Enter your symptoms and find possible causes with MedHelp's new Symptom Search.
Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
I have been having pains in this same area. It seems to be located between my left shoulder shoulders intensive treatment Shoulder arthroscopy Shoulder pain blade and spine. Lately, the pain has gotten worse. Just when I am sitting at my desk chair, the pain is extremely unpleasant. I think the pain comes from carrying around books all day, because I am a college student. I have an office job on campus doing things on a computer, and at times the pain is so bad it is distracting and causes me not to work. I have been to massage therapists twice and they never seem to help. Do you think I should visit a chiropractor? Has it helped anyone else with the pain?
Yes-it has helped me-going to a Chiropractor...he took x-rays of my spine and lower back etc to see what the problem is on why my shoulder and ect. is hurting and stiff alot......my spine looked like a "S" nad the shoulder is from stress and me favoring my right side more than my "left" so when I use the left side more at times for some reason...it tenses up You might give a Chiropractor a chance and just see how ya feel!
Am I glad I happened upon this forum. I have for the past few months off and on a burning pain in my left shoulder...mid way down near my spine as well. It feels like its swollen..as if there is a knot forming there and I've taken aspirin to try to help the inflammation and pain. I go to a chiropractor for regular adjustments and it seems to help some. Right now I am in pain sitting here at work. I am going to a massage therapist starting Tuesday. It is one of the benefits here at my work. $15 for 15 minutes so I can easily do this during my lunch break. I think a lot of it is from me always carrying everything on my left side. My granddaughter, my purse, whatever. I played with my granddaughter 2 weeks ago and its been hurting me ever since. Could be from bending and lifting her up and holding her on my left side and then laying on my back and holding her above me. I am going to try alternating between heat and ice packs and see what happens with that. The past two days weren't bad but this morning is painful. Could be the way I sleep too. Who the heck knows. I have a wedding to go to on Saturday and I sure as heck don't want to be in pain. I wanna dance! lol
I have the same problem. I try to stand up or sit up at the computer and it feels like someone is stabbing me in the back on the right bottom side of my left shoulder blade in between my shoulder and spine. tylenol doesnt seem to help.... Im 9 months pregnant and have a 4 year old so stress may very well be a cause but GOD this hurts!!
Its definitly a muscle problem, and the knott need to get worked out. Chiropractors are good as they focus on this stuff. Ask if yours uses graston as that works great. Try to use a warm rag or heating pad in the area when at home, and get a massager or have someone massage the area. It will hurt, but use as much pressure as you can stand and it will feel better afterward.
These things could be stress related you you could have had a tear in the muscle. Just keep working it out and it will get rid of the pain. www.chirofacts.info can help you find a doctor
I have a similar pain in my right shoulder blade area. It hurts when I do things with my left hand. When I fish, wash the dishes, hold my son, or anything with my left side it hurts. Typically the pain subsides when I am able to sit down, relax my left arm, or lift my head. This does not always work, though. I have taken some over the counter pain meds, but they do not seem to make a single bit of difference. It hurts so bad sometimes. Sometimes it feels like the area is tingling, like when your leg or arm falls asleep. Other times it feels like a bruise or a sore muscle, and I just feel the pain consistantly, no matter what I'm doing. This has been occuring for a week and a half now. I don't want it to continue. I guess I should call the doctor. I'll try some of the things mentioned above also. Have any of those things helped any of you?
I have this same thing and it came out of nowhere! I can't find a comfortable place to sleep, can't wash my hair, can hardly move my right arm up or down. The pain is burning around my right shoulder blade and middle of my back. Affects my neck and most all I do since I'm right handed. I guess I have no choice but to find a chiropractor and visit my massage therapist again.
Ok all-- i get to kill all these birds with one stone!!! The problem most likely is NOT really in the shoulder blade area. The problem, believe it or not, is in the muscles of the neck, specifically the scalenes, the SCMs the UPPER traps and the lev scapulae, with some help from the pec muscles. What happens is that these muscles get short and tight due to FORWARD HEAD POSTURE. When your head is held forward, and not over the spine, the muscles in your mid back have to work extra heard to keep your scapulas in place, and to balance out the weight of yor head (16 lbs!!= a bowling ball). If not of these muscles (rhomboids, longitudinal muscles of the spine and other scapular stabilizers ie the ones that hurt) your head would fall to your feet. The solution is trifold
1. fix your posture-- keep your head over your spine
2. Strengthen the mid back muscles I mentioned (do not stretch them-- they are already overstretched)
3. Lengthen (with stretching and triggerpoint release) the tight muscles --scalenes, upper traps, scms and pecs)
You may use trigger point release on those nasty knts in your back-- but they will most likely reture until the day arrives where they no longer have to work so hard becasue your posture has been corrected.
3 books. 1. a book on posture by Paul D'Arezzo
2. Trigger point manual by Clair Davies
3. How to fix your back pain without drugs or surgery by Joie Bookspan
1 website-- by Jolie Bookspan
Regarding chiroprractics for this problem-- probably wil not help more than a few hours or a day. You muscles are pulling your bones, not the other way around. think about that.
How do i know all this stuff? 2 1/2 years of disabling muscle pain in my neck, chest and back. 3 years of research and reading (after dozens of worthless doctor visits). Fixed myself. 99% pain fee now.
