When should you worry about chest pain?What causes pain in the chest?Are chest pains normal?

 When should you worry about chest pain?

Call DOC if you have any of these symptoms along with chest pain: A sudden feeling of pressure, squeezing, tightness, or crushing under your breastbone. Chest pain that spreads to your jaw, left arm, or back. Sudden, sharp chest pain with shortness of breath, especially after a long period of inactivity.

What causes pain in the chest?

Heart-related causes of chest pain

heart attack, which is a blockage of blood flow to the heart. angina, which is chest pain caused by blockages in the blood vessels leading to your heart. pericarditis, which is an inflammation of the sac around the heart. myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle.

Are chest pains normal?

Chest pain may arise and subside every few minutes or over several days. The cause may be related to the heart, the muscles, the digestive system, or psychological factors. Underlying causes of chest pain may be mild, as in the case of acid reflux. Or, they may be serious and indicate, for example, a heart attack.

 

Chest pain

Overview

Chest pain appears in many forms, ranging from a sharp stab to a dull ache. Sometimes chest pain feels crushing or burning. In certain cases, the pain travels up the neck, into the jaw, and then radiates to the back or down one or both arms.

Many different problems can cause chest pain. The most life-threatening causes involve the heart or lungs. Because chest pain can indicate a serious problem, it's important to seek immediate medical help.

Symptoms

Chest pain can cause many different sensations depending on what's triggering the symptom. Often, the cause has nothing to do with your heart — though there's no easy way to tell without seeing a doctor.

Heart-related chest pain

Although chest pain is often associated with heart disease, many people with heart disease say they experience a vague discomfort that isn't necessarily identified as pain. In general, chest discomfort related to a heart attack or another heart problem may be described by or associated with one or more of the following:

• Pressure, fullness, burning or tightness in your chest
• Crushing or searing pain that radiates to your back, neck, jaw, shoulders, and one or both arms
• Pain that lasts more than a few minutes, gets worse with activity, goes away and comes back, or varies in intensity
• Shortness of breath
• Cold sweats
• Dizziness or weakness
• Nausea or vomiting

Other types of chest pain

It can be difficult to distinguish heart-related chest pain from other types of chest pain. However, chest pain that is less likely due to a heart problem is more often associated with:

• A sour taste or a sensation of food re-entering your mouth
• Trouble swallowing
• Pain that gets better or worse when you change your body position
• Pain that intensifies when you breathe deeply or cough
• Tenderness when you push on your chest
• Pain that is persistently present for many hours

The classic symptoms of heartburn — a painful, burning sensation behind your breastbone — can be caused by problems with your heart or your stomach.

When to see a doctor

If you have new or unexplained chest pain or suspect you're having a heart attack, call for emergency medical help immediately.

Chest pain has many possible causes, all of which need medical attention.

Causes

Heart-related causes

Examples of heart-related causes of chest pain include:

• Heart attack. A heart attack results from blocked blood flow, often from a blood clot, to your heart muscle.
• Angina. Angina is the term for chest pain caused by poor blood flow to the heart. This is often caused by the buildup of thick plaques on the inner walls of the arteries that carry blood to your heart. These plaques narrow the arteries and restrict the heart's blood supply, particularly during exertion.
• Aortic dissection. This life-threatening condition involves the main artery leading from your heart (aorta). If the inner layers of this blood vessel separate, blood is forced between the layers and can cause the aorta to rupture.
• Pericarditis. This is the inflammation of the sac surrounding your heart. It usually causes sharp pain that gets worse when you breathe in or when you lie down.

Digestive causes

Chest pain can be caused by disorders of the digestive system, including:

• Heartburn. This painful, burning sensation behind your breastbone occurs when stomach acid washes up from your stomach into the tube that connects your throat to your stomach (esophagus).
• Swallowing disorders. Disorders of the esophagus can make swallowing difficult and even painful.
• Gallbladder or pancreas problems. Gallstones or inflammation of your gallbladder or pancreas can cause abdominal pain that radiates to your chest.

