Training & Nutrition - Overtraining chest pain? How long will this last...?

I've recently begun commuting 12 miles a couple times a week into the city. On Saturday night, I decided to just experiment with a new route. It took about an hour, I had a small meal and a long coffee downtown, and then I rode back.

The next morning I felt a REALLY strong pain all across my chest, mostly on the left side. It's generally dull but if I breathe deeply it stabs me really sharp. I've had this pain all over and inside my chest, all day long, for four days now!

I was wearing a heavy messenger bag across my chest on this ride (stupid). I think this has something to do with it. I didn't feel bad at all that night, but it only began the next morning.

Has anyone experienced something like this? How long might this last? I'm not worried that it's anything more extreme than a pulled muscle or something like that. Should I be worried? I'm 24 and I'm in good health (just a couple junk food meals a week...), although I don't exercise enough, which is why I started cycling to work, and why I'd imagine I got hurt so bad this weekend.

Thanks!

Go see a doctor. Chest pain is one of those things which may be minor, but may be MUCH MORE SERIOUS. A quick trip to the doctors office will make sure that what feels like a pulled muscle is actually a pulled muscle.

^ +1000000000000000000000000000

I had one when I started riding. Was worried because of family history of heart trouble. A trip to the doc told me it was muscle pain, not heart. Go see your doc. That's a good thing to do if you've started cycling more anyway.

it was most likely from your bag across your chest. probably restricted breathing and your feeling it now. either way go see a doctor.

Did you see you Dr yet? The next pain you get may be the last, dont mess with chest pain....

Okay, okay, when EVERYONE says to go see the doctor, I'll take that advice. I'm going later today.

let us know how it goes.

The next morning I felt a REALLY strong pain all across my chest, mostly on the left side. It's generally dull but if I breathe deeply it stabs me really sharp. I've had this pain all over and inside my chest, all day long, for four days now!

I was wearing a heavy messenger bag across my chest on this ride (stupid). I think this has something to do with it. I didn't feel bad at all that night, but it only began the next morning.



As so ... instead of going to a Dr ASAP, you posted on BF. Good one!

Left side chest pain is a one-way ticket to the Dr.

I had a problem similar to the OP's, but after I used an asthma inhaler, it went away.

sounds like skeletal muscular discomfort. the pecks are a big cluster of muscles that can go into spasm. I would recommend a few things to relax those muscles:
rest
massage
warm bath or whirlpool
magnesium supplement but not too much
Tylenol PM

Give it a week's rest and be proactive , don't just sit there worrying about it.

I'm 24 and I'm in good health (just a couple junk food meals a week...), although I don't exercise enough, which is why I started cycling to work, and why I'd imagine I got hurt so bad this weekend.Maybe so, but the fact that you tweaked something pretty badly is proof enough that you have some structural/postural problems.

Maybe this is a good thing. Kind of like an early-warning shot to let you know that you are a couch potato - getting older - much faster than you thought.

I doubt a doctor will help with this problem - but you may want to consider seeing some kind of professional - just to see if they can see some kind of body-symmetry issue etc.

In theory, Tylenol, and icing the affected area are the low risk treatment.

As so ... instead of going to a Dr ASAP, you posted on BF. Good one!

Left side chest pain is a one-way ticket to the Dr.

Aaaaactually, first I waited 4 days, then I posted on BF.


Maybe so, but the fact that you tweaked something pretty badly is proof enough that you have some structural/postural problems.

Maybe this is a good thing. Kind of like an early-warning shot to let you know that you are a couch potato - getting older - much faster than you thought.

I doubt a doctor will help with this problem - but you may want to consider seeing some kind of professional - just to see if they can see some kind of body-symmetry issue etc.

In theory, Tylenol, and icing the affected area are the low risk treatment.

I'm kind of taking this as an early warning shot. I mean, come on, I'm skinny, I must be healthy, right!