Well I believe that, I have the same pain on my left side shoulder blade that comes thru to my chest and I cnat even lay flat on my back at night I feel like some one is sticking a knife in my back . Now just recently I have found that if I sit straight up in my chair it hurts too so I rest my head back to relax my neck muscles and that helps alot. My husband always pushes on the knot that is always there but I have noticed that I hold my head forward all the time. I do daycare so I lift kids all the time and I never really relax my head even wehn sittinng my head is always up straight I dont lean it back to relax it and when I do it feels better So I have been adjusting the way I sit lay and walk I am more aware of how I am doing things and realized I lean on my left side when sitting leaning on my left arm.. Thanks for you advise it makes alot of since..
I also have been to the doctor and had ekg thinking it might be a heart problem but all is normal there. I have been trying to catch myself on my posture and it seems to be working..
yea i dont know exatly what but i feel snowboarding and rolled onto my arm like i was on my face and rolled on my back with my arm underneath me and know i got this it hurts like crazy but i dont think its casue of stress
You described my symptoms exactly! The itchy feeling especially drives me nuts, and you can't even get any relief when you try scratching the area. I actually reach over my shoulder with a pair of long scissors to reach the itch LOL!
I do not know what is causing this either, I've had this occurring for a year at least now.
When I rotate my left shoulder blade it sounds as if bones are scraping or something is crunching around. Whatever it is, it causes knots to form underneath and around the shoulder blade. Then, the muscles going up and down my spine get so tight and irritated and feel like they just need to be snapped to release the pressure. The pain/irritation is agonizing. The pain runs up the muscle along my spine to the base of my head and has now reached down to my lower back as if I had just worked all of those muscles out the day before. My general practitioner said it was normal the first year. The second year she said it was tendonitis and sent my to a chiropractor/physical therapist. He said it was my posture and tried to massage the knots out and give me the electrode whatever you call it therapy. That only made it worse. Then, he decided it wasn't my posture/muscles, but sounded like my bone (whatever that means?). I had to stop going because the problem was now all day everyday as opposed to once a week. Then I went to an orthopeadic doctor. The X-ray showed nothing. Then, the CT Scan showed hairline fractures in 3 ribs (I fell down my concrete steps jsut before this problem started) but that they had already healed and could not be causing the pain. The MRI actually showed 5 discs that were protruding slightly, but on the opposite side! I am at my wits end and noone can figure out what is causing this problem. When I take deep breathes I can feel my shoulder blade pushing up against something - like a muscle/knot. When I rotate my shoulder blade around I can feel it rubbing over the muscle/knots that actually help to massage it. Motrin, aleve, tylenol, nothing over the counter works. Wearing anything even just fitting that puts pressure on my shoulder blade ends up very painful halfway through the day. I am constantly jerking my neck hoping to crack it as if it would release the pain/stress but it never does. The only thing that makes any difference is the athritic cream that I have to lather up before bed and just lay there. SOmetimes there is relief in the morning. This has been going on for maybe 2 years and has gotten progressively worse. About 2 1/2 years ago I slid down my concrete front steps, but no doctors seem to clue in that it may have something to do with my pain. If anyone has information, I would surely appreciate it as I don't know what else to do.
I have had this problem going on for 8 years now, it started with my first pregnancy. Sometimes I feel so depressed about it, it makes me feel broken down at 28, I can't even play with my kids. After my second prengnancy I tried a chiropractor and that helped with the headaches. The xrays showed that I carry my head forward and my spine is out of alignment. I quit going when I got pregnant for the third and final time and the pain has gotten much worse. My pain is caused from my posture and it is muscular. I have all these knots all in the area between my shoulder blades and my spine, all up and down my back. While I was pregnant a perk of my insurance was physical therapy 3 times a week and massages, but after I quit going the pain is back worse than ever and in more places. It is in my left chest muscles bad. Sometimes I think I am having a heart condition or something. When I take a deep breath the pain shoots through my left chest area and into my left shouldber area as well. I have a horrible knot in my neck right at the base of my skull and it causes headaches and sinus problems. Most days I am in so much pain I can not be an affective mother. I can't play with my kids, and I fuss at them because I feel so bad. This problem is interupting my life so much and I don't have any insurance anymore so I can't get any help. I feel like I have aged so much, I don't feel 28 at all. I am so sick of being in pain all the time.
I suffered with the pain for a long time then it "went away". In its place eventually came an itchy sensation that would not stop. This has been going on for weeks. Finally I decided to "google" what I was feeling and sure enough people have obviously been dealing with the same thing. The one term I don't believe was posted here is "notalgia paraesthetica" this describes the itchy tingling to a T! and it ties in with the pain. Look into notalgia paraesthetica and I'm sure you'll agree with my self diagnosis. It took that to lead me to the conclusion of what was happening when I was in pain. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!!!!
