Sharp pain in upper back and left shoulder, pain increase upon breathing.

[EcoFeral]

I have been having a sharp burning pain in my upper back mostly on the left side by the shoulder blade.  At times my neck and left arm are effected too. The pain is present upon rising and lasts throughout the day. I am concous of my posture and do not believe it to be the cause. The pain worsens if i am carring anything at arms lengths or even if i am carring a light bag over either of my shoulders.  I have tried; hot, cold, advil and exercise but i haven't seen any releif for the past 5 months. The only thing i think that could have caused the pain is when i moved about 5 months ago.  There was a great deal of lifting and stress. I am 26 years old and feel like this pain is limiting my ability to go about my daily task. Any suggestions please?

[tigerb]

Hello,
sorry to hear of your pain.In 1997 I myself had neck and sholder pain.It started in my left sholderblade then went to the neck,and then the left arm.The pain would shoot down my left arm.I tried severale Docters and i think every form of treatment possible.Therapy,shots in the spine you name it.I would tell you Go to a great nerosurgon and ask for a MRI.This will show pinched nerves.Just like what you more than likely have.This is why when you breath it hurts.I let myself go to long and my nearve in my left arm was cut almost into.I was less than a cenameter from being peralized from the neck down.I got a MRI and went to a great sergon had sergery and am doing gteat.You more than likely have a blown disk or slight disk hurniation ,disk bulg.This pinches the nerves causing great pain.I am a 34 year old male Thats been there.
                               Tigerb

[niamhc]

hi
i too have had similar pain, it started about 6 months ago, the pain is mostly in the upper left area of my back, under the shoulder blade. when i take a deep breath i can feel it. also, when i sneeze it feels like theres a bubble in my back about to burst and i get a sharp pain. lately, my neck has been sore, just on the left side almost like a crick from sleeping in a draft. my left shoulder hurts when i lift my hand above my head or stretch it out in front of me. i have been to the doctor, had xrays and was told it was tissue and massages would work it out..not the case!

[alexpgreene]

I have had the same problems for weeks if not months now, when i sneeze i get a real bad pain which now sometimes almost results me to tears i try to lay flat so it doesnt hurt so much or stand flat against the wall but it doesnt work. It feels like its my left sholder blade and it makes me say arrr loudly when it happens. Over the past week its been making my entire upper back ache and over the last 2 days even my neck is being effected.  I havent seen my gp as yet as i thought it was just an ache but now i know its not the case. Sometimes it makes my arm have a funny sensation. When i cough if its a deep cough or deep breath it also hurts.
I dont know what to think and am worried about it. Im 25 years old any advice would be great,
Thank you

[bigjoe8884]

I have had somewhat of the same pain except it only hurts when i breath in and is only on my left upper back. Not anywhere else. I woke up with it this morning and i don't know what it is from. Its not a severe pain but i don't want it to get to that point.I am only 19 any suggestions on what to do.

[ladsmum]

I have had a painful right shoulder for a couple of days that really hurts when I breathe in. Its like a sharp stabbing pain. I have tried pain killers and heat patches and occasionally it goes away, but when its at its worst I just want to cry!! I cannot rest it as I have 5 month old twins to look after. I am just recovering from tendonitis in my right wrist, and feel that the pain has travelled up my arm to my shoulder - its a nightmare!! I just want to be pain free. I hate pestering my GP - don't want him to think I'm a pest!! My husband thinks I'm just attention seeking, get no sympathy from him!! I have my last laser treatment session next monday for my tendonitis, so am going to mention this to my physiotherapist. Does anyone have any explanation as to what this might be - or what else I can try to ease the pain!! Am wondering if it is a pinched nerve like 'tigerb' suggested.

[ohlmetman]

I have had this same issue.  Feels like a bubble in your upper back and moves up and down with sharp stinging pain through out.  I believe that this is due to your digestive system.  This may be a complication from muscle tension or general stress.  Practice breathing and relaxing your muscles especially during nights rest.  

[scorpio121]

ive been having problems with my upper back its painful and when i try to strech my back it hurts and its like my bones click and its giving pain to my left arm near my shoulder blades been like this for near over a month know can any one help me pls its depressing me.

[aml74]

If anyone of you finds a answer/solution to what all of you have been sharing, I would like to hear it.  Last night the pain in my shoulder, neck, arms, and hands was bad enough that i wasn't having success with pain control.  Finally late last night, some relief came from the pain meds I tried and i was able to sleep.  Tonight I am back to hurting.  I hate hurting since I have experienced it often enough that I am ready give up quicker now then before.  I am trying to decide if i want to go to the ER to see what they can do plus I want it to be seen by  medical people  so they can document it.  I am tired of being brushed off as the pain being just the way it is.

