Is stress most likely causing my back and chest pain?

1234catlady

Hi everyone for the last two days I've had some back and chest pain. I suffer from panic attacks, OCD and general anxiety so I'm rarely de-stressed to begin with. The last few days have been particularly stressful. On Friday I witnessed an animal get run over just a second after I.managed to avoid it and I'm am.avid animal lover so took it very bad and then on Saturday my mum went down to England for a week and I had to watch her cats for her. I brought my cats over and planned to keep them upstairs and her cats downstairs but mine wouldn't settle and I brought them back up to my flat and my bf watched them and I stayed at my mum's with her cats. This was my first night staying alone in over 4 years and as I said I have anxiety problems so it was quite a big deal.

I came back to my flat last night to stay over and I'm just about to go back and see the cats. I felt so awkward in my own flat after only being away for a night. My anxiety was sky high and I felt so guilty about not being with my mum's cats and then not being with my own and then I have bills I am really worried about too.

The chest pain I had was localised to one little spot and if I pressed it, the pain would get worse for a few mins. It didn't hurt to breath, it just hurted randomly and was worse when lying down. My back was soooo tense. My partner tried to give me a back massage last night and I yelped as soon as he touch my shoulders because it all hurt so much and then this morning I woke up with a terrible headache coming from my neck which thankfully ibuprofen managed to take away. I've been up since that headache so only got about 2/3 hours sleep.

Then an hour ago I was lying in bed on my phone and suddenly when I breathed in I got this kind of sharp electric shock like pain in my side and went all around my back. It only lasted a second or two. It came back once more after that but not as strong and then I took a panic attack and it came back again vaguely but only on the one side this time, the left side.

My chest isn't as tender today and my breathing is fine. I'm just wondering whether I should go to the doctor or not? I'm currently awaiting therapy for my anxiety. Usually its ok most of the time but the last few days have been stressful and I've barely ate or slept. All I can think is I have a blood clot in my lung or heart problems though my bf said its just from stress and all the lifting I done when I was moving my cats and it most likely is but its so hard to tell my mind that.

I'm sorry, I just had to get this off my chest. Usually I would talk to my mum but she is on holiday and I don't want to burden her.

Money_maker

Yes, go to the doctor. No one can advise any different on here but you will find that it helps ease the anxiety too. Good luck.

1234catlady

Thanks. Yeah I think I will see if I can get an appointment for today or tomorrow, even if its just for peace of mind. I just had to get out how I was feeling if you know what I mean. Feeling this can make you feel quite alone.

1234catlady

I've had tests done last year when I went up to A&E with upper back pain, pretty much similar to what I have now and I had all the tests on my heart done and chest xrays too and everything came back clear. They were worried I had a blood clot as I am on the pill and young. I was 22 then. They just put it down to muscle strain and anxiety.

jenniewb

As long as your going to the Doctor (as chest pains are something to be wary of) I would say from my own experience that yes stress can cause all sorts of pains all over the body. I get pains in random places if I've not slept in my own bed because I feel a bit uneasy and it stresses me to not be in my own bed and will be contorting my muscles without realising and this causes muscle pains. Similarly if I am stressed during the day I will be unconsciously pulling myself out of my normal posture, either I'm hunched over or bolt upright, either way I wont be in a posture I am used to or one that is even naturally comfortable for my muscles and they'll end up getting strained and muscles get tired or pulled and will ache the next day or few days.


The fact you can touch the pain and cause it to worsen or can feel areas where it's sore makes it sound like a muscular pain rather than anything to do with your organs which would be less likely to go away in time and would mean scans, tests and so on.


It's most likely if the GP thinks it is a muscle pain that he/she will suggest a pain killer or anti-inflammatry (or both), advise rest and may even suggest some better ways to deal with the stress you experienced if you have something similar happening again.

tanya2014

I have been diagnosed at Post Menopausal
I have terrible anxiety attacks,Panic Attacks and pain in my chest and other parts of my body.
After my heart has finished hammering out of my chest and I can breath again and I accept I am not going to die at that precise moment I get that electric shock feeling too plus pain in my chest.
It is psychological and stress based.
Its really awful and I cry lots about it as before my menopause I was such an upbeat positive person.
Unfortunately my mum has had breast cancer twice so I am not allowed HRT.
I just struggle on without any treatment and try to stay strong.

Mrs_Ryan

I get these pains too. I have fibromyalgia so the doctors are unsure whether it's fibro or anxiety.
Tanya, I really know how you feel. I'm in surgical menopause and cannot have HRT as I had cancer. Sucks doesn't it

tanya2014

It does indeed Mrs Ryan

1234catlady

Yeah I agree, I think it definitely was stress that caused this. I am feeling a lot less stressed now and most of the pain is gone. I still get some niggly pains here and there but nowhere near as bad as the other day. I still feel quite physically and mentally worn out but that might take a few days to snap out of. I have a long lie tomorrow as I am staying at my mum's tonight and my bf is staying with our cats so don't have to worry about getting a lift over early to see the kittens. A long nights sleep is probably what I need. Mum comes back on Friday so the hard work is pretty much done now.