I have the exact same pain and it is so bad that it seems to poke thru to the front. I have found a product called a Theracane. It looks like a short shepards hook and has a couple handles and knobs on it. If you place the knob on a knot and apply pressure the pain lessens. It is amazing how much this product helped me. It is available for less than 50 bucks at a med supply store
To All
Suffered the same symptoms for 15-20 years. Tried Quackapractors, MDs, massage, and excercise. It always came back. Woke up one morning last fall and my left hand would not work. Went to the ER thinking I had a stroke. Got an MRI on my cervical area and found that I had severe stynosiys(sp) and a very bad hernieated disk at T1. Had the surgery and feel better but my hand will never be right because of all the years of letting the idiots pop my back for money. Go get an MRI even if you have to pay for it. Find out for sure what the problem is. Quackapractors and their gizmo of the week can not see soft tissue issues like an MRI. Popping your neck or back will not fix an damaged disc. I have lost the use of my left hand because of listening to those idiot money grubbing snake oil salesman. What are you going to do?
I have been experiencing a burning, slightly itchy pain on my left side, just below the shoulder blade. It's in the middle of my left side, about half way between my side and my spinal cord. I did some research and came across this, which concerns me:
"Pains that occur under the shoulder blade may signal a warning that the pain is not in the shoulder itself, but can be related to a pain from one of the organs in the body. The shoulder where the pain occurs can give the clue which of the organs are affected and causing the radiating pain into the shoulder. Pain under the left shoulder blade can be a signal that there is a problem with the stomach or other abdominal structures (ulcers, pancreatitis, ectopic pregnancy) or in the chest (myocardial infarction [heart attack], pericarditis, pleuritis, pneumonia, pulmonary embolus, aortic dissection)."
Has anyone been given a diagnosis related to internal organs are opposed to muscular pain?
I know your frustration, I also have been experiencing pain. Just like you have described for about 10 yrs and I am a mother of a 3 mnth old and two yr old and after each preganancy the pain got worse! I am 27 and I feel like a 70 yr old women. I'm sitting here at work putting a ball in my back to try to releive the pain. The only type of massage that eases my pain is deep penetrating massages that I usually do with a tennis ball. I recently lookded up "Trigger Points" which actually descibed so much of the pain I have been experiencing. That actually led me to read about TMJ dysfunction, which I actually have just had a cosultation for and I found out that me cracking my jaw and clenching my teeth since Iwas a child might have been the cause of all this pain. They told me that the TMJ might have led to a lot referred pain throughout my whole body.I don't know if this is going to completely fix me yet but I am praying. I'm going to get my TMJ corrected and also to do physical therapy with a Trigger point therapists and see how it works out. You should Google those things, I know how it feels to want to feel good for just one day to be able to play with yor kids!
My pain was related to a collapsed lung. I went to a chiropractor at first because I thought it was a pinched nerve or similar - after a couple months I had a chest x-ray for bronchitis when they realized the knots in my upper back/shoulder blade area that caused breathing to hurt actually was a collapsed lung.
i had the same problem with the knot in my left shoulder blade and as you all have described mine was like someone was stabbing me in the shoulder.but i knew what caused mine,i have tinnitus ringing of the ears.and as you all know ringing in the ears causes alot of stress on the body.i was exposed to an extremely deafening sound one night and i felt the pain in my shoulder afterward and by the next morning i was in tears getting out of bed.had to take 3 days off work and all doctors could do was give me muscle relaxers which helped a little.
I too had a horrible stabbing pain in between my shoulder blades along with a burning, numb tingling sensation along my spine( mostly on the right). I had an MRI and went to a very well known dr. I was told that my paraspinal muscles are degenerated. I need to do exercises to strengthen my paraspinal muscles and also recieve regular massages to help relieve the stress on the muscles because they were having spasms. Well the pain continued for years until one morning it wrapped all the way around my rib cage. I went to the ER and was told I needed to have my Gallbladder removed. They said it had been bad for years and couldn't believe I had no pain. I told them of my back pain and was told that the stabbing pain in between your shoulder blades is a sign of gallstones. That is the only symptom I ever had that something was wrong. So I no longer have the aching stabbing feeling but I do still have numbness and tingling along my spine if I stand in one place too long or have to carry my daughter for a long period of time, but I think if I actually did the exercises like I was supposed to it would get better. When I do them I can feel the strech and burn and it does make me feel better along with a massage. I couldn't afford to go get a professional one all the time so I purchased the homedics shiatsu massager and it helps relieve the muscle tension. It was a great investment. So next time you go to your dr. you might want to talk to them about getting some blood work done to check your gallbladder an liver. I had very high liver levels and the dr. thought the damage might not fix itself because it had been so bad for so long luckily it has been a year and everything is back to normal. Also I went to the ER the very first time I had the pain in my back and they told me it was my muscles, gave me muscle relaxers and sent me home. The next time I went in they told me the same thing but my mom insisted they check my gallbladder because someone told her the same thing I am telling you. If she had not done that they would have sent me home with muscle relaxers and no telling what might have happened. So don't be afraid to get checked even if they are telling you that is not what it is. Better safe than sorry!
