Pain between the shoulder blades

[swiss miss]

dr. steve,
i think this is all because of my job, but i have the most severe sharp pains that almost take my breath away between my blades. im almost thinking its a bulged disk its that bad. im not new to pain, i get cluster migraines and im constantly hospitalized with them, but this is really hurting my production at work. whats my next step? massage? acupuncture? or an orthopedic.....
whats your take? help a lil miss out....

xox swissy

swissmiss77@mac.com
my work - www.lizabird.com :surrender:

[Dr Steve]

dr. steve,
i think this is all because of my job, but i have the most severe sharp pains that almost take my breath away between my blades. im almost thinking its a bulged disk its that bad. im not new to pain, i get cluster migraines and im constantly hospitalized with them, but this is really hurting my production at work. whats my next step? massage? acupuncture? or an orthopedic.....
whats your take? help a lil miss out....

xox swissy

swissmiss77@mac.com
my work - www.lizabird.com :surrender:

Swissy:

The muscle group between the shoulder blades is called the "Rhomboids"...these muscles pull the blades together and help you arch your back or stick out your chest (nice). They're also extremely thin and easily damaged for muscles that have such an important role.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Rhomboidei.PNG/250px-Rhomboidei.PNG

I'd have to examine you to say for sure, but statistically, this may be what's causing your pain. You're right, though, it could easily be an arthritic joint in the upper back, or a bulging disk.

When you see your health care provider, they'll want to examine you to see where the pain originates. An MRI would be required to diagnose a slipped disk, but a little physical therapy (with or without acupuncture) will fix a rhomboid strain.

In the meantime, ibuprofen (if you can take it...aren't allergic, don't have asthma, don't have stomach problems, etc., check with your health care provider) will help with the pain, as will massage. Try a cold pack or two but don't put ice directly on the skin. Wrap it in a thin towel and let the cold seep in gently. I'm betting you do some standing or sitting bending forward in your job, which predisposes people to upper back strain.

Hope this helps!


your pal,


steve

[swiss miss]

thank you dr steve, i am doing a lot of sitting and bending. im a hand engraver (its kind of the position a jeweler or watchmaker sits in....awful) so once i strain it, its like it never gets better because im just going to do it tomorrow. my jobs range from size 3 rings to huge ass sports trophys. im also piecework, so anything that slows me down hits my production. blah, so i just took some ibuprofin and ill see how that works. i do need to make an apointment, and i know he will saw that the way we sit and work is not OSHA-ish and that we shouldnt work like that. i have a better idea of what the problem is and at least i know what to stretch now!! you're the best!!

xox swissy

[hunnerbun]

Swiss miss, I am a Hairstylist and it sounds to me like we work in a similar manner, shoulders rounded and hands in front curved toward the chest. I also tend to get a lot of issues with the upper back/neck /shoulder area. My sister is a massage therapist and she says that sometimes the pain through this area is in response to posture. She has told me to try a couple of different stretches to stretch out the pecs and neck muscles. When these muscles are in a shortened state for long periods of time they can cause strain on the back muscles, so by stretching them out it can relieve the pain on the upper back/neck. (I am sure Jennatalia can correct me if I am wrong.)
One stretch she showed me is called a Neck Retraction Stretch (http://www.exrx.net/Stretches/Sternocleidomastoid/NeckRetraction.html), the only thing she tells me to do different is to take my hand and close it and leave the index finger pointing up, place the hand against my chest with my index finger resting against my chin. Pull the head back for a count of ten then relax. Most times your chin will not return to the finger. Move the finger back to the chin, not the chin out to the finger, repeat. After a couple of these the knot at the back of my neck eases up.
A second stretch she recommends is called Doorway Chest Stretch (http://www.exrx.net/Stretches/ChestGeneral/Doorway.html)

I don't do them nearly as much as I should but when I do it sure feels better. I am also a firm believer in regular massage and chiropractic adjustments. I try and go for both of these at least every 4-6 weeks. I find that going on a regular basis has seriously reduced my pain as opposed to letting things go then having to fix an even bigger problem.

[dryerdoor]

Hi Dr. Steve.

I'm having the same type of pains also. As soon as I woke up this morning, I've been having the same type of pains that Swiss Miss has had, but it also is making turning my neck difficult too and spread to my shoulders and left armpit. Not only that, I've been getting these weird shooting pains in my left hands, particularly by my left ring and pinky finger.

What can I do to remedy this?