Left shoulder pain/ dull ache/burning- help

[Haileys Mom]

I am hoping someone can provide some insight. Two months ago, while at work (sit at a microscope for 8 hrs. a day for 10 yrs. now), I noticed some twinges in my L breast. I just assumed hormonal, but then I started getting twinges in my L shoulder, which turned into a dull aching and sometimes burning sensation. The area that it started out in was the side of the shoulder in the back, like under the arm. Imagine lifting your arm up, and right beneath your armpit, you rub the vertical area underneath. Now, two months later, the pain has progressed to sometimes on the top of my arm, the muscle. I seem to notice it more when I'm at my desk working.

Dr. visits have not diagnosed the problem. So far I've had a diagnostic mammogram (good) and a chest xray (good). The chest xray showed some slight curvature to the spine, but other than that, good. Of course because I've had some tingles and shooting sensations in my left breast, my mind starts to "connect" the two and worry that it is cancer. Dr. says that is highly unlikely and that it sounds like muscles or nerves, myofascial pain, etc.

Each day I wake up thinking positively, but then the pain rears its head and I start to worry again. Why isn't it going away? I can't figure out what's going on.

I'm 38 years old and have a one year old, that I am picking up constantly. I have a sit down job at a microscope that I am in a fixed position. Could poor posture be to blame? This is so strange. Sometimes, the area itches and the back of my shoulder blade itches, too. Tingles and twinges once in a while. What should I do?

[MomofBryceRajAmber]

I went in with a dull ache/ burning pain right below my left shoulder blade thinking I had a cancer mass in my lung from being a former smoker for years and dreaded the results.  The Doc came and in and said I have Good news and Bad.  I said give me the GOOD first.  I needed all the support I could get to handle the bad.  He said...it's not cancer.  The Bad is you have Arthritis wrapped around your neck causing pain and burning down below your shoulder blade.  As it gets worse, so will your neck , shoulder and back area.  I was so happy at getting the news, I didn't care about the pain anymore!!  I was going to see Christmas that year!

[Glt1984]

Hi. I'm having a similar problem. My shoulder , armpit and breast/above breast is so painful with a dull ache/ burning feeling. My arm to my elbow sometimes hurts. I'm booked in with breast clinic for the 17th but I'm terrified. There's a slight bit of swelling to my under arm but very slight. No lumps or dimpled skin. No rash either. I'm terrified

[anniedee6]

Did anyone find chiropractor treatment worked for them? I personally didn't - I had about 12 sessions, went away for a week and could hardly move my neck. Three weeks later my neck is still sore but not as bad but the burning in the shoulders, between the blades, is awful! Doctor said it was anxiety for me but I reported the neck problem months ago and wasn't that anxious at that point although have suffered with anxiety in the past. Maybe its a delayed reaction.. I use the telephone a lot at work and sit for hours in front of the pc.

[Partydancer]

Hi dont know if you will see this, but i have the same symptoms as you and wondered if yoi ever found out what it was and if its any better, also what they said about the broken veins on your breast. X

[DOUNOME1]

I have a lot of the same symptoms, but mine started after a head on car accident over 2 months ago.  It has always hurt, but after physical therapy and weights, I now have the constant ache in my shoulder, in my neck, down my arm and in my deltoid muscle a lot of tenderness.  And my left shoulder is a lot higher on observation than my right.  I have an MRI tomorrow and the physician is thinking that it may be a Rotator cuff tear, that has gotten worse with more activity.

[01342maddie]

Hi just read your blog, am experiencing exactly what you describe I have had a mammogram, ultrasound and several blood tests, all clear but the burning sensation is terrible  is it related to the mastalgia or something else please advise. Thanks.

