Chest Pain Specialist

Maryland Pain & Wellness Center

Pain Management & Interventional Pain Management Physician located in Crofton, MD & Prince Frederick, MD

If you experience chest pain, don’t put off going to the doctor: It could be a sign of a serious medical problem. To help relieve chronic chest pain, Henry Achampong, MD, MS, and his experienced pain management team are here for you. They use advanced techniques and procedures for pain relief at Maryland Pain & Wellness Center’s Delmar, Crisfield, Princess Ann, Pocomoke, Berlin, Ocean City, Cambridge, Easton Crofton, Prince Frederick, and Salisbury, Maryland, locations. Call to schedule an appointment today or use the online booking tool.

Chest Pain Q & A

What is chest pain?

Chest pain is a feeling of discomfort at or near your chest. You may associate chest pain with having a heart attack, but chest pain can have many other causes. Some are dangerous, while others are simply a nuisance. At the first sign of chest pain, see the specialists at Maryland Pain & Wellness Center for an evaluation.

What are the symptoms of chest pain?

The following signs and symptoms indicate chest pain or medical conditions associated with it:

Chest pressure or tightness
Searing or crushing pain
Shortness of breath
Mild or severe chest pain
Pain that persists or comes and goes
Pain that radiates to your back, neck, shoulders, or arms
Chest tenderness or muscle soreness
Chest wall pain
Pain with breathing
Burning in your chest

The chest pain symptoms you experience can indicate what’s causing your pain. For example, call 911 if you have severe chest pain with shortness of breath; these are signs of a heart attack.

What causes chest pain?

Numerous factors contribute to chest pain. Some are serious, while others aren’t life-threatening. Common causes of chest pain include:

Postherpetic neuralgia (herpes zoster or shingles)
Stable angina pain caused by poor blood flow
Thoracic vertebral compression fractures
Myofascial pain syndrome
Post thoracotomy pain syndrome/pain after thoracic surgery
Heart attack
Other heart problems
Heartburn
Pancreas or gallbladder problems
Pulmonary hypertension

To determine what’s causing chest pain, your pain specialist reviews your symptoms and medical history. They examine you and may use blood tests, an electrocardiogram (ECG), stress test, or imaging tests like X-rays and CT scans to make a diagnosis.

What is the treatment for chest pain?

Pain specialists at Maryland Pain & Wellness Center develop a custom chest pain treatment plan based on what’s causing your discomfort. They might recommend one or more of the following:

Medications

Taking certain medications helps relieve chest pain or its underlying cause. Your doctor might recommend over-the-counter or prescription medicines to relax your arteries, thin your blood, reduce blood clots, or neutralize stomach acid.

Lifestyle changes

If chest pain is due to heartburn, try losing weight if you’re overweight or reducing your intake of spicy and acidic foods.

Surgery

Your doctor might recommend a surgical procedure if you have a heart, lung, or blood vessel disorder that contributes to chest pain. Examples of surgeries include stent placement, bypass surgery, lung reinflation, or ruptured artery repair.

Don’t wait to seek treatment for chest pain; immediate care could save your life. Schedule an appointment with Maryland Pain & Wellness Center over the phone or online today.

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