Muscle and bone causes

Some types of chest pain are associated with injuries and other problems affecting the structures that make up the chest wall, including:

• Costochondritis. In this condition, the cartilage of your rib cage, particularly the cartilage that joins your ribs to your breastbone, becomes inflamed and painful.
• Sore muscles. Chronic pain syndromes, such as fibromyalgia, can produce persistent muscle-related chest pain.
• Injured ribs. A bruised or broken rib can cause chest pain.

Lung-related causes

Many lung disorders can cause chest pain, including:

• Pulmonary embolism. This occurs when a blood clot becomes lodged in a lung (pulmonary) artery, blocking blood flow to lung tissue.
• Pleurisy. If the membrane that covers your lungs becomes inflamed, it can cause chest pain that worsens when you inhale or cough.
• Collapsed lung. The chest pain associated with a collapsed lung typically begins suddenly and can last for hours, and is generally associated with shortness of breath. A collapsed lung occurs when air leaks into the space between the lung and the ribs.
• Pulmonary hypertension. This condition occurs when you have high blood pressure in the arteries carrying blood to the lungs, which can produce chest pain.

Other causes

Chest pain can also be caused by:

• Panic attack. If you have periods of intense fear accompanied by chest pain, a rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, profuse sweating, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness and a fear of dying, you may be experiencing a panic attack.
• Shingles. Caused by a reactivation of the chickenpox virus, shingles can produce pain and a band of blisters from your back around to your chest wall

What do you do when a girl is on her period?

 What do you do when a girl is on her period?

Ask Her What She Needs

1. Be patient! Don't blame her irritability on her period, but try to understand where she's coming from.
2. Bring her the food she craves. Whether it's ice cream she's after or she's one of the rare women who crave a green juice, just go and get it. ...
3. Be attentive. ...
4. Give her a massage. ...
5. Give her space.

What are the first signs of arthritis in fingers?Can finger pain be related to heart?When should I go to the doctor for finger pain?

 What are the first signs of arthritis in fingers?

Symptoms in the fingers

• Pain. Pain is a common early symptom of arthritis in the hands and fingers. ...
• Swelling. Joints may swell with overuse. ...
• Warm to the touch. Swelling can also cause the joints to feel warm to the touch. ...
• Stiffness. ...
• Bending of the middle joint. ...
• Numbness and tingling. ...
• Bumps in the fingers. ...
• Weakness.

Can finger pain be related to heart?

Problems from medical conditions

Tingling or pain in the fingers or hand (especially the left hand) may be signs of a heart attack.

When should I go to the doctor for finger pain?

See your doctor as soon as possible if you have finger pain but it is not an emergency, such as severe pain or you have trouble moving your finger. You should also see a doctor promptly if you have an infection that isn't going away or is worsening

 

Finger Pain

What is finger pain?

Finger pain includes any kind of discomfort in the tissues or joints of the finger. Finger pain may be described as throbbing, aching, increased warmth, tingling, soreness or stiffness. Burning or prickling sensations in a finger, often called pins and needles, are called paresthesias. Paresthesias are often due to temporary or permanent damage or pressure on the nerves that carry sensation messages from the hand and fingers to the spinal cord. 

The finger is made up of nerves, bones, blood vessels, muscles and skin. Finger joints are the areas where bones meet and consist of cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bursas (fluid-filled sacs that help cushion the joint), and synovial membranes and fluid, which lubricate joints. Any of these structures in the finger can become irritated or inflamed and painful in response to a variety of mild to serious diseases, disorders or conditions, such as trauma, infection and inflammation.

Common causes of finger pain include injury or trauma, such as bending your finger backward (hyperextension) or from repetitive use, such as long periods of keyboarding. More serious conditions, such as diabetes or a neck or spinal cord injury, can also cause pain or a burning sensation in your fingers. Sore joints in the fingers may be caused by arthritis, inflammation, and age-related wear and tear. Depending on the cause, your pain may be short term and disappear quickly, or it may develop slowly over weeks or months.