Ann

[midlifemom]

I was (am) having similar pain - left upper back near shoulder blade, traveling down left arm with numbness or pins and needles feeling in arm.  I don't necessarily notice it just when I'm breathing - it's pretty much constant and I'm always trying to find a position where it doesn't hurt.  Anyway, after doing some reading I had a hunch it had something to do with the cervical (neck) spine and a woman who recently had spine surgery referred me to a neurologist.  (She started with him, but when it became obvious she needed surgery, was referred to an orthopedic surgeon.)  She felt the good thing about starting with a neurologist is they aren't biased toward surgery.  I didn't realize neurologists are specialists in the spine as well as brain.  Anyway, long story short, I went, he sent me for an MRI and physical therapy and prescribed a muscle relaxer in addition to Naproxen.  The MRI showed I have cervical spondylosis, which is like arthritis of the spine, and there is a herniated disk pressing on a nerve root that goes to the places I'm having pain.  I'm still in the process of seeing if physical therapy will help - they give you exercises to strengthen the muscles around the joints so there will be less stress on the joints.  After seeing the Dr. and taking the meds, my pain slowly went away for a couple of weeks, but now it is back in full force after I went back to my weight lifting (big mistake, I guess).  My advice, go to a specialist - neurologist or orthopedist.  My Dr. didn't minimize my pain at all, thank goodness.

[JustineB]

Do any of you also get pain in the shoulder blade when you swallow food?

[Rgrafton]

OK, well I, as well, have pain in my right upper back, near my shoulder, kind of feels like my lungs when I'm BREATHING REAL HEAVY, while running.. This slows me down and does not allow me to push my self because the harder I am breathing the more it hurts. I never have pain other than then. Once I sit down an rest for a few minutes there is not pain, that is why I think in my case it has to do with my lungs contracting.

[Hurting_FLorida]

Wow, it' amazing to see how many people are expiriencing the same things. Yet no one ever really gets any answers. I'm not one for doctors and medicines. I prefer to try to "fix it myself". Although this one seems to be getting worse and worse. I have flare ups approx. four to five times a year when everything hurts. I have the "buble" feeling under my left  shoulder blade. Sometimes I can do neck rolls while moving the arm and shoulder and it "pops" with agonizing pain. But afterwards the pain is "all gone". But now I have developed the numbness in my shouldrer, arm and hand. I belive that I also have RA as my suster was diagnosed with RA a few years ago. I had my son in March of 2007 and in  the following year what I belive is RA has gotten ten times worse. All of the adds you see for the "treatments" give such a long list of sideeffcts, which to me sound worse than what I already have, I feel there is no use to go to a doctor to get it? I am currently researching the possibility of herbal/homeopathic remedies. Anyone have any sugesstions?

[SicaAnn]

It's good to know that im not alone, i've been having pain in my left shoulder, like under the blade. It hurts up through my neck at times and my left arm. The weird thing is, it aches worse when i breath hard or swallow hard or food.  I've only been experiancing this for a few days but it seems to be getting worse and i cant seem to remember doing anything that would have provoked this. I dont know if i should go to a doctor or not because muscle pain is common in my family and doctors never seem to do anything that helped make the pain go away for them. Any ideas?

[kittyluv1]

It would be beneficial to get a medical exam and possible x-rays of your cervical spine.
This will visualize any structural changes in your spinal column and allow the doctor to determine if there is a possibility of nerve involvement.  To verify any nerve involvement you would need an MRI.
I started with very similar symptoms as you describe.  X-rays showed degenerative disc disease and the MRI showed disc herniations at multiple levels and spinal canal stenosis which was putting pressure on my spinal cord and the spinal nerve roots.
I had surgery (ACDF C4-C7) six weeks ago and the recovery has been great!
Most of my preop symptoms were gone within 3 hrs of the surgery.  I would not hesitate to have the surgery again.
This does not mean that you will need surgery at this time, but it is a good idea to get all the diagnostic testing done upfront to enable your doctors to establish the most appropriate treatment.
Post again with an update ----

[cindy08]

I had similar pain for about two years now. My pain feels like a sharp bubble like pain that goes in the middle of my back, under my left breast, left shoulder, neck and sometimes my chest. I have been to doctor after doctor trying to find what is causing the pain. Does anyone else have this same pain????  PLEASE HELP

[Mon_1436]

Most of you going to think I’m crazy. I have the same issues that you all mentioned. It is gas. Watch what you eat. it happens to me when I eat acidic foods like ketchup, artificial sweeteners. I suffers with chronic constipation. I used to insert  fleet Laxative suppository for quick relief, but I have learned to insert a preparation H hemorrhoidal suppository instead. You could be having gas pain from your swollen hemorrhoids and not aware that you hemorrhoidal issues,  Go to Walmart/CVS and purchase some Preparation H hemorrhoidal suppositories. Oh, by the way, I am 81 yrs young. I diagnosed my cure myself. I can’t eat spicy foods either. GOOD LUCK.