Hello all, I am suprised that this is such a common problem, I am almost 30 and have been dealing with this pain for 10 years... I for a long time would just beg anyone and everyone to just massage me, or sometimes walk on my back... bad I know but when you have no insurance... you get desperate... last year I became pregnant and was covered by Medicade... but I lost the child but still had the insurance. I started with the Chiropractor, after the 4th visit I could barley move my left arm without tears comeing to my eyes, so I went to the ER... all they did was give me some motrin and a few vicoden and sent me home with a referal... I made an appointment it took me a month and a half to get in and when I showed up they told me they didnt except my insurance UGH! Soo no just being pissed off I tried to deal with the pain but couldnt handel it anymore, I called my PCP to ask for a referal and he told me to come in cause he does sports med also. we satrted with heat packs and the electo theripy, and naproxen... DID NOTHING FOR ME... then he added flexeral to the mix...STILL NOTHING... ok time for PHYSICAL THERIPY... 2 months 3 times a week... NOTHING, still inflamed, still spasing, still burning and stabing, and actually after I left eachtime I felt worse. Ok back to the Dr I go... time to go on something for nerve pain... 3 weeks and NO RELIEF... Im at my wits end with this, I just would like to have one day where Im not constantly hurting, Im sick of always trying to crack something, shifting my back and neck all day, anything to get a moment of relief. Honestly half the time Im doing it and not even realizeing it... I get funny looks from people... IM SOO FRUSTRATED WITH THIS...
Hi all, I need to add a "me too" to this thread. I have only been dealing with mine for the last 2 months (all Sept. and now Oct). The only difference with mine is that when I swallow food, my upper back has pain in this one area along my shoulder blade. (I have another thread somewhere on here regarding that). So of course I'm thinking something totally different is going on.
I have had so far, chest x-ray, EKG and recently a barium swallow (Upper GI) because of the pain in upper back when swallowing....However....I also started running around seeing massage therapist, chiropractors, etc. and also taking Flexeril, Ibuprofen, heat etc. and nothing helps. I am almost positive this is 100% muscoskeletal now that most of the serious stuff has been ruled out. I think the massage makes it worse, cause most of the therpists do not know deep tissue or trigger point massage. Also, having my neck and back adjusted makes it really bad..and I think he just aggravates the problem.
I PM'd a Physical Therapist online and he told me to have disc pathology done, which leads me to think that "he thinks" it is a herniated disc in my neck, which at this point makes sense. This all began with my neck doing this weird pop and then a sharp pain spasm in it. It's totally random, and even today I had another jolt just looking to the right. Funny how that started and now my upper back and shoulder blade kill me pretty much 24/7. I also get a extreme upper back (base of neck) muscle burning pain. I started doing these neck stretches and when I bend my head down and somewhat to the right, I can feel it go from my neck clear down into my shoulder blade where it hurts when I swallow.
It feels like I have either torn something, or it needs to heal in there. It's totally deep trap, or rhomboid area and into neck too.
I am a hairdresser so the chances of this healing any time soon is not happening because I work 5 days a week 8 hours a day with constant left arm motion in all different directions and holding a heavy blowdryer all day *(which could be my problem right there). I know that I probably need an MRI at this point. I am not wanting to go do this, because it's expensive even though I have insurance...I just would rather see if maybe I can fix it on my own. I plan on going to the gym and seeing about strengthening some muscles.
In the meantime, I feel all of your pain, and I know NOTHING works. The only thing that feels somewhat better is this cream I bought called Zostrix, very expensive over the counter. But once it wears off it's pain again.
Just thought I would throw my story in too. This pain is not fun.
Just had to throw my bit in here. I've suffered from these exact problems everyone is stating. Sleeping is absolutely miserable, and I can never sleep on my left side. The pain is like an extreme tightness directly on and below my left shoulder blade. Right side and all other areas of my back feel fine. This had lead to such anxiety at points that I went to the doctor for chest xrays, ekgs, etc. Heart is healthy and he tells me it may be stress related.
The most interesting thing about this condition is the effect alcohol has had on it. I'm a 22 year old college student and as such do a good bit of partying on the weekend. I've noticed lately that pain in my shoulder is substantially worse on Sundays Monday and Tuesdays following a weekend of drinking. The strange part is, it never feels at all a problem while drinking - strictly the day or two after. I'm currently sitting here knowing that if I were to have a few drinks my shoulder would not feel so tight anymore but the feeling in the morning would be just worse! It's absolutely maddening.
I really want to get to the bottom of this. It's so frustrating to have to turn down social events, etc because of how much I hate the pain I get after partying. No one else seems to understand this problem!
Hi there all, I feel your pain. I have had my pain for going on two(2) years now. It is a stabbing pain between the left scapula and the spine. It also radiates under the armpit, up the neck, down the left arm and around to the chest.
I too have had numerous xrays,ultrasounds etc but not an MRI. They cannot find anything wrong! Somedays the pain gets so bad it makes you so depressed and angry. Then when they start telling you perhaps it's all in the head...please give me a knife and I'll stab you in the back and see if it hurts-hahahaha.
Anyway, I go to the chiropractor once a month and have a deep tissue massage once a month. I have just started physiotherapy once a month also. My GP has me on a muscle relaxant and also a low dose antidepressant - don't think it does much. I have started to see an exercise physiologist to try and rebuild the use of the muscles also. I used to suffer from panic attacks and post natal depression. They are all telling me that they think this is my body's way of dealing with anxiety and stress, so I have started meditation as well. Hopefully I can get on top of this because some days it feels as though you are just stuck in a continual cycle...pain,depression - depression,pain. I am determined that I am going to win. I wish you all the best and lets rid ourselves of our pain. Go, go, go.
