

[maxibon77]

Hey Tasguy, I’m Max. I also have health-related anxieties.

When in this type of situation, I find it really beneficial to follow up with health checkups/appointments. Continue to keep trying to figure out what the problem is, and if it could be amplified by anxiety.

If, even after following up with appointments, you still don’t feel confident in the results and that they may be wrong, this is when integrating cognitive behavioural therapy steps into your thoughts. Challenge your thoughts. For example, if you continue to believe you have a heart problem from your shoulder pains and you’ve already received a diagnosis that states it’s just a muscular problem, replace all negative thoughts with the known facts that you have. Repeat in your mind every time a negative thought comes up that you know it’s muscular and that certified doctors have told you it’s only muscular.

Remember to try to maintain a healthy routine, eating healthy and exercise everyday. Also continue doing things you enjoy every day. These won’t stop the thoughts but can definitely help distract you temporarily.

Hope this helps and best of luck!

max

[Tasguy]

Hi croix bit of both that they couldn't tell me where the pain was coming from and maybe they could have done a better investigation. I do have a reason why it may hurt is because when I'm on the couch I rest on my left elbow plus I've been sleeping on the couch because of anxiety and my left shoulder rest on the back of the couch. It's probably the likely explanation but when pain continues bad thoughts start to enter my head

[Croix]

Dear Tasguy~

Well, yes, they might have done more tests, not something I know a lot about. Do you think it is worth insisting on more? Conversely do you think it might be worth discussing the continual worry your doctor?

Some people can shrug things off and say what will be will be, others do dwell on the worse possibilities untul the sort of mental loop or examining worst case takes over and becomes in itself a problem.

If I remember correctly you had a fair number of heart related tests a while ago following physical symptoms. I remember particular because I get chest pain, have had every test under the sun, some multiple times as I doubted the results, and in my case it always came back to anxiety.

This had already been predicted by my GP, psychiatrist and heart specialist though that did not stop me worrying.

While I'm not prejudging your current situation might I ask if that set of conditions and your heart's health was resolved?

Croix