[atswim2birds]

Part 4 of 4 - Now – here’s the kicker – about a month ago, after 3 years of no pain, the pain came back again.  But here’s the bit I find fascinating and uplifting – in a scientific method sort of way – and am truly grateful to have stumbled upon.  I ask myself – what could have triggered the return of the beast? Ergo, I ask myself what have you done a month or so ago that you haven’t done during the past 3 years?  Epiphany – the answer was obvious – I had recently bought a motorcycle.  I’ve ridden bikes on and off since I was 18.  I also had a bike when the beast first appeared 3 years ago (and now have no doubt that riding the bike over time – without doing the various physio routines to help stretch out/loosen the muscles – contributed to the creation of the beast).  You see, when you ride a motorcycle, you change gears by squeezing the clutch on the left handgrip (with your left hand naturally).  This squeezing motion utilizes a fairly unique muscle group (left fingers, hand, forearm, running up to your left bicep, tricep, pectoral, shoulder, neck).  Shazam.  I am now confident that if I once again implement the various physio routines I undertook before, I’ll stop the beast in its tracks.  Will keep you all posted and let you know if this does the trick. I noted that many of the other posters mentioned that the pain seemed to be activated after doing repetitive motions over an extended period of time (e.g., picking up and putting down a baby).  My (admittedly non-professional, anecdotal) diagnosis is that this sort of repetitive motion (just like my pulling and releasing the clutch on my motorcycle) can result – eventually – in myofascial pain – caused by one or more muscles becoming knotted – and this knotting having a knock-on effect on other parts of the body – culminating in a pinched nerve – or in a second knotted muscle. Apologies for the long ramble – just stumbled upon the site and thought I’d blurt out the details of my own experience – which had a happy ending the first time – and will hopefully have a happy ending this second time around as well. Keep the faith – in my experience, with a disciplined and varied (non-strenuous and non-painful, and in fact, for the most part, relaxing, soothing and not-unenjoyable) physio routine, this problem can be licked!

[atswim2birds]

Part 3 of 4 - To this day, I have no idea which method of exorcism did the trick because, at the same time I was seeing the 2nd acupuncturist, I was also (a) doing the neck/shoulder/upper-back stretching exercises the physio had given me; (b) doing lots of push-ups (which always seemed to help alleviate the pain); (c) doing yoga (on my own); (d) doing tai-chi (on my own); and (e) like one of the previous posters (eager to try anything at all to help cure the cause rather than merely help alleviate the pain on a short-term basis), I picked up a book on trigger-point therapy – a little known form of physio designed to cure myofascial pain (essentially pain deriving from muscles that have become knotted) – this was an eye-opening and  life-changing experience for me – the various brief (approx 1 to 2 minute) trigger point massages (I gave myself)  2 or 3 times a day – seemed to be helping solve the problem (but definitely not solving the problem altogether on their own) – although, remarkably, at the same time, simple, self-given trigger-point massages completely cured another similar issue I had had (for about 20 years) with tightness and a dull ache in my knees and hips (which started when I was in my mid 20s (after running track (the mile) and cross-country in college) – a problem no one, and I mean no one, doctors and physios alike, was able to properly diagnose over a 20 year period of time – and the complete cure came down to an extremely simple massage tool – a marble ball that I rolled over the narrow sliver of muscle just next to the hip for about a minute once a day over a 2-week period – and then – once every couple of weeks or so or whenever the tightness returned). But back to the left shoulder blade/pectoral pain – another thing I did at the time, again, eager to try everything possible to fight off the beast, was to pick up a mini, hand-held gyro-ball (kind of like a yo-yo that you activate by pulling a string) that I would rotate with my left hand and wrist – the gyro-ball builds in intensity with centripetal force and thereby loosens and stretches the muscles in your wrist and forearm.  This little thing was fantastic and I have no doubt it did its part in helping to solve the problem (apparently, it’s meant to be great for such afflictions as carpal tunnel). What I surmised from all of the above was that the issue (a pinched nerve, a knotted muscle, whatever it actually was) seemed to be coming from various parts in my body which were all connected – what I needed to do was properly stretch and loosen my neck, shoulders and upper back – as well as my forearms and wrists – because all of the nerves and muscles in these areas were partially connected – and a knotted muscle in one place would wind up pinching a nerve in another place. I kept up all of the above physio routines on a regular basis – and paid a lot more attention to my posture.  The pain stayed gone and life was beautiful again.