Because finger pain can be a sign of a serious infection or inflammation, you should contact your medical professional about your symptoms. Seek prompt medical care if you have finger pain with swelling, redness, warmth or fever.

What other symptoms might occur with finger pain?

Other symptoms may occur with finger pain. Additional symptoms vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. For example, finger pain due to a serious infection that has spread to the blood may be accompanied by swelling, fever and chills, as well as redness and warmth around the affected area.

Other symptoms that may occur with finger pain include:

• Arm or wrist pain

• Bruising or other discoloration

• Decreased grip strength

• Drainage or pus

• Fingernail problems, such as bruising under the nail or detachment of the nail

• Flu-like symptoms (fatigue, fever, sore throat, headache, cough, aches and pains)

• Lacerations, abrasions, sores or lesions

• Lumps or bumps along the finger

• Numbness

• Reduced range of motion or movement of a joint

• Stiffness

• Swelling

Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition

In some cases, finger pain may occur with other symptoms that might indicate a serious condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Seek immediate medical care (call 911 or go to an emergency room) if you, or someone you are with, have finger pain along with any of these other symptoms:

• High fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit)

• Inability to move the finger, wrist or arm

• Partial or total amputation of the finger

• Red, warm and tender skin or a red streak up the arm

• Severe pain

• Uncontrolled bleeding

• Visible deformity

What causes finger pain?

The finger consists of nerves, blood vessels, muscles, skin and joints. The hand and finger joints are made up of cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bursas (fluid-filled sacs that help cushion the joint), and synovial membranes and fluid that lubricate the joints. Any of the structures in the finger can become irritated or inflamed in response to a variety of mild to serious diseases, disorders or conditions, such as trauma, infection and nerve compression.

Tingling pain in the fingers can be due to compression of the nerves that carry sensation messages from the hand and fingers to the spinal cord. Tingling of both the pinky finger and ring finger together can be a sign of entrapment or compression of the ulnar nerve in the arm due to problems with the shoulder, elbow or wrist joint. Tingling of the thumb, index finger, middle finger and part of the ring finger can be due to problems with the median nerve, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

In some cases, finger pain is a symptom of a serious condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting, such as a broken bone or invasive bacterial infection.

Injury-related causes of finger pain

Finger pain can occur from the following types of injuries:

• Broken finger or stress fracture

• Contusion or abrasion

• Crush injury

• Degloving injury (separation of the skin and top layer of tissue from the finger)

• Laceration or blunt force trauma, such as a dog bite

• Repetitive stress injury

• Splinter or other foreign body

• Sprain or strain

Degenerative, infectious and inflammatory causes of finger pain

Finger pain can be associated with inflammatory or infectious conditions including:

• Age-related wear and tear on the joints and osteoarthritis

• Bursitis (inflammation of a bursa sac that protects and cushions joints)

• Cellulitis (invasive skin infection that can spread to the surrounding tissues)

• Ganglion cyst (benign growth or swelling on top of a joint or tendon)

• Infection, such as a Staphylococcus aureus bacterial infection

• Paronychia (infection around the nail)

• Rheumatoid arthritis (chronic autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation)

• Septic arthritis (infectious arthritis)

Nerve-related causes of finger pain

Finger pain, particularly tingling or numbness in the fingers, may be caused by moderate to serious conditions that compress nerves and can lead to nerve damage including:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome (compression in the wrist area of the nerve that provides feeling and movement to the palm and thumb side of the hand)

• Cervical spondylosis (degenerative disc disease in the neck)

• Herniated disc

• Neck injury

• Nerve entrapment or compression, such as the ulnar nerve in the arm

Other neurological causes of finger pain

Finger pain can be associated with a variety of other conditions that can affect or damage the nervous system including:

• Alcoholism

• Diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage due to high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes)

• Heavy metal poisoning such as lead poisoning

• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)

• Multiple sclerosis (disease that affects the brain and spinal cord causing weakness, lack of coordination, balance difficulties, and other problems)

