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Hiatus Hernia with back and arm pain

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pinkmignon123
pinkmignon123

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Has anyone out there with a Hiatus Hernia experienced what feels like heartburn in your back and left arm. I have been diagnosedwith a Hiatus Hernia and take 30mg of Lansoprazoleonce a day and 10 of Motilium 3 times a day. But it doesn't seem to help the pain I have. I have had pain every single day for the past 2years and swapped between meds i.e omeprazole etc but nothing seems to work. I lot of the symptoms on research only states chest but I get it bad in my upper back around that knot thing in your kneck then it goes down my arm. Just wondered if anyone else has had this. Before I was diagnosed I thought I was dying I had seen every consultant you can imagine from heart,back brain to stomach. The docs seem to think now I know what it is I should feel less anxitey, well I don't as still feel really bad pain every day and meds not working.

3 likes, 99 replies

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  • stwj.suze
    stwj.suze

    Posted

    Hi pinkmignon123

    I have had severe oseophagitus caused by reflux, and I did experience the frightening upper back pain - it was worse right between the shoulder blades. I felt as though a burning spear was piercing through me! My pain was also under my armpit, although I know people who have felt it down their arms.

    It had gone now as my condition is under control. Healthy diet and meds for a long time I am afraid.

    It is terrifying - keep on with the meds, it does help.

    Suze

    • nannette63135
      nannette63135 stwj.suze

      Posted

      What is the oseophagitus?  I have a very large hiatal hernia, and I about 2 years ago would only have a problem for about one hour every six weeks.  It is always when I am eating a meal, I thought it had to do with eating too fast, swallowing lots of air.  I would get an extreme pain under my left lower rib and it would radiate down a few inches.  I get sometimes it in my chest really bad and into my shoulder.  It is so painful.  It always totally goes away in an hour to 2 hours and then I am fine.  I now get it every other week.  I have had endoscopes and the doctor gives me medicine but they just want me to have surgery and I am afraid to do that,  The thought of not being able to burp or vomit, scares me that I would be worse off.  If you or anyone on this board can give me advice but I am just so grateful I don't have it last all day and not every day.  I am so sorry for those who are miserable all the time.  It is horrible pain almost like labor pain.  It doesn't affect my system with other problems that I know of.  Love to hear if the surgery helps .

       

    • allison61473
      allison61473 nannette63135

      Posted

      Hey, I have had the gastric surgery for reflux and I fully recommend the surgery. I have had one incident where I did vomit, it hurts, but still don't regret the surgery. The symptoms I was dealing with daily was far worse than the surgery. It is a rough recovery but, again, well worth it. I had to change my eating habits because it causes you to have excessive gas. Honestly, as painful as your daily symptoms are the surgery will be manageable. My doctor was amazing and took great care of me with recovery.

  • sooki
    sooki

    Posted

    I too have suffered hh for 2yrs now & also get pain in my back - under my shoulder blades & down my left arm. It isn't constant, but when I get it - it is very painful. I used to think it was a heart attack, but I am pretty sure it's 'wind'. Drs say you shouldn't get 'wind' there, but my father used to get it in his neck (though the drs said it wasn't possible). He would rub where the pain was - & belch, & the pain would go. I have tried rubbing my arm when I get the pain & often find it will go. Try it - it's worth a go.
  • SteveHerina
    SteveHerina

    Posted

    Hi

    I know how you feel.

    I have suffered with this also for many years.

    It does drive you crackas.

    I have got another appointment with the specialist tomoz and I am pushing for an operation, does your stomache swell up? mine does, it is also worse in cold weather.

    Steve

    • Tabby13
      Tabby13 SteveHerina

      Posted

      Hiya Steve I get really bad pain in my chest, back, arms and my throat always seems sore ? I too have the stomach swelling it is dreadful ! my GP says it is IBS ?? I am gonna push for the operation too.

      I feel like I cannot breath and when I lie flat i can't catch my breath ? does anyone else suffer with this ? I also feel like there is something moving in my chest and throat and the pain is awful so I have to prop myself up ! sick and tired of it all

      But yes tummy does swell

      Sandie

  • sila1
    sila1

    Posted

    Hello

    I am a long term sufferer with Haitus Hernia and had the op plus a 2nd repair. I also now have Chronic Pain Syndrome. from other operations. The pain in the arms and back could be some kind of displaced pain from IBS type symptoms. Pain travels and so does wind- if it cannot go the normal route - and you can literally get pain anywhere in the body as the Central Nervous System gets distorted.

    Hiatus hernia operation can be very quick and easy - maybe a 4-6 weeks if it is relatively straightforward and the surgeon has experience in this procedure - make sure it is not the junior surgical registrar doing this procedure, unsupervised as can happen with these type of operation. But it is major surgery despite what the surgeon may say - my GP says it is one of the most difficult and traumatic operations going. Make sure you really need it as it one of those procedures that surgeons like to perform to get experience! They tell you - after three days you will be back at work which is complete nonsense.

