Chronic pain Left Side Upper Back-Myofascial Pain?

[efriendly]

Hi, I'm new to these forums.  I have been desperately searching for some answers about chronic pain that has been bothering me for two years now.  It is seriously affecting my life and none of the health care professionals I've been to as of yet seem to have any ideas what it might be.  I had an MRI that came back negative, etc.  Anyway, I was wondering if anyone could tell me if they think my pain sounds like it could possibly be Myofascial pain syndrome, which I only learned about today.
It started out in the beginning as a really intense ball of tense pain in the muscle on the left side of my upper back right next to my shoulder blade. I was a bartender and it would only happen on the nights when I worked my long shift until 3 AM.  At first I thought I was just doing some motion at work that aggrivated that muscle but as it started to get more frequent, I wondered if I had pulled a muscle, tendon or ligament.  There was only one incident I could remember where I felt a pulling sensation in my back when I bent over, but it didn't hurt directly afterwards and it was a couple weeks at least before the onset of the pain. Slowly, over time, it has progressed to torturing me every day.  It seems to be made worse by any activity but mostly ones that involve lifting, carrying and bending and only feels better with rest.  As a result I've been shying away from exercise but lately I've tried going to yoga classes and jogging and both of these activities caused it to act up.  I constantly feel like I need to stretch the area but it never helps.  I do it so much that people have asked me why I'm always twisting and stretching in weird angles. Heat, Ice, Pain killers, and anti inflammatories help only temporarily but most of the time not at all.  About 9 months ago my spine also started hurting...right in the middle of my back.  If I lie on my back on the floor the vertebrae right in the middle of my back feel incredibly sore as they're pushed against the floor.  I have tried to feel if there are any bumps in the muscle area and sometimes I think I can feel one, but other times I'm not sure if it's a part of my rib or something else entirely. When I locate the exact spot that the pain is coming from and push on it or when my physical therapist applies pressure there, it is agonizing.  My physical therapists seem mystified by my problem and neither one of them have ever mentioned MPS.
I had my first child 9 months ago as well and throughout the pregnancy the pain on the left side REALLY bothered me... until I had to go on bed rest at which point it didn't bother me for the two months that I had to lie around and then it started right back up as soon as I was mobile again.  I have other strange random symptoms that are probably unrelated like my memory seems scarily bad and my hips hurt.  Other than that and high blood pressure that I've had for years, I am really healthy.  33 years old, good BMI, non smoker, etc.  Any advice you have for me would be so appreciated.  I am really starting to get depressed with the whole thing.  I feel like it is keeping me from living my life.
Thanks for your time.   Emily

[Skunkwrxs]

I have these EXACT same symptoms. No memory problems thank god, but I have severe, chronic pain only in the upper left side of my back and also spinal tenderness. I am an athletic, 29 year old male with no other health issues. I've been in pain for years but only in the last three years has it become agonizing enough for me to seek treatment. I've seen many doctors, all with different opinions on the root cause. Myofascial pain syndrome has been mentioned a few times but it seems very little is known about it. I have tried EVERYTHING to seek any measurable relief from my pain and I have had zero success, with massage and chiropractic only making my symptoms more painful. I would suggest getting a blood test, as my ANA levels (autoimmune test) have been elevated to high and I have genetic history of Rheumatoid Arthritis, although having asymmetrical pain is asymptomatic for RA. I haven't experienced any relief from my pain in years and it continues to get increasingly severe, so if I have any developments in my diagnosis or treatment I will come back and post, as I hope you will too. I know it is good to know that there are others out there with my symptoms and that understand my pain, you are not alone, you are not crazy. Good luck.

[kim989]

i have no information for you or anything medically helpful, i just wanted to say i really feel for you and i know how you feel as i have a back/shoulder/neck issue that depresses me every day aswell, you wake up in the morning and just think.."here we go again".....i really hope someone can help you and really good luck
kim