[Brownieshere]

I recently went threw this same situation With sharp pain starting in my Left Shoulder blade.  I was sitting in my office chair watching TV surfing the web, then out of no where i get this strong sharp pain in my left shoulder, then about 5-10mins later it had gone right into my left upper chest.  i tried taking Tylenol at first thinking i may have pulled a muscle or worse maybe it could have been my Heart. i tried laying down the pain seem to get worse so i ended up sleeping in a Recliner.  i wasn't Evan able to obtain a long amounts of sleep maybe 30mins to 1hr at a time, once 8am came around i couldn't take the pain any longer, and decided it would all get dealt with faster in the Er than at a Dr office.  I go into the er, and the admitting nurse from my symptoms says kinda sounds like it could be the start of Pneumonia, but after all the tests, blood work and a Chest X-ray front/side view they diagnosed me with "Spontaneous Pneumothrorax" (Collapsed Lung) i asked the doctor how did this happen when i was just sitting not doing any strain on my chest at all, and not to mention im not a smoker and im in Good health.  The Dr, and Nurses all told me im text book Material for this kind of thing.. they Said "Spontaneous" is just the answer, your Tall Slender so this tends to happen. I was shocked, but my case wasn't so severe that i needed a Chest tube, the OR Dr. thought it was best Put me on 100% flowing Oxygen and to wait over night and to do another X-ray in the morning to see if i was any better/ worse..  i hadn't changed so they kept me 1 more night.  They Dr. Felt that i would get better, and that he released me 2 days from my Er visit. and Scheduled a Follow up Visit with him at his Office to make sure things weren't Getting worse.  I hope this was of some help to the Select few that read this, with the same Conditions.. I do suggest how ever with any pain related to the ''Left arm, with some chest pain" that you seek medical attention asap, due to the fact in some chances it could be your Heart, cause that was my First thought actually.  Well best of luck to you all thanks for reading this...

Sincerely James

[cindy08]

I went to my cardiologist and had a treadmill and sonogram of the heart. He said I have a little MVP. But I still have this pain in my back between my shoulders. The comes and goes, some days it doesn't bother me and others the pain is overwhelming.  I have been to doctor after doctor. Thank you for your comment.

[Juliet2204]

I am having severe pain in my left scapula area with pain in the forearm with tingling and numbness going into my hand and have had this  for about the last 6 months. I went to my Dr and she suspected that I had an underlying conditon so the lab work began 21 vials on one of the visits. So far all I know is that I have had 4 ANA tests 2 possitive and 2 negative. RA has been ruled out, I have had 2 Dr's tell me that I have fibromyalgia and 2 telling me I don't. I go to a chiropractor once a week and have accupuncture with very little relief. He tells me to stretch and I do and it makes it worse. Oh and lets not forget the wonderful nerve conduction study test which has made the pain a lot worse. That test showed that my muscles in my left forearm are always firing. I am always tired and now dealing with the pain and not getting no answers and no relief even taking pain pills. I am worried, upset, tired, not only what it is doing to me, but my wonderful husband, although he is very understanding but I know it is also effecting him and our relationship (it's not) but that is the way I feel. Sorry for the rant BUT I am tired of being poked and poked and no answers.

[Juliet2204]

More info: It hurts to breath, cough, and sneeze. The pain and tingling really flares up when sitting. I do have degenerative joint disease  I also have a bulging disc I believe it is C5 with bone spurs, I had an MRI a few years ago following an auto accident. Should I have another MRI or other imaging tests. I did have an x-ray nothing was said so I am assuming it hasn't changed since the last one.

[kittyluv1]

Based on the escalating severity of your symptoms it would be beneficial to discuss additional diagnostic tests with your doctor.  It is possible that there have been some interval changes regarding your DDD of the cervical spine since your last MRI.
X-ray exams can see structural changes but the MRI is needed to verify any nerve involvement that could be the cause of your pain and sensory changes in your arm/hand.
The bone spurs noted on previous exam could have increased in size and might be causing some additional nerve compression/irritation.
Nerve conduction testing does verify potential carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve entrapment, but due to the severity of your shoulder/scapular pain, it seems likely that the root cause of your symptoms is related to further degenerative changes in your cervical spine.

Are any of the doctors you have been consulting either orthopedic or neurology specialists?  Have they been informed of your prior MRI findings?
Hopefully additional imaging films will provide the information needed to initiate appropriate treatment.

Best wishes ----

[Juliet2204]

I started with my PD and she sent me to a rhumatologist, and then another. I see a pain specialist which has begun doing tests. I will call my PD today and have her order an MRI to see if there are any changes noted there. I have made sure that all Dr's that I have seen get all copies of all lab work and also x-rays and the MRI as I take them there myself.

[alphonso]

i have the same thing with you guys, im  just 16. it just started when i and my friends have a practice for our street dance, we practice 3 hours non-stop, then when am home nothings happened but when im at school by noon i fell the pain on the left side of the shoulder blade, at first i can relief but when it continued my left arm is affected as well as my neck and a little pain at my left brain and if i breath it aches. pls. do help me... i haven't in the doctor yet.

[selmaS]

Hi...if u r doing baby freezes and typical hip hop moves out on the street, u will have pain....but do see ur dr to be sure u have nothing else going on.

"selma"

[Midnight50]

I have the same pain in my left shoulder blade but it's also my right one at times and I have had this pain for about 2 years and I'm only 19 and it *****. What should I do?