    You tummy does not swell up but it is excruciating painful for at least a week and for me this went on much longer so take the painkillers for a while - not anti-inflammatories at all even with Lanzopruzole as some doctors try to give you - this will irritate the scar tissue. Use Tramadol or Codeine and take laxatives. Follow the instuctions about diet and be very careful to stay of a light liquid diet for as long as you can. No meat. Begin to love vegetable soups and carrot juice!Hope that helps.

  • luke44953
    luke44953 pinkmignon123

    Posted

    Hi pinkmignon I don't get the acid feeling you have discribed in the arm and back, but I do get pain under the left arm in the armpit area and my left arm seems to twitch of its own accord also get palpations in the left side of my stomach. Had the same kind of anxious feeling as you thinking I'm having heart attacks and ect.GP's can be very frustrating they don't seem to understand much about your condition and one I saw did'nt seem too care too much. I finally meet a great GP who referred me to a consultant. My advice to you is too keep goin back to your GP  and explain what affect this is having on your day to day life and mental well being and don't take no for an answer off them , Until he or she refer's you. Some times he/she who shouts loudest with the nhs shouts last!! Best of luck hope you get sorted soon.
    • steven82843
      steven82843 luke44953

      Posted

      Hi Luke. I think I get the same as you. I was diagnosed with hh but I've never had the acid reflux. Started with kind of palpitations or spasms on my left side. I burp a lot and get travelling pains in the back, buttocks and feet. Very weird. Makes you tired and feel weak. Been on tablets to stop acid but I don't get acid. Really fed up with my gp. Doesn't seem too concerned but I'm getting frustrated feeling like this now
    • paul15516
      paul15516 steven82843

      Posted

      Hi Steven, thanks for the post. I am experiencing exactly the same as you and I wasn't aware that buttock pain, palpitation in my left arm and pain in my left foot could all be linked to a HH. I have been trying to control things with a strict diet and lots of water plus 30mg of Lansoprazole for the last two weeks. Things have improved a little but are by no means cleared. How are you now? I notice magnesium being discussed in the thread, have you tried this or any other remedies? Thanks.
  • ibarbs
    ibarbs pinkmignon123

    Posted

    Hi, you posted over a year ago and I wonder...

    how are you coping with the hh now? 

    I'm scheduled for surgery on the 9th Oct and frankly I'm dreading it, but hoping it helps as my symptoms are similar to yours and unbearable. Im in a lot of pain already so not worried about that but I'm bringing blood up which is controlled by lansoprazole though it comes back within a few days if i have to stop the the meds for any reason (ie the horrendous tests)

    I hope you are faring better and that I hear back from you.

    Babs 

    I

    • PatriotFreeman
      PatriotFreeman ibarbs

      Posted

      I wish this thread wasn't 7 years old. Im having surgery for my hiatal hernia in a few weeks and am totally dreading it, to the point Im considering cancelling it. Im afraid of the pain, the gas and bloating, the liquid diet, not being able to burp or vomit, no soda etc. Im in such pain now that I don't have much of a choice anymore. My pain is in the left chest and arm pit area radiating into my upper back. It's been 3 weeks so far since the pain started and like most I went to the ER thinking it was a heart attack. Got the EKG, chest x-rays, bloodwork, CT scan and nothing was found so they decided it was my hernia. Im just curious how the surgery went for you and if you're happy you did it. I can totally relate to your comment about the horrible testing they put you through before the surgery. Ugh. I flat refused to go off my prilosec for the one test where they run a tube from your nose down your throat into your stomach and leave it there for 24 hours. The last time I went off my Prilosec I aspirated stomach contents into my lungs and got pneumonia which turned into ARDS and sepsis. I almost died because I really had no idea I was that sick. I was finally pressured into the ER where they couldn't get my oxygen level above 69. After a quick chest x-ray I was intubated and that's all I remember until 8 days later when i woke up in the ICU to them pulling the tube out of my throat. Pretty scary experience. They gave me a twenty percent chance of making it through the first night. Anyway, Id love to hear how things are for you now and how the surgery went.

      Take care,

      Marney

  • alby1950
    alby1950 pinkmignon123

    Posted

    hi same here have suffered like this for 4 years now been seeing a orthapeidic consultant because i do have a bulging disc however he informs me that the problem is not my back and refers me back to doctor who is sending me to have the camera down into the stomach because he says i have a hietus hernia my syptoms are it starts when i lay down get rib soreness which in turn makes me feel like i have belly ache also i have this niggly pain in my back between the shouder blades comes right through to my chest also hurts when i breath get a burning feeling under my arms can`t sleep i average about 3 hrs per night which is draining me of energy the nhs is very slow at giving appointments i have waited now for 3mths not very happy have worked all my life and have contributed into the system

    just have to wait and see now hope you start to feel better and hope my reply helps thank you albert

  • Cheze22
    Cheze22 pinkmignon123

    Posted

    Hi there, I also get back and shoulder pain on that side when I am having a flare up
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