Question:

I have been having bad chest pains off and on for the past couple weeks. They get really bad at night (mostly middle of night)Yesterday and today I have had a burning sensation in my left shoulder blade. I have been through numerous tests in the past to check my cardiac status, but am still concerned about chest pains.

Answer:
You are right to think about cardiac reasons for chest pains (pressure in chest in centre or radiating to left upper arm or jaw). However, once cardiac problems have been ruled out, there are other possible causes of chest pain - such as stomach and swallowing tube or gallbladder problems or pain coming from the lining around the heart or lungs, or pain from the chest wall itself. Sometimes, we treat according to suspicion of any of these problems and see if the pain disappears.