I have scoliosis, arthritis, fibromyalgia, degenerative disk disease- thoracic area, broken tailbone in 3 places, and a once broken back, from a bad car accident. I also was diagnosed with bilateral bone spurs at C4-5 as a result of a horse riding accident twenty years ago. During the past three months I have been plagued with new pain on the left side of my back from my neck to waist, it is worse over the shoulder blade area. I saw my doctor who thinks its related to my crocked spine, and things listed above. She sent me to a chiropractor, who I had already been seeing every two weeks. I see him once a week, and also have deep tissue massage while there, and do exercises formulated for my problems. The pain comes and goes, and seems to crop up when least expected. I can even be sitting watching TV in a regular chair and have the pain get so bad I cannot stand, walk or change position without help. I am also a RN and at a loss at to what else to do??? I’m also seeking SSDI, not able to work at all, and have a very limited income. Any suggestions would help. Thanks! Kandy
I have this burning left shoulder and neck pain for last 14 months been to my GP so many times had treatment, blood test, x-ray, still suffering from this pain specialy when I am sitting or driving it gets very bad don't know what to do next, had injection 3 weeks ago and it got worse been to see my GP today he has sent me for blood test and x-ray again.
I have had this same pain for about four years now and am 25 years old. I was a ballet dancer for most of my life and it started when I was in college and no longer dancing. I can feel the little knots poking out when I try and reach back in between my left shoulder blade and spine. It comes and goes but when it is here, it is really bad. If I lay flat on my back it feels better but I often think im going to have a heart attack ( I am a bit of a hypochondriach too) because the pain is all around the left side of my back and it goes through to the front. I saw some other people write the same thing. I just kind of try and ignore it but sometimes I get stressed out about it which probably makes it worse. I guess I'm going to buy a heating pad...
I have been experiencing the same thing for almost a year now. It is 4 am and I am up AGAIN. Sleeping is impossible. I feel like I am loosing my mind or my doctor is going to have me commited (NOT really but couldn't hurt) I have a burning aching pain across my upper shoulders, in my neck, down my shoulder blade and thru to the front of my chest. I also have an inflammed shoulder. All of this is on my left side so I to thought the worst. I have had Xrays, EKG about to do MRI this week. No one seems to know what the deal is. I don't see how people can believe someone could make up a pain this bad. Not to wish this on my worst enemy but if they had to deal with it for 1 week they would completely understand. WE ARE NOT CRAZY, WE JUST NEED SOLUTIONS TO OUR PROBLEMS. WE DESERVE REST ALSO.....
Bursitis? Tendonitis? Well, maybe somewhat related when you look these up.... I'm in same boat as many of you posting here Pain started 4 yrs ago in left shoulder area - I had the knot, burning pain, and the crunchy sound you hear when rolling your shoulders. I often said it felt like I had a bullet in there -- just burning away at the tissue. I figured it was actually just from stress - especially ignited by housework and career work --computer work was the absolute worst thing for it! The only thing to relieve the pain a little was by introducing more pain by having an elbow or somehing to get in there and apply major pressure. I believe that Mike1105 probably has a good target on what migt initially provoke the issue -(the posture thing) along with any previous injury to neck but curing it isn't necessarily as easy as described. I've tried everything. My most reliable doctor calls it myofascial pain syndrome; however, a specialist he referred me to now insists it's fibromyalgia. If you notice these tender points starting to spread to other parts of the body in the next few years == go to a fibro specialist to see if this might be your problem. They'll help teach you coping skills to live with the pain as much as possible...and give pointers on things that might help flare ups. My doctor has fibro and said his trouble spot was always the shoulder too. Something to look into....as I know alot of us just want to figure it out.
it is helpful to just read all you have said as now i know i am not alone. i identify with most of your symptoms. now think about it i have had this pain on and off for years. it was never completely gone. good to know that not many dr. or chiropractor can give you 100% as i have just tried couple and my instinct tells me they are not the answer. i sew quite a bit and i notice when i doing it in a length of time it got worse. so the head forward too much pulling the musle sounded pretty much on target. i do yuga and exercise 20 minutes a day everyday for years, you'd think such pain shouldn't happen to me----but it does---i continue to do my routine exercise everyday but wonder if it will make the already stressed tissure and musle more stressful. i guess i should be more grateful to be able to do all this while still in the "left shoulder pain club". i am going to get it healed relying on my instinct. i will pay more attention from now on as to what makes it better or worse. and i will check back with you guys once i find some relieve.
my left shoulder is hurting under and around the shoulder blade.,under left arm through chest and down left arm. i have been hurting for about 2years,and it has gotton worst, when i get a pain shot in it for a hour or 3 it hurts worst than ever. I donnot know who to go to or what to do, i get so tired of saying i am in pain. my husband gets so mad if i even mention, i am hurting, .i get in a corner and pray and hurt and cry. i am so miserable. I donot have a clue. they say it could be degenerate disease or bulging dist or on andon. i hurt i mean hurt. meds make my stomach bleed. so i cannot take much. please help
I had the same pain for 4 years and only did I get it looked at 2 years ago. I went to Ortho who said it was a herniated disk and pumped me full of pain killers and PT. Then I went to the Chiropractor for about 3 months, he would do traction and an adjuustment, which would relieve pain for about 5 min. Finally I asked for a referral to the Pain Clinic, and within a 1/2 hour he had me diagnosed. Told me to stop taking pain killers, that nothing could be worse. Put me on muscle relaxers and Lidoderm patches and Lunesta for my sleep issues. Then, he sent me to PT for Myofascial Release. Been going for 2 1/2 months and I'm at about 95% pain free. If you have not tried it, please do before Dr's try unneccessary surgery!!!
