Upper left back pain and arm numbness

[restoinlv]

Ok, I have never posted on something like this before, but I have this pain that I cannot seem to shake. I have what feels like a knot in my upper left back/shoulder (near the scapula). This pain radiates into my neck on the left side, as well as around my chest. When I take a deep breath and twist it tends to increase the pain. In addition I feel tingling in my left elbow, forearm, and hand. It is not debilitating, but it has been prevalent for a number of years and I cannot seem to find a solution. I've had an MRI that was inconclusive. I'm tired...any help is appreciated.

[mtbrogue88]

is your problem resolved ?
have u tried looking up under carpal tunnel syndrome?

[turbopassat]

I totally understand your dilemma.  I suffered with constant searing pain between my shoulder blades right where my bra strap clasps (if you wear a bra, no assumptions) It started in 2000 and my Dr. basically said all I wanted was drugs, until the MRI of my Thoracic spine showed DegnDiscDisease and Protrustion at T-5 and T-6.  Eventually the tightness would work it's way around my ribcage and it felt like I couldn't get any air and I develoved acid reflux and spasms of my diaphram.  No one knew how to treat thoracic problems so after loosing my whole career which I adored, I proceeded to work my way up the drug ladder to Methadone 120 mn per day and Morphine 120 mg per day just to function, After over one year of being a textbook patient, I ran out of meds 2 days early because the nurse messed up on coordinating my appointments with my supply.  Well, they dropped me like a hot rock!  My wonderful husband took me to the emergency room and I was in ICU for 10 days, my 13 year old son saw me in restraints because of a psychotic break and I kept pulling my IV out and trying to check myself out.  Eventually the 4 day coma I lapsed into calmed me down, not to mention going into sudden cardiac death in the middle of the night (I have heard of 3 others younger than me, I'm 39, who died this way).  They used the defib and shocked me back and now I have a pacemaker/defibrilator implant, blood pressure medicine twice a day, spent the night at Bridgeway Institute (inpatient drug facility) to make sure I did not have a drug addiction.  The Pshyc Doc there looked me in the eye and said "I am sorry your Dr sent you nhere, you do not belong here, and you need a good pain mgt dr.  Yeah, tell me something I don't know.  But if you are like me you have dealt with detox at home more than you want to.  You know those drugs are going to run out sometime and it will be heck to pay.  Although it was nice to actually be able to use my arms and not have that cold tingle feeling run under my shoulder blade down my arm and then my pinky finger would be freezing to the touch.  I am off all rx pain meds and have found a  dr who did steroid injections, then burned the nerves so they can't conduct protein pain signals, he said it would last 6 months to 1 year and I did get relief from it.  The nerves will regenerate and he will have to repeat the procedure. I guess I still have good days and bad days, never thought I would miss folding laundry and sweeping the floor.  Most of all don't stop persuing treatment, because some dr's will say they can't help you and they probably can't Time to move on to the next one, and the next until they help you,because there are things they can do for you.  Just be careful if you take pain meds.

[arpwf]

I have the same symptoms and I have been diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy. I have degenerative discs and osteophytes of the c3/4, c4/5, c5/6 and c6/7. I'm seeing a neurosurgeon for the pain that is getting worse. At times I can't bend my head or turn it becaue of the radiating pain. My arm and hands tingling a lot and my hand turns purple...no kidding. Not sure if this has helped you but I would ask for anothe MRI or ask that it be read again.

[rainsummer]

My brother use to get this pain ..his chest x ray was clear also and they told him it was mechanical in nature. He was treated with steroid injections and PT.

[restoinlv]

Ive had numerous chest x rays and the mri was of my spine

[rainsummer]

what part of the body did you have MRI'd

Have you had a chest xray?