Question
For about two weeks now Ihave been experience intense tightening pains on my left armall the way down to the wrist and as far up as the sneck. I even started panicing and when to emergency where I got an EKG. My doctor put me on Soma compound a week ago, but the pain still comes and goes. And now is spreading across my chest to the other arm. Please help I feel now as if its my bones aching

Answer
Dear Miriam,

I assume that the EKG came back normal from the hospital, and they must have thought you were just having an anxiety attack.  The reason they would prescribe Soma is for its relaxation properties in the central nervous system.  It is technically classified as a muscle relaxer, but also has some mild analgesic properties as well (pain relief).  It is important to realize that this will not heal anything concerning an injury to tissue, it will only help to reduce muscle spasm and pain.

The first thing I would do is to make sure that you get a second opinion on your heart.  make sure that nothing was missed.  As good a diagnostic testing has become, an EKG will not show every heart abnormality or pathology.  Make sure there is nothing wrong there, and I would suggest that blood tests would be valuable for this assessment as well.  I am not sure if they were performed at the hospital or not.

Then I would move on to a musculoskeletal specialist such as a chiropractor, orthopedist, or physiatrist.  These specialist are the best in finding functional abnormalities or dysfunction in the musculoskeletal system.  They are far to many scenarios to explain the pain you are having, and they range from general physical deconditioning to metabolic/physiological issues.  the bottom line is that examination is the best way to rule out factors and reach a legitimate diagnosis.  You have to realize that the ER doesn't care about the small stuff if, you are stable...(no life threatening issue) you will either be referred out or discharged.  That is the ER's Job.  Follow-up with an outside doctor for further exploration.
Good Luck Miriam.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net