I could not stay out of this !! Left shoulder blade/spine been painful for years atleast three. I tried everything!!! accupuncture/chiro/TENS/massage. Finally got MRI on cervical spine I have problems at C5 /C6 . but apparently not too bad!!!
My neck/shoulders are most painful these days. I think I hunch my shoulders too much it is the body's natural response to protect the neck
I feel the neck area is responsible for a great deal of upper back pain.
I always tell everyone about Epsom salts since I found it very good for relaxing my muscles. Tea-cup full in a hot bath
I have a severe pain in my under right shoulder blade, infact it is excrutiating at the moment. Went to the Doctor this morning and he said it was muscular .. If i turn my head left as in traffic when driving the pain is terrible in my under right shoulder .. I cant even raise my arm without the pain under my shoulder blade and under arm, i thought it was gaul stones, doc said that the symptoms i have are mechanical....Doctor has perscribed semi mild pain killers .. I did ask why is it the it still hurts when im doing nothing, as i thought that muscular pain subsided with rest ??? can u enlighten me im in sheer agony.
Wow! I am both relieved and saddened by everyone's testimonies. I too am suffering from from cervical spine pain and shoulder pain on both sides. It is terribly painful, especially in the morning, in the car, watching tv., etc. You get the point. I am so tired of popping pills. Often times than not, I feel like a drug addict. Well, technically speaking, I am. My doctors have me on muscle relaxers (Baclofen), pain meds (hyrocodone), and anti-inflamm's (ibuprofren 800mg). Wow, right? I went from drinking water for a headache to this. Pretty depressing. But, I refuse to let this thing beat me. So, with that said, I think I will try the Myofascial Release swndog92 spoke of. Also, I think I'm going to stop taking the pacifiers. (ibuprofren and hydrocodone) and stick with the muscle relaxer and capsacian cream coupled with strengthening exercises and stress reduction techniques. My prayers are with all of you as pain can be very debilitating. Stay strong and do whatever you can to rid you life of any and ALL stress factors. STRESS KILLS! Lastly, do what ever you can to focus on all the positive things in your life and by all means don't forget to LAUGH and get those endorphins flowin. The Body's own natural pain killers.
I'm so glad to have ran across this forum. I have that same knawing pain between the left shoulder blade and spine. It's exhausting! I have been to the ER, had a nuclear stress test, EKG's, and CT Angio, and everyone is confident it is not my heart. I am being treated for anxiety because my symptoms have come out on many physical ways. I still have no answer for the near the left should blade area, but am hopeful with all of the techniques listed like posture and such will relieve it! Though I am sorry you all are having difficulties, I am blessed to have found your postings. Thank you
Hello all! Since I last posted, I have continued to take my Enbrel for my RA. I am suppose to take it once a week. However, I had an almost near death experience and have decided to take it on an as needed basis. Through journaling my pain and pain management, I have noticed when it's time for me to take the Enbrel injections the pain in my back and neck is lessened. I have not taken my Enbrel for the past 5wks and guess what... zero pain in my back and the pain in my neck is almost non existent. Wow...right? Also when I spoke with my mother who has diabetes, we found that she had not had debilitating back pains prior to taking insulin injections. Just something to think about. I notified Enbrel and my doctor of my findings and they are astonished. I guess it's true what they say... you must be your own advocate! I will continue to say a prayer for all of you who are suffering from pain. I hope this helps
I too have been suffering from the same issues, and had felt it was due to my low back disc herniation. Walking crooked favoring my right leg ect. The muscles at the top of both shoulders are very tight, and I have pain and knots on both sides of my spine near and under my shoulder blades.Sometimes the pain is so bad it hurts to breath, as if a knife has gone through my back to the front of my chest. Years ago a MRI showed I had Tarlov cysts, no doctor every really told me what those are. Dos anyone one else with the shoulder blade muscle pain have these tarlov cysts? Do yall think that could be the cause of this type of pain?
Hi everyone. I am so happy that I found this forum. Like others here, I have had the same type of excruciating pain under my left shoulder blade that radiates through to my breast bone for 8 years now after experiencing a trauma to my left arm. Unfortunately, I also sustained blood clots and pulmonary embolisms at the same time, that the doctors have been so focused on that. They originally thought my pain was pleurisy due to a collapsed left lung. I, like others here, have had numerous test that show nothing. Recently, I got lucky enough to find a compassionate PCP and just today we discussed and agreed on the same treatment that swndog92 is receiving. That puts me in great spirits that maybe I will eventually be pain free. Good luck to everyone out there in receiving the correct diagnosis and treatment. Make your voice be heard. Just remember, any doctor that dismisses, diminishes, or belittles a patients symptoms is not worth the waste of time nor money.
