shoulder blade pain at higher heart rates

[Pascale]

Ok, i tried googling this, and I will ask one of the trainers at the gym, if I can ever get their attention, but maybe someone else experiences this...

It seems when my heart rate gets above a certain point (and I know I'm well into the anerobic zone), I get sharp, achy pain right under my right shoulder blade. It goes away once my heart rate goes down.

This happens both when I'm moutain biking, or if I'm on a machine at the gym.

Anyone else ever have this happen?

[maillotpois]

I would check with a doctor about that. That almost sounds like a cardiac issue.

[Pascale]

Thanks, I do plan to check with a fitness trainer who may have known others who experienced it (not a doctor, as I've yet to find a general practitioner that ever knows anything about anything, lol) ... was just wondering if anyone else had experienced it.

[maillotpois]

I did experience something similar when I had pulmonary hypertension secondary to pulmonary emboli. I don't mean to be alarming, but I have learned not to fool with anything chest/upper back pain related, especially if heart rate is a factor (i.e., it comes and goes with heart rate elevation). It may be nothing, but it is always better to have something like that looked at by a professional - not a trainer, a medical doctor.

[Pascale]

True, if I can figure out a medical professional who won't jerk me around and waste my time, I'll go...just won't start with a GP because they're useless :)

[ny biker]

I did experience something similar when I had pulmonary hypertension secondary to pulmonary emboli. I don't mean to be alarming, but I have learned not to fool with anything chest/upper back pain related, especially if heart rate is a factor (i.e., it comes and goes with heart rate elevation). It may be nothing, but it is always better to have something like that looked at by a professional - not a trainer, a medical doctor.

I believe what she's saying is that you could wind up in an emergency room or worse. You might want to go to an urgent care clinic if you can't find an internist.

[Crankin]

This is not something to mess with, as Sarah said. Go straight to a doctor.

[KnottedYet]

Here's what you do:

1. Get your fitness trainer to retrieve the gym's AED and ask him to hold your cell phone.

2. Clamber up on your favorite machine, and get your heart-rate up to the point you feel the shoulder blade pain.

3. Keep your heart-rate up until you go into full cardiac arrest.

4. Your fitness trainer can then call 911 as he's applying the AED.

5. Voila! You get medical attention without ever having to see a primary care physician!

6. Assuming you don't die, you've also just gotten a free stress test, and any cardiologist (whom you could have gone to directly, anyway) will have nice records to study.

DARWIN AWARD WIN!!!!!!

[Crankin]

Oy.

[maillotpois]

I believe what she's saying is that you could wind up in an emergency room or worse. You might want to go to an urgent care clinic if you can't find an internist.

Right. That was what I was trying to say. I probably should have been more direct.

My doc is an internal medicine specialist, which is I think what NY Biker was suggesting.

[moonfroggy]

Here's what you do:

1. Get your fitness trainer to retrieve the gym's AED and ask him to hold your cell phone.

2. Clamber up on your favorite machine, and get your heart-rate up to the point you feel the shoulder blade pain.

3. Keep your heart-rate up until you go into full cardiac arrest.

4. Your fitness trainer can then call 911 as he's applying the AED.



except cell phones take a lot longer to reach 911 or they used to. so maybe is better to use a regular phone at gym and not the cell phone?

[OakLeaf]

I think she was being facetious about the procedure to make a point about how serious the situation could be...

No one can even get cell signal inside my gym, it's a concrete block building. But there's a house phone in every room.

Pascale, please take them (and the risk to yourself) seriously.

[Pascale]

LOL, I am a 911 op - funny people - cell phones reach 911 just as fast as a landline...just be sure to know where you are, cuz we don't! I get cell service in my gym.

Thanks for all the opinions...wasn't really quite what I was asking, but I know how these things take on a life of their own!

[kjay]

GREAT, creative, and to-the-point answer by KnottedYet. Loved it!

[Pascale]

Yes, Knotty's response was very amusing... I laughed myself. Wasn't ever suggesting I was going to ask a trainer to diagnose me, I was going to ask if he'd ever heard of anyone else having the issue.... the goal being to try to figure out which direction to seek help, if needed, because starting at a GP is just ridiculous and a complete waste of time and money.

The question was more a curiosity thing - it's been happening for years, happens when my heart rate gets up above 180, which is rare. As for Darwin Awards...thanks sunshine, but no worries, I'm not passing these genes on, I didn't breed.

[KnottedYet]

Sxn only occur p 180 bpm, s specific act rel.
Pt rpts non-distressed, loc pn.
Hx "years."

= c a r d i o l o g i s t

Love, hugs, and kisses,
"Sunshine" :D

[indysteel]

All jokes aside, I wouldn't turn to a trainer for direction. Even assuming your trainer has had other clients with similar issues that turned out not to be heart related, that tells you NOTHING about what's going on with you. Any trainer worth what you pay them will tell you the same thing you've been told here. Go to a cardiologist and get a full work up. Bypass your GP if you must, but don't let your lack of faith in GPs to prevent you from getting evaluated. This is an area where you err on the side of caution.

[Pascale]

Thanks, all :)