Question Title: esophagael pain in the back?

When i eat certain rough foods (ie;cucumber or apple), i have the sensation that i feel the food moving down my esophagus, and i particularly feel it in my back between my shoulder blades. Am i imagining this? It also seems that i can feel anything that i drink quickly, like gulping a big glass of cold water.

I have been taking some (250mg) of relafen for arthritis in my upper back(for several weeks).

Dear Katie,

Some patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease or esophageal motility disorders (such as esophageal spasm) will report pain between the shoulder blades and the sensation that food is passing down the esophagus. This sensation can also occur with drinks and foods that are extremely hot or cold. If this is very troublesome, a physician can prescribe some medications to help you. Relafen can be irritating to the esophagus and the rest of the gastrointestinal tract. You can try to substitute acetaminophen (Tylenol) for Relafen and see if that works well for you.

This response is being provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Always check with your personal physician when you have a question pertaining to your health.

If you would like to be seen at our institution please call 1-800-653-6568, our Referring Physicians’ Office and make an appointment to see Dr. Muszkat, one of our experts in Gastroenterology.

HFHSM.D.-ym
*Keywords: back pain, gastroesophageal reflux, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

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