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Kim347 Posts: 31
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So..I feel like I am a loner... (I am just feeling down about my pain right now...I know other people have it worse than me...and I know it could be a lot worse.. I just need to vent, this HURTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I feel like everyone always has lower back pain..and I am really weird for having upper back pain..and even more weird because my doctors can't figure out what is wrong with me and where this pain is coming from.... Does anyone else out there also have upper back pain...that does not seemed to be related to their neck? I know this is common-- having upper back pain along with arm, neck or shoulder pain.... but I dont have any of those other symptoms... My neurosurgeon said since I dont also have those other symptoms, he doesn't know where the pain is coming from... he kind of just shooed me out the door and said he doesnt know... horrible bed side manner...i HATE doctors like him! My pain is in my upper left back, medial to my scapula and hurts REALLY bad when I sit down. Its weird... I know.. and VERY frustrating to not have any clue what is wrong with me or where this pain is coming from... Anyone have any answers??? I AM FRUSTRATED!!!! egh |
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Allym Posts: 79
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Hi Kim, I know that you have seen a surgeon and have had scans and were in a really bad car accident. Is there any way that this could be muscular- muscle spasms? Have you seen a pain management specialist someone that cam really evaluate all the different pain symptoms and maybe come up with a plan for you? I know you are so frustrated. When I have a flare in my neck and upper back a lot of times I will have muscle spasms that radiate down my back under my shoulder blade and also along the thick muscle that runs along my spine. I don't know if the pain that you are having is muscular, but it is just a thought since it is not showing up on your scans. Hence the recommendation for a pain management specialist. I hope this helps? |
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Kim347 Posts: 31
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Thank you Allym! I do have a pain specialist...problem is, he sucks at life. His bed side manner is HORRIBLE, all he does is give me injections...and say "I dont know"... he stinks. So, I just got my GP to refer me to a physiatrist that a friend of mine told me is really good and really thorough.. maybe he will give me some insight. Also, if it is just muscle spasms... would muscle relaxers help it? Because I take zanaflex (muscle relaxer) and it doesnt touch the pain--it helps with the spasms in my mid back that develop (I think) from trying to compensate for my upper back.. but it doesnt touch the pain in my upper back... unfortunately! ive considered trying baclofen, which is a stronger m relaxant, but i dont even know if it would help since the zanaflex really doesnt do anything for my upper back, even at really high doses... I really appreciate your thoughts and kind words Allym! AND---I am praying for you to have a safe and successful surgery on Friday! GOOD LUCK!!! |
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kjv1956 Posts: 860
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Hey Kim, I also have pain between the shoulder blades. The spasms take the breath away. I do have a protrusion in one of the discs there with arthritis but I also have Tietze's Syndrome which is inflamation of cartilidge in the rib cage. The pain is intense. While sitting the pain intensifies. Mine though hurts in front between and just below the breasts. It hurts all the time but is very painful and will feel like a burst of pain out the back. The Dr's have no idea what causes it or how to cure it. The spasms are the muscles way of protecting the spine. The muscle relaxers will help with the spasm over time but will not do much at all for the pain. I was rear ended six times at a red light over a period of time and each time the pain increased. I have found some relief from a neuromuscular massage therapst. For my knots and spasms she would apply solid and consistant pressure for ten seconds then release. This would be repeated several times until the knot decreased and the pain was better. She said the pressure allowed oxygen and blood to flow through the muscle again allowing it to heal instead of remaining knotted to protect the bones. I have no idea if this is what you are experiencing but the info may help. kjv1956 |
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fluffyluggage Posts: 4723
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Hey Kim, I have to think that there may be some muscle spasm issues going on, too. I know that when you have muscle spasms, muscle relaxers will help somewhat, but they may not completely take away the pain. For 1 thing, they may stop the spasms, but the pain from the spasms won't stop right away, because pain has been inflicted from the spasms, and that pain isn't going to just stop when the spasms do. Damage has occurred, and it won't simply go away just because the spasms stop. Think of it like a charlie horse. When the charlie horse goes away, you're still extremely sore, right? How long do you stay sore? Each of us is different, but I'd bet you most will say at least the better part of a day. So, given that example, you're talking about spasms that need constant attention. And if you're not taking a long-term muscle relaxer, you're not going to get relief. Additionally, you probably need to be on a pain medication or anti-inflammatory, or maybe both, to help with the pain. It's possible that nothing will heal the damage inflicted by what's happened, which is a sad truth. When you're dealing with muscle spasms, they spasm, and you simply have to do what you can to control the situation. With GOOD pain management, you should be able to pinpoint the exact area or close to it of spasm, and you should be able to manage the pain reasonably. It sounds like you need a new pain management doc. Additionally, I really think that PT should be on your list of options to try. Massage, ultrasound, e-stim, and other techniques could be a real help to you. If you've tried it before, I'd suggest you haven't been to the right place, and you should try somewhere else, where someone actually listens and knows what they're doing. You should get at least some amount of relief with PT. And you may only get a certain amount, but you should get some. A TENS unit might help the muscle spasms, but you'd need to talk to the PT to know for sure. It can exaccerbate certain problems, so I wouldn't know for sure in your case. All of those are good options for you to explore. In many cases, psychs can be a good option as well, because certain anti-depressants can be excellent pain relievers. However, I would caution you not to put all your eggs in 1 basket. If you get it in your head that this is all in your head, I think you're going to be sadly disappointed. A good psych will really get to the bottom of the issue and will understand the pain component, but a bad one won't do that. So, don't underestimate the power of your own intuition. Many hugs, jen  Just because it's impossible doesn't mean it can't happen.
