OhioRacer

I have a pain that is located above my left shoulder blade. For the past few days it ran under my arm and into my chest. Now it is just located above the shoulder blade. I assumed it was a pulled muscle. I went to the doctor yesterday and they took x-rays, an EKG and said that my heart was fine, my shoulder structure was fine and there was no rib damage. So they gave me 800mg of Ibuprofin, a muscle relaxer and a pain killer/spasm preventer. None of it really helps much. It hurts the worst at night when I sleep. I wake up about 3AM and I just cannot find a spot to put my left arm where it doesn't hurt my shoulder. When I was washing my hair in the shower I noticed my left arm lost some coordination and strength. Minor, but noticeable. It also hurts like hell to drive the S. I haven't lifted anything heavy. The only thing I vagely recall is turning my head a week or two ago and had a snap in my neck. This has happened a few times before in my life...I get a little tingle, even a little bright light. Then it's gone. This time it is not gone.

Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm trying to get an appt. with an ortho. I'm also supposed to driving 8 hours Friday to the Tomcatt drive.

MsPerky

I'd check into the possibility of a pinched nerve in your neck. Occasionally, I get a pain in my shoulder that travels down my arm. Fortunately for me, it's only occasional. I think I have a bit of arthritis in my neck. The pain is like a dull ache - sometimes with tingling.

boltonblue

I fought with a similar condition for awhile that therapy finally helped work out.
My desk ergonomics were screwed up and being at the keyboard had pinched a nerve in my neck.
Basically I was lifting my shoulders slightly to sit at my desk, this caused the muscles to just get unhappy for lack of a better description.

DrCloud

I had an episode about a year ago that was sort of like this -- it started with a twinge under my right shoulderblade and got worse. Claire (who's a massage therapist) did some work on it, and it helped a little. I rearranged my sleeping position to accommodate it a bit. Eventually, it faded; but at its worst, it affected coordination and strength somewhat.

I've decided to call it bursitis, absent a better diagnosis -- some kind of virus or something got into one of the bursae in there and it got inflamed; eventually my immune system dealt with it.

But it sure was uncomfortable for a while there. HPH

Lainey

Don't know how long it takes to get appointments with specialists in your area, but I'd try for a neurologist, if you think the issue could be a disc in your neck. Sure sounds like it could be a pinched nerve or something.


I get a problem with a pain in my neck that goes into the back of shoulder...massage therapy helps when it flares up.

Unfortunately, I'd bet driving 8 hours will not help your situation.

Hope you feel better soon.

dangarza

Initially either an orthopedist or a Neurologist could evaluate the problem and refer to the other as needed.
Either one is likely to order an MRI of your cervical spine.
Neurologist is likely to perform additional tests on the affected arm, such as nerve conduction studies and electromyogram if the weakness/pain fits a certain pattern of muscle groups or skin area.
There are many possible causes, but common things being common I would have to agree that degenerative disc disease probably tops the list.
Good Luck!

OhioRacer

I managed to get an appt. with an Orthop Wednesday. We'll see how it goes. These meds that are targeting muscles are not working so I suspect it is nerve related.

PokS2k

I had this too. Turned out it is from 2 herniated discs in my neck. I've seen 3 neurosergeons and 2 asked when I was in the accident. I told them I don't recall hurting it, but when I was young, I played a lot of sports.

I wore a Philidelphia collar for 6 weeks after seeing one dr. and it settled it down. Then a few yrs later it flared up and I went to a different dr. who prescribed physical therapy. That worked too but it took several weeks too.

I'm actually going thru another episode now but this time the tingling is in my right arm.

OhioRacer

Jim,

Were you advised to avoid any particular activities? Such as sport driving S2000's?

Emil St-Hilaire

Relax,Carmen...
You're just getting OLD...