Thoracic spine and chest wall

What are the causes of chest wall pain?
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Terms in this set (42)
a. Heart: MI, angina, pericarditis
b. Great vessels: Dissecting aneurism, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary infarction, pneumothorax, pneumonia, pleurisy
c. Oesophagus: oesophageal rupture, spasm or oesophagitis.
d. Subdiaphragmatic disorders: gall bladder, stomach, duodenum, pancreas, subphrenic collection
e. Infections: herpes zoster, pleurodynia, infective endocarditis, osteomyelitis, discitis, TB, epidural infections
f. Malignancies
i. MI: substernal tightness, nausea, heaviness, across chest, left arm, clenched fist sign.
-TrPs in anterior chest wall have similar referral pattern, vary widely throughout day, aggrivated by stretching/ twisting.
ii. Angina: constant amount of exertion needed to produce pain
iii. Peptic ulcer: triggered or relieved by eating. Duodenal ulcer = lower thoracic etc.
iv. Gall bladder: refer to right interscapular region. Nausea and vomiting
v. Pancreas: refer T/L junction. Pancreatitis pain very severe - makes it hard to tell if back or abdomen origin.
vi. Kidneys: costovertebral area or flank.pyelonephritis or obstruction of ureteropelvic junction.
vii. Oesophagus: agg: bending, lifting, lying down. Reflux and spasm
viii. Dissecting aneurism: sudden, severe, midline. Retrosternally, interscapular. Pulse inequality. Tearing sensation.
ix. Pulmonary embolism: dramatic onset. Dyspnoea. Retrosternal pain, breathlessness, syncope.
x. Biliary or renal colic: abdominal pain waxing and waning with Tx pain.