HomeAnswersCardiologymuscle twitchingWhy am I experiencing an intermittent twitching sensation in the upper left chest area?

I have had a twitching sensation in the upper left chest area which is intermittent and lasts for 5 to 10 minutes. Why?

Share

The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. K. Shobana

Published At March 12, 2021
Reviewed AtJuly 7, 2023

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

For two days now, I have had a twitching sensation in the upper left chest near the breast. It is intermittent and lasts 5 to 10 minutes. Sometimes the twitch can be similar to pulse or jerking or can be sporadic jerking with multiple twitches. The twitching is painless. Few times today, I have had a dull ache in that affected area that will go away without touching it. Currently no other symptoms. Pressing the area has a slight dull ache. Placing my hand onto the area that twitches, I can feel the deep jerk sensation. I do have LBBB (left bundle branch block). Following below was a test of my Lexiscan I had at the hospital. Impression: Small fixed region of decreased activity at the anteroseptal wall with normal wall motion at this site. While this could conceivably represent a small region of the infarct, an additional possibility is a soft-tissue attenuation. No evidence of ischemia. Normal wall motion with an ejection fraction of 56%. Narrative technique: Using pharmacologic stress, the patient underwent standard sestamibi reinjection cardiac imaging with SPECT. 2 separate injections of 99M technetium sestamibi were given consisting of 12.6 and 34.2 mCi. Wall motion analysis and left ventricular ejection fraction were obtained. Indication: Chest pain. Findings: Fixed decreased activity is present at the anteroseptal wall. No additional perfusion abnormality. No regional wall motion abnormality is demonstrated, especially at the anteroseptal wall. Ejection fraction of 56%.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thanks for the detailed description of your symptoms. If not for the finding of wall motion abnormality on perfusion imaging, I would have dismissed the sensation as just a musculoskeletal issue. The problem is also complicated by the finding of LBBB (left bundle branch block) on ECG (electrocardiogram), which by itself can cause a wall motion abnormality, especially when the impression is of no ischemia, and soft-tissue attenuation. Right now, I will not suggest any medication. Of course, the foolproof method of determining whether you have a coronary artery blockage is the coronary angiogram, but it is invasive. Stress perfusion is reasonably specific. So you can relax.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Vivek S Narayan Pillai
Dr. Vivek S Narayan Pillai

Cardiology

Community Banner Mobile
By subscribing, I agree to iCliniq's Terms & Privacy Policy.

Read answers about:

muscle twitchingchest pain

Ask your health query to a doctor online

Cardiology

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy