about 2.5 years ago I started to get esophageal spasms. The progressively got worse to the point it was affecting my job. I saw a GI doc who prescribed a calcium blocker which takes away about 90 percent of the pain when they happen.
however, I could not be on that calcium blocker for a week before an esophageal monomotry (if you ever had one of those....they suck bad). That was an extremely painful week. The spasms took me to my knees and the fetal position every time. It was so bad. I don't think I shed a tear, but I sure yelled and screamed in immense pain.