Reason for excrutiating back pain?

[Moomooshi]

Hello, I am worried about my mother who has been having excrutiating back pain under her shoulder blade for the past 2-3 days. She recently went to get a CAT scan last month, but there wasn't anything wrong and that was another pain. This time she feels that when she moves her left arm or shrugs her left shoulder upward it hurts her. She feels a slight numbness in the fingers of her left hand. She is unable to get comfortable when laying in bed and is unable to sleep. The doctor she went to see gave her muscle relaxers (Flexeril) that she has to take once at bedtime and can take 3 times a day, and another kind of medicine (Lortab) that she has to take once every 6 hours as needed for pain. Even though she has been taking those there has been no relief. She was also wondering if it was a pinched muscle or disk in her shoulder blade. Should we suggest getting an MRI or waiting to take more of the medicine to see if it kicks in? Please get back to this as soon as possible I am extremely worried about her and do not want her to accidentally overdose because of the excrutiating pain. Thank you.

[Moomooshi]

Thank you i think i will suggest the wedge pillow.

[sandee1818]

That will be the best way to find out what is casuing her pain and have it taken care of.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[Moomooshi]

Thank you so much, this weekend she says that shes going to get an MRI now that I have told her.

[sandee1818]

The medication may be helping her lift her arms a little further than she could before but be cautious as when taking these kinds of medicines they may cover up the pain but the initial problem may still exist and she could harm herself worse. That is a concern when taking these medications as they tend to cover up the pain and the problem that is causing the pain is still there and we tend to try and do more when we are not hurting so badly and this can do more harm as we can't really tell we are hurting ourselves possibly worse because the medications are covering up the pain.
A MRI is really needed to find the cause of her pain.
My Mother in law had shoulder surgery and she sleeps with a wedge pillow and it helps her find a more comfortable position to sleep.
I wish your Mom a speedy recovery:)

[Moomooshi]

I suggested that she go to the ER one night when she just couldn't sleep, but i really think the medicine is helping because she has been able to sleep easier and find a comfortable place and position to sleep in. At first, she would stay up late at night and wake up even later at night or early in the morning from the pain. Now, she takes naps and sleeps at night like she usually does. She uses a heating pad every night to ease the pain in her back and shoulders. In the beginning she wasn't able to shrug her right shoulder, now she can lift her whole arm in the air! There may be some progress with this medicine after all. I would still like her to go get it checked out on Sunday even if the pain is eased enough for her to move around easier. I will have to be leaving on New Years and I want her to be okay before I leave and get back.

[Moomooshi]

Hi, and thank you for posting that information about your personal experience with that. I atleast now know that I have someone who knows what you have to go through to surpass this pain she has and she may consider it more now.

[Moomooshi]

Hi, her arm has been feeling a little better in the past couple of days, but that's when she has to hold it up in the air for relief. The medicine is working slowly, but I think it will get there eventually. The doctor says if it still hasn't broken the pain more by Sunday, then she will have to go back. They did not give her an anti-inflammatory, but I thought one of the medicines helped for that. She still has numbness in her fingers, but I think the pain is going from her back to her arm now. Thank you for the information on how long it takes for the medicine to kick in. Oh, and by the way I'm her daughter. I forgot to check the female box on the profile edit. Oops. Thank you so much you have been a great help.

[Tuckamore]

Hello and welcome to the Pain Mangement Community. I am glad that you found us. Your Mom is fortunate to have your concern. You're correct she is not old by any means.

A D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) in my opinion is much better at correcting misalignments that most Chiropractors. Their adjustments are not "jerky" or rough. There are also doctor's that practice medicine so you get the best of both.

Another thought is that females do not present the same as males when they have cardiac pain. I would certainly want to rule out that slim possibility. If your mother's pain is severe she should be seen at an ER or the very least an Urgent Care Clinic. Because this is a new pain I would seek a diagnosis.

Best of luck to you and your mom. Please let us know how she is doing.

Take Care,
Tuck

[ARNell1950]

I'M NOT A MEDICAL PERSON BUT FOUND GREAT RELIEF WHEN A PHYSIC THERAPIST OFFERED TO MANIPULATE MY SHOULDER'S MUSCLES AND TENDOMS.  SHE DID IT TWICE A WEEK UNTIL THE PAIN EASED.  DRUG DON'T CURE 'EM ALL!  A GOOD PT PERSON CAN MANIPULATE THE BODY AND GIVE YOUR MOM SOME SELF-EXERCISE SO SHE CAN HELP HERSELF TOO.

GOOD LUCK TO YOUR MOM.-ARNELL

[troubleinohio]

well those types of meds dont take time to "kick in", they are fast acting..in and out fast, so if she's not getting any relief from them within an hour at the lastest after takign them, then they arent going to help. Some other meds (like antidepressants, and  steroids like prednisone) take time to build up in the body before they work the best but the two drugs you stated she is on are not like that. I would definitely ask for an MRI if she has insurance that will pay for it. If she doesnt have insurance, she will have to wait it out to see if it gets better. Did they give her any other meds for it at all? like a steroid or anti inflammatory at all? she may benefit from that possibly. At any rate, if she is not better in a few days, I would make sure she goes back for reevaluation. Good luck and keep us posted.
PS what a sweet son you are =)

[Moomooshi]

Thank you for stating that the Flexiril is only a coverup because that is what I told her. I will try suggesting the chiropractor to her. Since I am only a teenager I really don't know what goes on through older people's bodies and the pain that they may get when getting older. She is only 48 years old, so is this common for people of her age?

[concerned621]

I would want an MRI. It sounds like a nerve is pressing on something, the fact that she has numbness in her hand makes me think there could be some nerve compression.  

However, I walk a few days per week in the pool at my gym. I work my arms when I do this and my arm/shoulder really felt just as your describe for a about 2 weeks. It was like I knocked it out of place.  Some times seeing a chiropractor, which I am not a person that goes weekly or anything like that but a good chiropractor can adjust someone and it's as simple as that. But please find a good chiropractor, someone who does not crack but "adjusts" the body.  I don't know how old your Mother is but avoiding surgery should be a goal.  See if the Flexiril helps but try not to make that a regular thing as it is just covering up what is wrong.