• Neuroma in the finger

• Peripheral neuropathy (damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord)

• Spinal cord injury or tumor

• Stroke

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (disorder in which the body attacks its own healthy cells and tissues)

• Transverse myelitis (neurological disorder causing inflammation of the spinal cord)

• Vitamin B12 deficiency

Other causes of finger pain

Finger pain can be associated with other conditions including:

• Buerger’s disease (acute inflammation and clotting of arteries and veins)

• Circulatory problems (reduced blood flow)

• Frostbite or extremely cold temperatures

• Raynaud’s disease or phenomenon (spasms of small blood vessels of the fingers and toes, reducing blood circulation). Raynaud’s disease is when the cause is not known. Raynaud's phenomenon is secondary to another condition, including many autoimmune disorders such as lupus.

Questions for diagnosing the cause of finger pain

To diagnose the underlying cause of a finger pain, your doctor or licensed health care practitioner will ask you several questions related to your symptoms. Providing complete answers to these questions will help your provider diagnose the cause of your finger pain:

• What is the exact location of the pain?

• Describe the pain. Is it sharp or dull, tingling or burning? When did it start? How long does it last? Does the pain occur during or after certain activities?

• Have you had any recent injuries, including exposure to cold or frostbite?

• Do you have any other symptoms, such as swelling?

• What is your full medical history? What medications do you take? Do you smoke?

What are the potential complications of finger pain?

Complications associated with finger pain vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder and condition and can be serious. It is important to visit your health care provider when you experience persistent pain or other unusual symptoms related to your fingers or hands. Following the treatment plan you and your health care provider develop specifically for you will minimize the risk of complications including:

• Chronic disability

• Finger amputation

• Finger deformity

• Inability to perform daily tasks

• Spread of infection to other tissues

How does a girl feel on her period?What does period mean for a girl?What should we not do in periods?

 How does a girl feel on her period?

Premenstrual Syndrome

It can include headaches, back pain, irritability or moodiness, feeling sad or emotional, bloating, and breast tenderness. 2 Some people don't have any of these symptoms while others have them all.

What does period mean for a girl?

A period is a release of blood from a girl's uterus, out through her vagina. It is a sign that she is getting close to the end of puberty.

What should we not do in periods?

Here are 10 things you should not be doing during your periods:

• Giving in to salt cravings. ...
• Drinking a lot of coffee. ...
• Using a douche. ...
• Wearing the same sanitary product all day long. ...
• Waxing or shaving. ...
• Having unprotected sex. ...
• Smoking. ...
• Going to bed without a pad.

What is the fastest way to relieve ankle pain?What do you do when your ankle hurts really bad?Why do my ankles ache?

 What is the fastest way to relieve ankle pain?

Self-care

1. Rest. Keep weight off your ankle as much as possible. ...
2. Ice. Place an ice pack or bag of frozen peas on your ankle for 15 to 20 minutes three times a day.
3. Compression. Use a compression bandage to reduce swelling.
4. Elevation. ...
5. Over-the-counter pain medications.

What do you do when your ankle hurts really bad?

Doctors recommend the RICE approach (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation), listed below.

1. Rest: All ankle sprains require rest. ...
2. Ice: Ice helps decrease swelling, bruising, pain, and muscle spasms. ...
3. Compression: You can wrap your sprained ankle to avoid swelling and bruising.

Why do my ankles ache?

They can get inflamed from arthritis, overuse, high-heeled shoes, recent footwear changes, or starting workouts again after time off. Your ankle may feel stiff, tender, warm, and swollen. The best treatment is RICE: rest, ice, compression and elevation. Take anti-inflammatory drugs to ease the pain and swelling.

What can cause ankle pain without injury?

 What can cause ankle pain without injury?

What Can Cause Ankle Pain Without Injury?

• Rheumatoid Arthritis. Even though the immune system works to fight off germs, there can be times when it will attack the joints on accident. ...
• Lupus. ...
• Osteoarthritis. ...
• Gout. ...
• Flat Feet. ...
• Bursitis. ...
• Reactive Arthritis. ...
• Scleroderma.