Wow, you can add me too. The tingling, stabbing and itching which I know is a knot behind my shoulder blade drives me nuts. When I get a massage, I am pain free for a bit, but then it just creeps back. One thing a massage therapist told me to do was stand straight with feet slightly apart, put your arms to the side and when you squeeze your arms back in front of you, keep the shoulder blades back. So you are actually just moving your rotator cuffs back to get your arms in place and your shoulder blades stay stationary. That does alleviate a lot of tension.. Fort hose who can afford it on a monthly basis, Massage Envy is having a special $39 for your first 55 minute massage, and if you join the membership, I think it's $49 for a one hour massage each month, and you can also role them over if you miss one in a month
i too have this problem.....most of the pain is on the right side ....i constantly feel like i need stretched out.....im always twisting and bending in all differant ways to try and get some relief...i rotate my shoulder blades as to try and pinch the area but still nothing helps...its a constant achy feeling....some days get so bad i just want to scream....but i have been getting some help from my doctor....i take celebrex and that really helps with the pain i highly reccommend it....and i also have been getting pain injections in that area....i got 6 shots in the little muscle inbetween the shoulderblade and spine 3 shots on both sides....and they are really helping me......so you all should check around to find a doctor that is wiling to go the extra mile to help you....i dont have insurance....but i qualify for assistance through my hospital......thankgod......
I've also had right shoulder blade muscle pain I've eventually overcome.
As a previous post stated, posture is paramount to preventing pain. Stand in front of a mirror (front and side profile) and assess your posture. Chances are your shoulders are forward and your neck and head are also forward. Consciously adjust your posture so that the weight of your head is supported by your spine. Pull your shoulders back slightly and puff out your chest a little. Remember this position and try to maintain it during your day.
I've discovered 3 stretches that reach those deep tissues:
1) Shrug your shoulders to your ears. Now, roll your shoulders back until your shoulder blades are flexed, really puff out your chest (the tighter the flex, the better the stretch). Depending on how chronic this has been, you might have trouble breathing. Now slowly roll your head back, then slowly look to the wall your right shoulder (or whichever is sore) is pointing to. Hold for several seconds.
2) Hang from bars with overhand grip, keep head forward and slowly flex the blades as tight as you can. Hold there for as long as comfortable. Repeat several times. Try moving hands further and further apart. Do not attempt unless you are physically fit, or have someone properly spot you.
3) Lie on your back (on the floor). Support your head with a pillow. Arch your lower back, so that butt, upper back and head are the only points touching floor from upper body. Put arms in front of body. Slowly shift weight so that only head and butt are touching floor. Hold for as long as comfortable. Try tilting head slightly up for a slightly different stretch.
These things could be stress related you you could have had a tear in the muscle. Just keep working it out and it will get rid of the pain. www.chirofacts.info can help you find a doctor
1. fix your posture-- keep your head over your spine
2. Strengthen the mid back muscles I mentioned (do not stretch them-- they are already overstretched)
3. Lengthen (with stretching and triggerpoint release) the tight muscles --scalenes, upper traps, scms and pecs)
You may use trigger point release on those nasty knts in your back-- but they will most likely reture until the day arrives where they no longer have to work so hard becasue your posture has been corrected.
3 books. 1. a book on posture by Paul D'Arezzo
2. Trigger point manual by Clair Davies
3. How to fix your back pain without drugs or surgery by Joie Bookspan
1 website-- by Jolie Bookspan
Regarding chiroprractics for this problem-- probably wil not help more than a few hours or a day. You muscles are pulling your bones, not the other way around. think about that.
How do i know all this stuff? 2 1/2 years of disabling muscle pain in my neck, chest and back. 3 years of research and reading (after dozens of worthless doctor visits). Fixed myself. 99% pain fee now.
I do not know what is causing this either, I've had this occurring for a year at least now.
Suffered the same symptoms for 15-20 years. Tried Quackapractors, MDs, massage, and excercise. It always came back. Woke up one morning last fall and my left hand would not work. Went to the ER thinking I had a stroke. Got an MRI on my cervical area and found that I had severe stynosiys(sp) and a very bad hernieated disk at T1. Had the surgery and feel better but my hand will never be right because of all the years of letting the idiots pop my back for money. Go get an MRI even if you have to pay for it. Find out for sure what the problem is. Quackapractors and their gizmo of the week can not see soft tissue issues like an MRI. Popping your neck or back will not fix an damaged disc. I have lost the use of my left hand because of listening to those idiot money grubbing snake oil salesman. What are you going to do?
"Pains that occur under the shoulder blade may signal a warning that the pain is not in the shoulder itself, but can be related to a pain from one of the organs in the body. The shoulder where the pain occurs can give the clue which of the organs are affected and causing the radiating pain into the shoulder. Pain under the left shoulder blade can be a signal that there is a problem with the stomach or other abdominal structures (ulcers, pancreatitis, ectopic pregnancy) or in the chest (myocardial infarction [heart attack], pericarditis, pleuritis, pneumonia, pulmonary embolus, aortic dissection)."
Has anyone been given a diagnosis related to internal organs are opposed to muscular pain?
I have had so far, chest x-ray, EKG and recently a barium swallow (Upper GI) because of the pain in upper back when swallowing....However....I also started running around seeing massage therapist, chiropractors, etc. and also taking Flexeril, Ibuprofen, heat etc. and nothing helps. I am almost positive this is 100% muscoskeletal now that most of the serious stuff has been ruled out. I think the massage makes it worse, cause most of the therpists do not know deep tissue or trigger point massage. Also, having my neck and back adjusted makes it really bad..and I think he just aggravates the problem.
