Im having electric shock sensations down my inner left arm, originating from my left chest, ending at the outer two fingers of my left hand.These electric zaps happened since about 1 month, irregularily, but more frequently during the past week.Im caucasian, 51 years old, have no chest pain, but anxiety problems at times. im a smoker since 30 years. Please advise, should i consult a hearth specialist or not, and if so what tests shoud i undergo.thank you for your valuable advise,PeterThailand.
Hi, These symptoms may indicate you have a cervical rib. A cervical rib is an extra rib that forms above the normal first rib, growing from the base of the neck just above the collarbone. The defect is present at birth, but usually not noticed until later in life. A cervical rib can sometimes squash one of the nearby blood vessels or nerves, causing problems such as neck pain and numbness in the arm. If this occurs, it causes a condition called a thoracic outlet syn Chat Doctor.  Most people diagnosed with a cervical rib will find that their symptoms get better with time, without treatment. First line treatment is physiotherapy for shoulder exercises designed to stretch and strengthen the neck region and correct any poor posture.Painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen may help. If these measures do not work then surgery may be an option to remove the rib. I hope this is of help to you. You are welcome to contact me for any further help.