Ankle pain Print

 

Ankle pain

Injury to any of the ankle bones, ligaments or tendons and several types of arthritis can cause ankle pain. Common causes of ankle pain include:

1. Achilles tendinitis
2. Achilles tendon rupture
3. Avulsion fracture
4. Broken foot
5. Bursitis (joint inflammation)
6. Gout (arthritis related to excess uric acid)
7. Osteoarthritis (disease causing the breakdown of joints)
8. Osteochondritis dissecans
9. Plantar fasciitis
10. Pseudogout
11. Psoriatic arthritis
12. Reactive arthritis
13. Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory joint disease)
14. Septic arthritis
15. Sprained ankle
16. Stress fractures
17. Tarsal tunnel syndrome

.

Print

Is thumb pain serious?When should I see a doctor for thumb pain?What happens if De Quervain's goes untreated?

 Is thumb pain serious?'

Serious or life-threatening causes of thumb pain

In some cases, hand numbness (including the thumb), tingling, or weakness may be a symptom of a stroke, which is a life-threatening condition that should be evaluated immediately in an emergency setting.

When should I see a doctor for thumb pain?

When to see a doctor

You should seek medical help immediately if you believe you have broken a bone in your thumb, your wrist, or any part of your hand. If you cannot move your thumb, or if it appears crooked after an injury, you should also seek emergency care.

What happens if De Quervain's goes untreated?

Due to inflammation surrounding the tendons that control thumb movement, De Quervain's can cause pain and tenderness when moving the thumb or wrist. If left untreated, this pain may spread up through the arm as well.

What causes pain at the base of the thumb?How do you relieve thumb pain?Why does my thumb hurt all of a sudden?

 What causes pain at the base of the thumb?

Pain is the first and most common symptom of thumb arthritis. Pain can occur at the base of your thumb when you grip, grasp or pinch an object, or use your thumb to apply force. Other signs and symptoms might include: Swelling, stiffness and tenderness at the base of your thumb

How do you relieve thumb pain?

Treatment

1. Rest: Support the thumb and rest it for as long as possible.
2. Ice: Apply an ice pack wrapped in a cloth for about 10 minutes every hour for the first day.
3. Compress: Wear an elastic (ACE) bandage to reduce swelling.
4. Elevate: Keep the hand raised above heart level to reduce swelling and pain.

Why does my thumb hurt all of a sudden?

There are many potential causes for thumb pain, but the three most common conditions that tend to develop are 1) arthritis, 2) trigger thumb, and 3) de Quervain tenosynovitis. The location of the pain and symptoms can help determine the exact cause of your pain and what your best treatment option may be.

What’s Causing the Pain on or Near My Thumb, and How Do I Treat It?

 

What’s Causing the Pain on or Near My Thumb, and How Do I Treat It?

Overview

Pain in your thumb can be caused by several underlying health conditions. Figuring out what’s causing pain your thumb might depend on which part of your thumb is hurting, what the pain feels like, and how often you feel it.

Treatment for thumb pain will depend on the cause, but generally, pain-relieving medication or physical therapy are the go-to solutions.

In some cases, consistent pain in your thumb can be an indication that you need surgery or treatment for another underlying health condition, such as arthritis. Keep reading to find out more about pain on or near your thumb.

Thumb joint pain

Our opposable thumb joints come in handy, and we tend to use our thumbs for lots of purposes. If you have pain in your thumb joints, there are a couple of things that could be causing it.

Basal joint or rheumatoid arthritis

The cushion-like cartilage inside your thumb joint can break down as you age, causing the symptoms of thumb arthritis. Other symptoms include loss of grip strength and thumb mobility.

Thumb arthritis can be related to osteoarthritis (which affects the joint and the bone) or rheumatoid arthritis (an auto-immune condition). Thumb pain at your thumb joint caused by arthritis can feel like burning, stabbing, or a more subtle creaking pain.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Pain at your thumb joint can be a symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome pain can feel like weakness, numbness, tingling, or burning at your wrist, in your fingers, or in the joints of your hands.