I'm not a doc, so anything I say is my opinion only. Nothing I say is meant as offense, I offer what I can as help. I believe in educating myself on all my medical issues and being my own advocate, for no one else with do that on my behalf. I recommend we all do the same!
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Perhaps I truly am insane for expecting these docs to listen to me when I say the same things repeatedly to no avail? LOL. I am tired of seeking out new docs and getting the same result time and again...Forgive me if I seem bitter some days.
Something has changed within me/Something is not the same/I'm through with playing by/The rules of someone else's game/Too late for second-guessing/Too late to go back to sleep/It's time to trust my instincts/Close my eyes and leap...I'm through accepting limits/Cuz someone says they're so/Some things I can not change/But till I try I'll never know/Too long I've been afraid of/Losing love I guess I lost/Well if that's love/It comes at much too high a cost/I'd sooner buy Defying Gravity/Kiss me good-bye I'm Defying Gravity/I think I'll try Defying Gravity/And you won't bring me down...
--Defying Gravity (Glee Cast version) |
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xutka Posts: 60
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Doctors have proven to me to be absolutely useless other than giving you medicine and more medicine! my upper back hurts 24/7 because I apparently have a muscle imbalance... my back muscles are weak from extreme computer use... how is the pain going to stop? EXERCISING THE MUSCLES AND MAKING THEM STRONG. I had enough of sitting and complaining and having doctors give me medicine! |
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debhurts Posts: 1918
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Hi Kim, i have upper back pain, i have a ruptured disc so they told me surgery would be difficult, they cut through your chest to get around spinal cord, kinda midevil i was younger then and i suffer daily w/this pain it also burns it is located on the braa line, i found pain pills help, i also have muscle relaxers , but all they so is make me sleep. Also heat is my best friend, a heating pad is a requirement, i feel like it's attached to me, mabey what would help some is by accepting the pain, i wish you all the best and an answer for you awful pain, much love Debi  i am not a medical professional or a counselor, please seek a doctors opinion, and seek professional counseling, my opinions are my own and not professional, please use common sense and get appropriate care by a professional. Thanks i am not being rude just responsible. Thanks Debi |
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ed2098 Posts: 1
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I also have been having upper back pain (mostly in the trapezius area). I saw an orthopedist (no help at all). The pain has been off and on for about a year now but for the last 3 or 4 weeks it's been unbearable. Work, sleep, and basically everything else has been miserable. Finally, I was down to my last straw and I scheduled an appt. with a chiropractor. I had never been to one before. I've only been to a couple sessions but it seems to be helping. I'll let you know how it ends up but so far so good. I've been getting electric stimulation combined with an ultrasound treatment and massage. The source of my pain stemmed from years of working in front of a computer with bad posture (leaning my head forward mostly). I'm not sure if this helps but I'll keep you in my thoughts. Post edited by: ed2098, at: 06/30/2011 06:41 PM |
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mcrough8  Posts: 101
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Hi Ed, Hopefully the chiropractor treatments will continue to help. Maybe seeing a physical therapist could help also in the ergonomics area. I had to re-learn a few ways of doing repetative motions, so as to not do myself more damage. Good luck...Pat |
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rajindernijj Posts: 1
New Member
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Ill keep this short. But Ive had upper back pain for a couple of years now. Went to the doctor loads of times they havent got a clue. Got referred to a physio they helped a little bit. The best was the chiropractor. He told me bascailly my mid spine has gone forward and he cracked my back into place I felt better straight away. He told me the problem doesnt originate from the mid spine but lower back. When you loose the arch in your lower back your spine will try and compensate. Bascailly you have to sit and walk with you stomach pushed out and shoulders back all day which is unpossible. I cant afford going to the chiropractor anymore. Also back pain comes from stiffness if you dont strech do running swimming or some kind of movement you will eventually get back pain because the spine doesnt move and nervs get trapped. The cure for my back. I got to the point where ive got enough knowledge about my upper back pain and started experimenting. People will tell you this is bad but I feal much better and I helped myself. So I learned some streches from different sources. One of the best from a bodybuilder. Its on youtube blood and guts leg training. The bit where he shows you loosing your lower back. This cured my lower back. Now for my upper back the main problem like somone has stabbed me and left a knife in there. I used to get my dad to walk on my back and press it. My back would pop but would always feal like something wasnt right still even after the chiropractor it felt like my back could pop a little bit more. I saw on youtube people using rollers it helped a small amount. Then I found this ball called a acuball which was abit better. Then I saw people on youtube showing you how to crack your own back. It helped but wasnt doing the job for me. I went to the park rested my upper back against the top of the bench. You have to fall back like your making a letter n the part of your back which has the pain pressing againt the top of the bench arms extended. You have to be very loose and once youve extended do a jerking pressing movment. Your back will crack. You will have to experiment abit move up and down until you get the right bits strech straight backwards and abit diagonally it works well on a concrete rounded bollardpost. I would post a video but it kind of looks funny doing stuff like that in the park. I was at the point where I couldnt hack the pain anymore. Now I am pretty much cured. It will always be there but ive learned how to manage it. Hope this helps. |
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