[atswim2birds]

Part 2 of 4 - It was at that point that I knew it was time for me to see a doctor.  I first saw my GP who said it sounded like a pinched nerve – he directed me to a neurologist – who took x-rays and an MRI – nothing showed any discernible causes but he offered to give me a steroid injection in my neck to help ease the pain – which, as mentioned, was getting more and more intense – but I politely declined this generous offer (I wasn’t going to let anyone stick a needle (let alone a steroid) in my neck).  The neurologist told me that, in lieu of the steroid injection, he would refer me to a physiotherapist.  This chap (an ex-boxer) was great. He told me straight up that he wouldn’t be able to diagnose the precise cause of the problem but told me that, in his view as well, it seemed like a pinched nerve.  He gave me a whole bunch of exercises – designed to ease the tension (and the resulting pressure on the nerves and muscles) in my neck, shoulders and upper back.  Several months into these stretching routines, the pain seemed to be easing up ever so slightly (but would typically, and very dishearteningly, suddenly return with a vengeance). The physiotherapist referred me to an osteopath – a very tall Hungarian chap who assured me he could cure the problem by cracking my back once every two weeks for a couple of months.  After not feeling a damn bit of difference after the 4th back-cracking, I gave up on this chap – and thought I’d give acupuncture a try.  The first acupuncturist I tried seemed a bit rubbish – so I switched to another one who was highly recommended.  She stuck a few pins in me and gave me some tree-bark-like powder to eat like cinnamon once a day.  After 4 appointments with her, I was about to strike her from the list as well – when the most remarkable thing happened – the pain went away completely.

[atswim2birds]

Part 1 of 4 - Hi folks - OK, I too, now have to add my voice to the song.  AS my response is a long one, to keep from falling afoul of the 8000 character limit, I’ll chop it into 4 parts.  First off, on an extremely positive note, presuming we were all afflicted with the same beast, in my experience, the pain can definitely go away completely – as it did in my case, although it’s now resurfaced 3 years later.  About 3 years ago, I had the same a burning/searing sensation that would gravitate back and forth between just above my left shoulder blade and my upper left pectoral muscle.  I’ve never been stabbed with a knife (thankfully) but that’s what it felt like (or at least what I imagine it would feel like to be stabbed with a knife in that area) – like someone had just stuck me with a knife in both places.  The pain went on for more than a year.  I developed great sympathy and respect for people who suffer with long-term chronic physical pain – it’s a real downer and can really sour your perspective on life (even if you’re a naturally upbeat person – which I tend to be).  The pain, over the course of a year, became more and more intense – going from the dull burning/searing sensation to a sharp and sudden knifelike pain.  At its worst, it became downright freakish – I’d be walking down the street and – all of a sudden – wham – I’d get hit with a spasm in my left pectoral, arm and wrist that would build in intensity for a good 1 to 2 minutes, almost knocking me off my feet and contorting my entire left arm.  At one point, I was in a job interview, which I had thoroughly nailed – only to get hit with one of these spasms during the last minute of the interview.  I must have seemed like Jekyll and Hyde to the interviewer – and sufficiently freaked him out – cuz I didn’t get that job.

[Hillyrobertson]

I can't believe so many of us are having the same issue. Mine is my right breast, chest, shoulder, neck, forearm, wrist, hand and shoulder blade. An ultrasound and MRI did diagnose supraspinatis tendon impingement and bursitis in my shoulder. Another dr diagnosed frozen shoulder, carpal tunnel but my dr doesn't think frozen shoulder and my Physio also isn't sure what's happening. So far I've seen two specialist and I'm seeing a surgeon next week, a lot of my symptoms fit thoracic outlet syndrome, RSI and a few other things, but it's been going on for 5 months with no real answer. So glad to find you all as I started to think it was just me going crazy.