Carpal tunnel is not uncommon, affecting as many as 6 percent of adults in the United States. Women are more likely to have the condition than men.

Injury or sprain

Thumb sprains, a jammed thumb, and “skier’s thumb” are all caused by damage to the ligaments in your thumb. These injuries, commonly caused during contact sports or falls, can cause pain at the site of your joint. A sprained thumb could also result in swelling and stiffness.

Your thumb may also be in pain if it’s broken. If you have a broken thumb, you’ll feel intense pain radiating from the site of the break. This deep, inner pain may make you feel nauseated.

Overuse of thumb

Just like any other joint, the thumb can be overused or overextended. When your thumb is overused, it can feel sore and painful at the joint. A joint that is overused may feel warm and tingling, in addition to being painful.

Pain at the base of your thumb

This pain could be a symptom of thumb injury or overuse, basal joint arthritis, or carpal tunnel syndrome.

Additionally, pain at the base of your thumb can be caused by injuries to the ligaments at the lower part of your hand and in your wrist.

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is inflammation at the thumb side of your wrist. This condition is sometimes called “gamer’s thumb,” as it can result from a lot of time holding a video game controller.

Thumb knuckle pain

Pain at the site of your thumb’s knuckle can be caused by:

• basal joint arthritis
• jammed thumb or sprained knuckle
• carpal tunnel syndrome
• trigger finger/thumb

Pain in thumb pad

Pain in the pad of your thumb can be caused by:

• basal joint or other type of arthritis
• carpal tunnel syndrome

It could also be caused by a soft tissue injury, such as injury to the ligaments or tendons around your thumb, but also the fleshy part (“pad) of your thumb. Bruising and cuts on your skin from day-to-day activities can cause injury to the pad of your thumb.

Wrist and thumb pain

Wrist and thumb pain can be caused by:

• De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
• carpal tunnel syndrome
• basal joint or other type of arthritis

Diagnosing thumb pain

Thumb pain can be diagnosed in several ways, depending on your other symptoms. Common methods of diagnosing thumb pain include:

• X-ray to reveal fractures or arthritis
• tests for carpal tunnel syndrome, including Tinel’s sign (a nerve test) and electronic nerve activity tests
• ultrasound to see inflamed or enlarged nerves
• MRI to see wrist and joint anatomy

Thumb pain treatment

Home remedies

If you’re experiencing pain from a soft tissue injury, overuse, or over-extension of your thumb joint, consider resting your thumb. You may want to apply ice to the site of your pain if you notice swelling.

If you’re treating carpal tunnel syndrome or loss of grip, you may try wearing a splint at night to try to stabilize the compressed nerves in your wrist.

Over-the-counter, oral medications for joint pain include NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), or acetaminophin (Tylenol).

Medical treatment

If home remedies for your thumb pain aren’t working, see a doctor. Medical treatment will vary according to the cause of your pain. Medical treatment for thumb pain may include:

• physical therapy
• steroid joint injections
• topical analgesics for pain relief
• prescription pain relief medication
• surgery to repair a damaged tendon or joint

When to see a doctor

You should seek medical help immediately if you believe you have broken a bone in your thumb, your wrist, or any part of your hand. If you cannot move your thumb, or if it appears crooked after an injury, you should also seek emergency care.

If your symptoms are recurrent pain in your joints, knuckles, and wrist, you may have an underlying condition such as carpal tunnel syndrome or basal joint arthritis.

If you have joint pain that limits your daily activities, notice a decrease in your joint mobility, have trouble gripping objects, or live with pain that spikes each morning when you get out of bed, see your doctor to talk about your symptoms.

Takeaway

Pain in your thumb can have several different causes. Some of the causes can be treated at home, with rest and over-the-counter pain medication while you wait for an injury to heal.

Other causes, such as arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, may require medical treatment. Speak to a doctor if you have recurrent pain in any part of your thumb