Thoracic Spine Pain - please help

[Pengipen]

Hi There
I am a 23yr old female.
I have been experiencing pain in my thoracic spine coming from right between my shoulder blades although i can also feel the pain/odd feeling down the rest of my spine and into my buttocks. My neck feels slightly painful and tense up into my head also. The right side of my spine around this area is sore to the touch.
The pain is like a burning sharp pain and can be quite severe when it comes on strongly. I find it will be painful for 3/4 days and will go away and then return a short while (4/6 weeks later). My GP thinks i could have a trapped nerve.
I have some associated symptoms. These are a sharp pain on the right side of my body which seems to go from my right shoulder/spine into my face, down my arm and also down my leg. The pain is sharp and sometimes accompannied by a slight numb feeling in my forearm/wrist area. I saw a neurologist about this earlier this year and had a brain MRI this was normal as was my neurologic exam.
I also suffer from chest pains on the left side. I have had my heart checked out and the pain has been put down to muscular. I also sometimes experience sharp stabbing pains to the right of my chest.
Now i keep getting these occurances of thoracic pain my doctor has put all these symptoms together and says they point to a nerve issue with my back. I have now been referred to a spinal physiotherapist, i am still awaiting my appointment. My doctor suspects they will send me for a scan.
I have had a lot of bloodwork come back normal just lately including full blood count, inflammation, ANA
I am getting very anxious about this as i keep thinking i may have something serious the matter with me and i find myself having slight panic attacks. I have battled anxiety in the past related to my health so luckily i can manage to stop these attacks usually before they become fully blown.
Does anybody have any advice?

[mandyjane46]

How did it go on Monday?

[Pengipen]

The physio phoned this morning! I go on Monday morning. Im so glad something is happening now, hopefully i will get some answers and some relief before my holiday!

[mandyjane46]

Great>Im glad I could help. great to hear you`r gonna have a holiday soon. I have a friend who always gets earlier appointements.How? She rings up every other day to see if they have any cancellations....it always works for her.. even if she has to be ready at short notice.It might be work if you ring and tell them when you will be away..and that you dont want to miss it?
Anyhow..you`re on the right road now...best of luck.let us know if you want)
MJ

[Pengipen]

Thanks for your kind message. It helped loads!
My GP says this spinal physio can refer me for the appropriate scans and tests on my back so im hoping they phone me for my appointment soon enough.
I am going on holiday 13th october so i am hoping to maybe at least get some reasons or relief for this before then. I am looking forwards to it but i want to be able to relax on my holiday and not be worrying about this when im half way around the world away from home!

[mandyjane46]

Hi there.really sorry to hear about your pain. Pain can be very debilitating and frightening and I really understand why you need some answers.Its sounds as though you have a supportive GP, who at least is acknowledging the symptoms and understanding how they can be back related. Sadly Ive met many who are told their pain is not of a physical nature(which is often said when such symptoms cant be explained).Have you had a spine MRI? Thats important because it does sound to me(Im not a dr but I have a T12 prolapse) like a thoracic nerve problem.Referred chest pain can be caused by imflammation of the nerves in the thoracic area(as can abdominal pain and apparent kidney stone pain so Im toldThe area of tenderness between the shoulder blades can be due to imflammation/trapped nerves.
Im no great expert on backs(barr what Ive read to understand my own problem) or on dealing with anxiety(barr my own methods). I do know that anxiety is often caused by not knowing/understanding a problem..like a fear of the unknown.So to clarify what you do know9this is what i do when I get stressed out..).Your blood tests are normal that indicate no nasty disease process .Im told that full blood counts can detect cancers so thats positive in itself.The head scan is normal so there is no brain tumour which is good.the neurological tests were normal which sugggest no permanent nerve damage which is good too. OK so far so good. There is a problem..the nerve pain and numbness but your GP seems on the ball . Could you ask him for referral for an MRI/referral to a neurologist for an  spinal MRI? it seems the wait to see the physio is stressfull and you might be able to get round it? Nerve pain is a nasty nasty thing.
I wish you all the luck in the world. Ive had to work hard over the last year to get the right help so Im right behind you in spirit!!
Hope this helped..Im no dr...but Ive sure had some life experience in the thoracic region..
MJ