[muchinfo]

Am having the same problems
i thought i was alone its been all most a year now and its getting worse i.can feel the pain or tingling pins sensation
I feel pins and needle sensation in my arms mostley the left arm also at time the sharp psin in arm pit and sorness of uper arm area and top of breast
ive seen my doctor and i struggle to explsin whats going on as it changes dayley good day and bad
when its bad  it hurts just my arm on the side of my body harx to tell if its arm or breast
had bloods all normal
going for xray of back/ neck during the week
I know i may make it worse with worry and am feeling so tired with it all
I feel my doc is at the point that he rolls his eyes when i come in
at times i am convinced i feel knots uper brest / sholdet area and also get sore point if touch to the skin i jump a mile
this is affecting my marriage and work now and quality of my life
am so down about it all
i fear what if its somthing realy bad going on in my body and am getting fobed off with a scrip of vals :(

[muchinfo]

Am having the same problems
i thought i was alone its been all most a year now and its getting worse i.can feel the pain or tingling pins sensation
I feel pins and needle sensation in my arms mostley the left arm also at time the sharp psin in arm pit and sorness of uper arm area and top of breast
ive seen my doctor and i struggle to explsin whats going on as it changes dayley good day and bad
when its bad  it hurts just my arm on the side of my body harx to tell if its arm or breast
had bloods all normal
going for xray of back/ neck during the week
I know i may make it worse with worry and am feeling so tired with it all
I feel my doc is at the point that he rolls his eyes when i come in
at times i am convinced i feel knots uper brest / sholdet area and also get sore point if touch to the skin i jump a mile
this is affecting my marriage and work now and quality of my life
am so down about it all
i fear what if its somthing realy bad going on in my body and am getting fobed off with a scrip of vals :(

[jblw77]

I also have had this pain. It started one day when I was stressed at work and using a mouse for about 5 hours straight creating a spreadsheet so lots of clicking. Mine keeps moving around it started in my right arm and moves to my thoracic muscle and back muscle near shoulder blade, it then decides to move to my left side. I have always been a side sleeper and now I cannot lay on my side at all as the side with no pressure becomes unbearable. I am 36 years old and a little overweight and it is now coming up to one year. I have also had problems previously with C5 & 6. I have been to 2 x orthopedic surgeons, physio, chiro, osteo, dry needling, acupuncture and the only thing that seems to give some temporary relief is redemedial and hot stone massage. I am tired, depressed and in constant pain. The only time I have not been in pain was when I went to Vietnam for 2 weeks, my partner carried my bag everywhere and I was not driving or using a computer. I was pain free, I was even kayaking. As soon as I came home and started driving, carrying a handbag and using my computer it started. I have no hope of resolution. I had thought I had found the source under my armpit and have insisted on two ultrasounds and an xray this week but after reading this I just don't know. One of the orthopedic surgeons was a cervical specialist, he said my neck is fine and it is just muscular... I NEED HELP PLEASE. I cannot wear a bra as it make it unbearable and it is impacting my work and relationships

[Pikvas]

60 year old retired female:  I see this comment started in 2006 but has been added on to since - Looks like this is a very common problem. I too have unknown cause of heart attack like pain in the chest/left shoulder blade down the arm and under the arm pit; dizziness and nausea.  This has been going on for over 8 years - with just about every test doctors can think of. Even though cardiologist says the heart looks good - every time I have a severe episode  it worries me that maybe it is the heart. The neurologist  said that no pain reliever would help once the pain began so he prescribed topomax to try to prevent the pain from beginning - but I did not like the listed side effects so I did not continue the medication. One thing that doctors did find is my stomach does not empty within normal time - gastroparesis.  Which can cause spasm resembling heart attach symptoms. So I had to change my diet to main liquids and a few solid foods that are fat free/ low fiber.  After seeing an add for free test and adjustments from a local chiropractor I decided to try that.  The xrays showed scoliosis and disc degenerate and bulge in the neck disc. I have felt much better after some adjustments - but then today while working in the yard - it scared me again because it felt like I was having a heart attack.  Seems like I can do water aerobics (low impact) but not exercise that puts me on my feet or walking. I will continue with the chiropractor for a while longer - but he will just be managing the pain as the spine will not be able to repair.  