I PM'd a Physical Therapist online and he told me to have disc pathology done, which leads me to think that "he thinks" it is a herniated disc in my neck, which at this point makes sense. This all began with my neck doing this weird pop and then a sharp pain spasm in it. It's totally random, and even today I had another jolt just looking to the right. Funny how that started and now my upper back and shoulder blade kill me pretty much 24/7. I also get a extreme upper back (base of neck) muscle burning pain. I started doing these neck stretches and when I bend my head down and somewhat to the right, I can feel it go from my neck clear down into my shoulder blade where it hurts when I swallow.
It feels like I have either torn something, or it needs to heal in there. It's totally deep trap, or rhomboid area and into neck too.
I am a hairdresser so the chances of this healing any time soon is not happening because I work 5 days a week 8 hours a day with constant left arm motion in all different directions and holding a heavy blowdryer all day *(which could be my problem right there). I know that I probably need an MRI at this point. I am not wanting to go do this, because it's expensive even though I have insurance...I just would rather see if maybe I can fix it on my own. I plan on going to the gym and seeing about strengthening some muscles.
In the meantime, I feel all of your pain, and I know NOTHING works. The only thing that feels somewhat better is this cream I bought called Zostrix, very expensive over the counter. But once it wears off it's pain again.
Just thought I would throw my story in too. This pain is not fun.
The most interesting thing about this condition is the effect alcohol has had on it. I'm a 22 year old college student and as such do a good bit of partying on the weekend. I've noticed lately that pain in my shoulder is substantially worse on Sundays Monday and Tuesdays following a weekend of drinking. The strange part is, it never feels at all a problem while drinking - strictly the day or two after. I'm currently sitting here knowing that if I were to have a few drinks my shoulder would not feel so tight anymore but the feeling in the morning would be just worse! It's absolutely maddening.
I really want to get to the bottom of this. It's so frustrating to have to turn down social events, etc because of how much I hate the pain I get after partying. No one else seems to understand this problem!
I too have had numerous xrays,ultrasounds etc but not an MRI. They cannot find anything wrong! Somedays the pain gets so bad it makes you so depressed and angry. Then when they start telling you perhaps it's all in the head...please give me a knife and I'll stab you in the back and see if it hurts-hahahaha.
Anyway, I go to the chiropractor once a month and have a deep tissue massage once a month. I have just started physiotherapy once a month also. My GP has me on a muscle relaxant and also a low dose antidepressant - don't think it does much. I have started to see an exercise physiologist to try and rebuild the use of the muscles also. I used to suffer from panic attacks and post natal depression. They are all telling me that they think this is my body's way of dealing with anxiety and stress, so I have started meditation as well. Hopefully I can get on top of this because some days it feels as though you are just stuck in a continual cycle...pain,depression - depression,pain. I am determined that I am going to win. I wish you all the best and lets rid ourselves of our pain. Go, go, go.
My neck/shoulders are most painful these days. I think I hunch my shoulders too much it is the body's natural response to protect the neck
I feel the neck area is responsible for a great deal of upper back pain.
I always tell everyone about Epsom salts since I found it very good for relaxing my muscles. Tea-cup full in a hot bath
Good Luck & Best Wishes to all.
Hello all! Since I last posted, I have continued to take my Enbrel for my RA. I am suppose to take it once a week. However, I had an almost near death experience and have decided to take it on an as needed basis. Through journaling my pain and pain management, I have noticed when it's time for me to take the Enbrel injections the pain in my back and neck is lessened. I have not taken my Enbrel for the past 5wks and guess what... zero pain in my back and the pain in my neck is almost non existent. Wow...right? Also when I spoke with my mother who has diabetes, we found that she had not had debilitating back pains prior to taking insulin injections. Just something to think about. I notified Enbrel and my doctor of my findings and they are astonished. I guess it's true what they say... you must be your own advocate! I will continue to say a prayer for all of you who are suffering from pain. I hope this helps
,
As a previous post stated, posture is paramount to preventing pain. Stand in front of a mirror (front and side profile) and assess your posture. Chances are your shoulders are forward and your neck and head are also forward. Consciously adjust your posture so that the weight of your head is supported by your spine. Pull your shoulders back slightly and puff out your chest a little. Remember this position and try to maintain it during your day.
I've discovered 3 stretches that reach those deep tissues:
1) Shrug your shoulders to your ears. Now, roll your shoulders back until your shoulder blades are flexed, really puff out your chest (the tighter the flex, the better the stretch). Depending on how chronic this has been, you might have trouble breathing. Now slowly roll your head back, then slowly look to the wall your right shoulder (or whichever is sore) is pointing to. Hold for several seconds.
2) Hang from bars with overhand grip, keep head forward and slowly flex the blades as tight as you can. Hold there for as long as comfortable. Repeat several times. Try moving hands further and further apart. Do not attempt unless you are physically fit, or have someone properly spot you.
3) Lie on your back (on the floor). Support your head with a pillow. Arch your lower back, so that butt, upper back and head are the only points touching floor from upper body. Put arms in front of body. Slowly shift weight so that only head and butt are touching floor. Hold for as long as comfortable. Try tilting head slightly up for a slightly different stretch.
Hope this helps