Question
Hi, I've had a chest pain since October 2008, last month I went to the doctor, a number of tests were done but I came out clean. The pain does not seem to subside. I don't smoke nor drink, not over weight (53kg). Well, used to drink but stopped in 2004 not under medical grounds but just decided to. The pain is upper chest (the bone). What could be the problem? Kind regards.

Sean (Dr.) Gomes

Answer Well, it sounds like you are otherwise in good health. The differential diagnosis for your chest pain could be numerous and would include cardiac (heart), respiratory, gastro-oesophageal and musculoskeletal. the doctor would have most likely performed tests to rule out any cardiac or respiratory problems. This would have been done by means of blood tests, an ECG and a chest X-ray. You could be suffering with symptoms related to reflux, but you have not mentioned that it is a burning pain or that it is related to eating or becomes worse when you lie down. The pain could simply be a musculoskeletal pain, such as costo-chondritis, which is related to inflammation in the joints between your ribs and the sternum. If this is the case, this should settle with rest and simple analgesics, including anti-inflammatory medication. Should things not be settling I would recommend you see another doctor to get to the bottom of your problem. Regards Dr Sean Gomes MD

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