Pain under left shoulder blade/stiff neck

[tygerlane]

I have been having SEVERE pain in my left shoulder blade..into my neck radiating down my arm.. and the muscle spasms!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! is this the same symptons that you all had. I get only mild relief from vicodin and floricet (muscle relaxer). I have been dealing with this now for three weeks.. it just keeps getting worse.

[JayAnne]

Your symptoms sound similar to mine, except my pain doesn't really extend down into the arm, although there's definitely muscle weakness. As of 3/9 I had been dealing with this for 3 weeks.

I am much improved, with full rotation back in my neck and far less pain in the shoulder area. I didn't see any improvement after the Prednisone, the muscle relaxers didn't do a thing for me AND I didn't have any pain relievers besides Advil/Aleve/Motrin. Believe me, I double dosed just to make it bearable.

One particular adjustment by my chiropractor last week made major headway and I'll be continuing with her unless we get some new news. I had another MRI on 3/9 and waiting for the results.

Believe me, at one point I was convinced there was some new strain of something going around - simply because there was nothing out of the ordinary to explain this coming on!

Have you been to the doctor? Are you a smoker? Recent bouts with bronchitis? Do work at a desk/PC for long periods of time? Any prior neck injuries? (I have all of those variables!) Anything in common with those whom have posted?

[Unregistered]

this is ***, no one can find a **** thing about this? at first i thought it might be tietze's syndrom but the pain is lasting way to long, i have the symptoms of the OP, but i cant find a **** thing on the internet, the thing is its not consistant and it flunctuats quite freequently. its really starting to **** me off. if its of any interest im 17

[JayAnne]

My symptoms were the same as the OP too, but it doesn't look like anything is to blame except for the disk in my neck. Extensive hours at my desk and looking down at paperwork doesn't help my condition.

My MRI results came back.

> I've lost the natural curve in my neck. It is straight and forward.

> I have osteo-arthritis in C5-C7

> C5/C6 is the problem area with "broad based protrusion of the disk", "osteophyte complex" causing bilateral foraminal stenosis.

In a nutshell, the bulge in my disk is protruding. That along with calcium build-up is causing compression against the nerves. So I'm to continue with a Pain Management Specialist and my chiropractor.

There's lazer surgery for bilateral foraminal stenosis that may be an option down the road, but for now my back cracker has me feeling a whole lot better.

I hope any of you who are still suffering will find the root cause of your problems.

[Unregistered]

I've just come from seeing my family physician. He reviewed my prior MRI again, evaluated my condition and strongly feels my trapezius muscle is constricted as a result of the bad disc in my neck. I'm to continue with my chiropractor and he prescribed steroids and muscle relaxers. If it doesn't improve soon, I'll be off for another MRI.

In short, a work related injury. I'm to reduce my time at the computer, make sure my work area is set up properly and exercise more when I feel better, focusing on strengthening my neck and back muscles.

Whew! I figured this was going to be the case. Definitely relieved he doesn't think it's anything more serious.

Im in agony, im typing this with 1 hand, i have the same painn under my shoulder blade as you do , i woke up this morning with it, i was really worried until i found your posts......the pain was so bad and made me fall to my knees, i thought that my lung had collapsed ( no joke ) i need a doctor i think

[owieowie]

this is strange that we are all having the same pain. i am 33, do a lot of lifting at work and i am on my feet entire day. (autopsy assistant)
but i have never had any pain, back or neck. then suddenly, one morning, i woke with a stiff neck pain. i can't touch chin to chest or tilt head back. AT ALL!! i get excrusiating pain that shoots down back and under left shoulder blade. it is insanely painful. i am now on day 6 with this pain, no improvement, actually it is so bad right now i am getting off here because i can no longer type. what brings this on? was it a bad pillow or injury?? anyone have any thoughts. how long does this last, i can barly carry my kid...OUCH!!! is it time for a doctor visit. this is the worst stiff neck i ever had...

[Unregistered]

It started with just a bit of a stiff neck on Monday-no biggie-Tuesday not so good but better by end of day-Wed. pretty stiff in the morning but again by end of day wasn't bad. But then...OH MY GOSH today I am in the WORST pain ever!! A broken bone didn't feel as bad as this or giving birth!! Its almost like when you get a cramp in your toes only in my neck and shoulder. My head is turned to the side with it wanting to go back-feels like I'm being bent backwards. I can't take this! Happy Birthday to me-just what I wanted.

[Unregistered]

12/4/07
my husband (age 73) developed a really really severe pain in his left shoulder blade, neck and down left arm. the pain kept him awake all night. we have just returned from a visit to a and e (6 hours later) they have more or less ruled out any cardiac probs.as done all the blood tests, ecg,blood pressure etc.........((he has also got non small cell lug cancer and the tumour is located behine his heart. He only saw his con yesterday and the chest x ray is carbon copy of one taken 6 weeks ago. he was diagnosed just over two years ago and at the moment his condition is kinda ''stable''....with one small secondary located in left lung that is also stable.)) Anyhow a dn e gave him morphine for the pain into vein and he is now much better albeit knackered from lack of sleep. he is now in bed trying to catch up on sleep but the pain is still there!! All the symptons you have stated he has and when he wakes i will share this with him and print off to show doc should we end up seeing any doc at hospital or our gp!! Many thanks and watch this space. Barbara x x

[BilHam]

(I'm a new user) I found you folks on google looking up this same problem. I'm intrigued by the similar posts by other users.
Last month I finally got over a bad cough which had lasted about five weeks. My family got it later; each went on antibiotics, but I didn't.
Over many months I've had a problem with my right elbow; it finally got to the point where I saw an ortho, who diagnosed the problem and prescribed Naproxen. Also diagnosed was developing neck arthritis.
At the time I saw him, I had been having this occasional discomfort through my left shoulder, but only when sitting still or going to sleep. When moving around, using my shoulder, it didn't bother me. I mentioned it to him, but the emergent issue was my elbow, so it was not addressed.
I think my shoulder problem started just before my cough went away. Increasingly, over the last week, it has been bothering me more and more; I upped the Naproxen to the prescribed dose (BID) thinking it would help the shoulder too. It hasn't done anything, only gotten worse by the day.
As I said, it doesn't hurt when I'm moving around, and if I change the position of my arm it usually stops for a minute. Then it creeps back to a pretty painful state, so I move it again. Sometimes in bed I can find a weird position where it stays gone, but I must sleep on my back now (I'm a side sleeper). It feels kind of like a charley horse or cramp.
Today the pain has redoubled. I'm seeing the ortho tommorrow. I was suspecting it might be a side effect (it can be one) of the Naproxen or Alleve, so I think I'll skip tonight's dose. It could be from the cough/infection. We'll see. I'll follow up here after.
Sorry for the epic lenghth of the post, but I want to be concise.

[Unregistered]

Hi,
I am suffering from the exact same as everyone else here. I am set to call into the chropracter today.
I woke up on Tues of last week with a fever and a pain in my neck..literally! By the afternoon the pain had extended down to my left shoulder blade. Sleeping has been horrible since...it plain old hurts! I thought maybe I pulled it but can't for the life of me think of when I did it.
Lee