[Lozab95]

I'm also only 18...

[Lozab95]

Hello!
I have the same dull ache in my left area of my back around the shoulder blade, no idea what it is, I sit at a computer alot as I am a Games Design student, it feels similar to if your have a bruised area and apply pressure. Very faint and dull but at the same time very irritating and seems to come is pulses. Am going to see a doctor if it doesn't go soon, had it for around a month now.
Cheers Lawrence

[MJ968]

I am 31, male,  I have been having lightheadedness off and on for the past 3 years and all the test have shown "normal" for every test that I have done.  This has cause me to have anxiety, due to everything showing normal but I still feel the same way.  

I have started having a dull / burning pain in the left part of my back near the left shoulder blade and backbone.  This pain seems to follow around to the front and I have the same feeling on the left side of my chest near the ribs and brestbone?   I have no clue as to what is going on and I, just like everyone else that has had this happen, are worried sick that it could be my heart, but every test is NORMAL!!!????  I work in law enforcement and have a very stressfull position in my career.   I have tried getting a massage and it seems to help that day and the day after, then the pain comes back.  The pain is not lasting all day, but comes and goes.   Please let me know if anyone else knows what this is and how to fix it.  I am trying to get an appointment at the pain clinic at the local hospital now to see if they could possibly do an MRI of my back and or neck to see...  Thanks for any help.  

[Determination12]

Hello Everyone:  I am 55 years old and have been dealing with all the above pain, numbness, tingling, burning and cramps for 18 years.  I have taken prednosone, neurontin, PT, massages etc and it may  go away temporary but "always" returns.  I have an autoimmune disease and not sure if it is associated with it.  The extreme fatigue from a lack of sleep is really bothersome and is effecting all aspects of my life.

I have decided to apply for disability because it effects the quality of work I produce.

[Spokenheart]

Hi PlumSweetUSA,
Please let me know if the B vitamins work for you.  I have such a hard time falling asleep, with the stabbing pain in my left upper breast - through to my back. When I do manage to fall asleep I usually wake up about 4 hours later with the pain magnified even more. So unbearable. It's driving me insane.  I've had numerous deep tissue/muscle massages and can't understand why the muscles won't respond and start to relax.  

[Spokenheart]

Whoops, forgot to mention (in my previous post) my PT also said that rounding my shoulders and lurching my neck forward (extensive computer usage, bad posture, and weak back) creates a tension across my chest which  radiates under my arm and pulls on my back muscles.  This is where the pain and tightness in my chest, my underarm, my back and the tingling and numbness down my left arm occur.  He gave me hope that I'm not "broken" and my pain can be resolved with PT sessions, Thai (stretching) massage, less computer and texting usage, and more "doing" of my suppressed desires.  ;)   I'm open to his advice because the three trips to the emergency room, over the past year and a half, didn't bring any answers - other than a stress and anxiety diagnosis.  

[Spokenheart]

Great post Sherry.  Along with having the same symptoms posted on this site (for about 4 months now), I too am desperate for answers and relief.  

I just went to a fabulous (Eastern medicine) physical therapist three days ago who blew me away with this diagnosis... He told me the left side of the body represents "female negative energy" (this applies to men also) which builds up stress and tension and manifests itself physically when we are constantly thinking, thinking, thinking, about things we want to do, need to do, wish we could do, but don't do.  He told me I need to start "doing."  He hit the nail on the head with that comment.  (I actually had two emotional breakdowns during the PT session.)  

