Questions posted in the
Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
| |
|
Subject: Re: back pain I have chronic pain in my middle back between my shoulder blades. It feels like the blades are being pulled together with an elastic band and no matter what position I take it stays. Sometimes my elbow goes numb. I have been to a chiropractor and they just made it worse. Muscle relaxants dull the pain but it doesn't go away. What symptoms does a herniated disc give? I don't know where to go next and my GP says just live with it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for you question. Your symptoms are suggestive of a muscle-tension type problem in your upper back. This hypothesis is further supported by the symptomatic improvement with muscle relaxants. Altough it is not a consolation, your problem is a very common one, and usually caused by problems with posture (standing and/or seating). It can also be worsened if you are doing activities that involve "leaning over" something for prolonged periods of time. For instance, amongst physicians/nurses, leaning over to examine or take care of patients. There are number of shoulder region stretch exercises that can help you relax those muscle, and you can probably get a good orientation from a Physical Therapist. If you feel your symptoms are worsening, or the numbness is increasing, you I hope this information is helpful. Best of luck. This information is provided for general medical education purposes only. | |
