Question:

A friend (male, mid-30s) developed left arm and chest pain; EKG and stress testing ruled out cardiac problems. GERD was diagnosed and is now being treated (diet, position, and medication). However, the arm symptoms persist — mostly a feeling of pressure and/or numbness near the elbow along the inside of the arm. Can this be GERD related somehow? Thank you for whatever insight you can offer.

Answer:

Chest pain related to GERD is usually localized to the chest and does not radiate, but it could potentially radiate to the left arm. However if the chest pain is improved with the GERD therapy, the arm pain should improve also. Therefore I would question whether the arm pain is related. In addition, you didn`t mention what medication your friend was being treated with and what dose. In treating chest pain presumed to be due to GERD, it is important to initially use proton pump inhibitors at high doses, ie. twice daily at minimum, to insure that acid reflux is adequately suppressed.

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Go to the Digestive Disorders health topic.