Some time ago, as I started on my run, I felt an electric shock across my heart. I knew what electric shock sensations in that area mean and stopped immediately. As I stood there, for a minute or so, the shocks stopped as well.
Cautiously, I started walking, and the shocks did not return. But as soon as I took an experimental running step, there they were again.
I turned around and walked home. Then I got into the car and drove to an immediate care center. There, they did an EKG, which they pronounced perfectly normal. When I asked the doctor what the electric shock had been, he said he had no idea, but that I should take the EKG to my primary care doctor.
My primary care doctor did an EKG of his own, found everything normal, and had no idea what the electric shock might have been. He did, however, suggest a stress test.
I always enjoy stress tests, as the doctors have trouble stressing me on the treadmill. This one was no exception, and I got another clean bill of health. “So what was the electric shock all about?” I asked the cardiologist. If anyone would know, I figured, he’d be the one.
The cardiologist shrugged his shoulders, shook his head, and admitted to having no idea. I resumed my running with no further shocks.
A couple of weeks later, I was seeing my chiropractor for my monthly adjustment. “A funny thing happened when I was running, the other day,” I said, as he did his usual thing on my back. I was hoping that a little conversation would remind him that there was a human being on his table and he should be gentle.
“You thought you were having a heart attack,” he answered.
“Yes, I did, how did you know?”
“You have a rib out.”
Some weeks later I was at a cocktail party and found myself talking to a lady chiropractor. For want of something better to say, I launched into, “I have a funny story to tell you. I was running the other day and felt this electric shock across my heart.”
“You had a rib out,” she said.