The past 13 years have been extremely stressful for me, including depression and lots of anger over my life circumstances that I felt I couldn't control, or get out of, due to financial lack.  The only thing I could/can afford to do is "think."  "Think" about how to get myself out of the situation I am in.  "Think" about how to leave my current (unhappy) relationship of 13 years - with the father of my daughter, and get a place of my own for my daughter and I.  "Think" about how to make more money in order to do that.  "Think" about how all of my dreams and wishes for my life have not come to fruition.  "Think" about taking more time out for my own self care.  "Think" about the type of relationship I wish I were in, "Think" about the type of love I wish I could experience in a new relationship.  "Think" about how I can be a better mother.  "Think" about being able to make my own way in the world and not have to rely on a man to take care of me financially.  The list goes on and on.  I think you get the point.  

Anyway, the PT said I need to learn to quiet my brain (stop thinking about my "stuff") and start DOING the things I want and desire to do.  Men don't suffer (with the physical pains mentioned in these posts) as much as women do, because by nature men are more "doers" than thinkers.  We women "think" we have to do it all, and be it all.  When in fact it is impossible to be everything to everyone, all the time.  

I know my post might sound crazy to some/most, but when the PT told me I need to start doing (taking action) on the things that are holding me back, it hit me like a ton of bricks.   So if you have been to doctor after doctor, had test after test, and still don't have any "medical" answers for your symptoms and pain, then maybe my post may apply to you.   How many things are you currently "thinking" you want/need to accomplish in your life, but are not "doing" anything about?  Oh boy, just one more thing for us to "think" about.  LOL  (Hey, laughter is good for the soul and for pain relief - so feel free to laugh right now.)  
By the way, if anyone reading this lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and wants to meet for coffee to discuss this and create a plan of action for ourselves, let me know.
Jodie

[PlumSweetUSA]

I gather from my symptoms & all of the comments here that this pain is nerve related. So, i"ve had the left shoulder blade, shoulder down the left arm like inflamed ulna nerve in elbow & chest pain above left breast. It's so painful that pain meds & muscle relaxers don't help. Ice, heat, no relief. So I ordered some B6, B12 & B-complex to see if these help. I know B6 is good for nerves so I'm hoping something helps because after almost 2 weeks I'm very tired (lack of sleep as well) of this awful pain. I read on another site that it could be Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. I'm hoping my usual cortisone shots for bursitis in rt. shoulder but adding the left side will help. I see my rheumatologist in a couple of weeks. I'm 71, female & have many other health problems including polymyalgia (fibro only all over). I get diabetic neuropathy at times but never this feeling of having an arrow or bullet shot thru my left shoulder blade coming out my chest & pain down entire rt. arm. I haven't done anything to injure my back or arm. Too many chemicals  toxins in our environment & food cause problems we may not have had before too. Good luck everyone. God bless

[moby935]

I damaged my neck now over 13 years ago using a Smith machine doing calf raises and incorrectly putting a huge weight on my neck and then this set off the burning sensation in my neck and shoulder (that’s the theory) and it certainly flares up if I sit at the computer where I tend to tilt my head back, even riding a push bike or motorbike where one tends to lean forward and then look up causes the burn/tingle to increase to very uncomfortable levels.  I have never found any chiropractor, bowen or even ‘slap two dead fish over you whilst chanting’ type remedies do anything.  Sure - a massage can make the area feel ok for a very short while, but the only thing I ever found that alleviates the burning/tingle is traction – the trouble is getting traction that is safe and effective as too little is a waste of time and too much – DO NOT DO IT BY YOURSELF.  I can assure you I had a severe form of traction applied to my neck and then my pain disappeared for about 3 years, its back now but not as severe and my own fault for not taking care of things.  When working on a computer, adjust the chair as high as practical and look slightly down at the screen and this will take even a slight backwards bend out of your neck and help stop or prevent the pain.  Once you start to think about your head position, it’s amazing how often one tends to tilt the head back and just getting rid of that posture can be a great help.  If you more often look down at things instead of up – and I mean even slightly, it can help.