Today is the first day I'm able to go to the doctor, so I'll post shortly about what I learn. Today is Day 6 of the pain, and it's actually a little better today --- but still, like, if I laugh, it hurts! Update soon...

I hope you did go to a Dr. Any chest pain is better to have assessed. It's far better to be a little embarrasses because you mistook gas for chest pain, than it is to be lying on a slab in the coroners office, naked and dead because you didn't have it checked.

http://www.medicinenet.com/chest_pain/article.htm

That is a little about chest pain, but remember, a heart attack or heart disease generally presents on the left side of the chest.

There are quite a number of things this could be, from relatively innocuous (like a minor muscle strain or costochondritis) to the devastating (pulmonary embolism or aortic aneurysm). Any of these (and even a heart attack) can happen in an apparently healthy person in his/her 20s. Why anyone would wait to see a doc, based on the OP's history, is beyond me. Even more beyond me is why some people are so quick to give out medical advice on the Interwebs (not talking about you, Tom), and what's totally beyond me is why anyone would listen to them.

I went to the doctor yesterday and got an X-Ray and an EKG, and they couldn't find anything wrong. I'm supposed to go back in a week for more tests, but by now (Day 7) I'm feeling even better, and doubt that the problem will still be around much longer. We'll see I guess.

I wish I'd been able to see a sports therapist, as I think that's the kind of "professional" you were talking about, Richard Cranium? The hospital I went to eliminated the worse possibilities, but I wish I could have learned more about this. I'll be a bit more insistent about exactly what kind of doctor I see the next time around. Oh, and quicker, too.

Thanks to everyone for the advice -- of course I know what internet advice is worth :) but I do appreciate it, really!

Good for you, Socrate- I apologize for being snarky, but I'm happy to hear that's it's not serious at this point.

I wish I'd been able to see a sports therapist, as I think that's the kind of "professional" you were talking about, Richard Cranium?I was talkiing about some one trained in spotting muscle and skeletal abnormalities. Some chiropractors, as well many homeopaths or acupuncturists are good at this.

Typically mainstream medical professionals go by the "book" - and take less actual interest in diagnosing idiosyncratic symptoms. This is exactly why you just "wasted" diagnostic resources as well forum readers time.



It's generally dull but if I breathe deeply it stabs me really sharpsaid, Socrate


Still, assuming you can afford your medical care, no harm done. Just a big "medical machine" covering its ahhzzz - while making a few bucks.

Physical therapists are "mainstream" medical professionals who take a lot of interest in your type of problem-- not just in diagnosing it, but treating it. Find one who specializes in sports medicine. The American Physical Therapy website has a locator you can use to find one.

I was talkiing about some one trained in spotting muscle and skeletal abnormalities. Some chiropractors, as well many homeopaths or acupuncturists are good at this.

Typically mainstream medical professionals go by the "book" - and take less actual interest in diagnosing idiosyncratic symptoms. This is exactly why you just "wasted" diagnostic resources as well forum readers time.

Still, assuming you can afford your medical care, no harm done. Just a big "medical machine" covering its ahhzzz - while making a few bucks.

I agree that "the book" didn't seem very interested in idiosyncratic symptoms. Waste is as waste does! I'm glad this wasn't expensive for me. Arghh, people wasted their time on a message board!! Sorry!!! :crash:


Physical therapists are "mainstream" medical professionals who take a lot of interest in your type of problem-- not just in diagnosing it, but treating it. Find one who specializes in sports medicine. The American Physical Therapy website has a locator you can use to find one.

Cool. I'm going to do the research in advance. I'd like to know which direction to limp to.

You might have had a compressive neuropathy. If the pain was in the upper left chest region, near the pectoral, it could have come from the supraclavicular nerve being traumatized by the messenger bag strap right at the collarbone (near the mid portion of it).

http://www.scielo.cl/fbpe/img/ijmorphol/v24n4/fig30-09.jpg