<s>[INST] can muscles around your heart get strained? Age : 46 Height: 5 8 Weight : 185lbs Has herniated discs in back T2-T3,T4-T5,T5-T6,T7-T8,T8-T9. Had stents placed in heart arteries 2-3 years ago. Had tests done a couple of weeks ago - ECG (?) and scans - everything is fine. Gets concerned with the back pains that is being caused by the herniated discs, because pain comes to the chest area as well. [/INST] Dear patient  You have got two problems that are  not related but present  with similar complaints.  This is because heart and front chest wall is supplied  by T1  to T6  dermatome.  Disc prolapse  at T1T2, T2T3  and T3T4  discs will lead to spinal cord compression  at this levels and hence back pain and radiating  pain in front chest wall. Now we have to look for severity  of spinal cord compression  by prolapsed discs. This can be assessed by looking at spinal canal diameter at discs prolapse level. If your mri is done and report is showing  severe cord compression  by discs then surgery may be option.  If spinal cord compression  is mild rest for  few days and physiotherapy  will be helpful. Take opinion  from  expert spine surgeon with mri report. </s>