Intense upper back pain

[pretentiousrubberduck]

Posting for traffic because I'm panicking. This morning, as I was getting stuff together to take the kids out, I suddenly got very intense upper back pain. It's right across my shoulder blades. I wasnt doing anything strenuous at the time, was just stood putting stuff into a bag. It's stayed at this kind of level all day. I had a quick google and now I'm panicking about a heart attack or pneumonia. I don't have chest pain, or pain anywhere else actually. I'm finding it difficult to move my upper body around though. Do I call 111 or just leave it and see how it is in the morning? For what it's worth, I'm 29, overweight, don't smoke, reasonably active (don't drive so walk everywhere).

Have you drank much water today?

Maybe a litre and a half? If I'm including cups of tea.

I'd call. Could be just muscle spasm, could be a disc thing, could be anything else.

Just call them. Now.

Ruptured, bulging or pinched disc in your upper back maybe? I would have already gone to the doctor, no reason to suffer needlessly, and you should get heart& pneumonia ruled out. My ds had back pain one day, and it got worse towards night, he went to doctor, it was pnemonia. No other symptoms at first.

Could be a gallstone, we can only guess, call 111.

These sort of things I refer to as 'sofa injuries.'

I've had a few myself. Most memorable when I sneezed as I sat on the sofa and put my back out. And last week I was literally stood by a cupboard about to open it and I stepped forward and twisted my knee

So my guess would be that you've twisted your body in such a way - even minutely - that it's pulled a muscle or similar

I could be wrong of course and don't know what you've done so if you're very concerned I'd make a GP appointment or call OOH if you believe it to be chest related

In the meantime, try alternating ice cold and heat on it

You should cal 111. It may be just a strain but it may not.

If it's around your right shoulder blade area it could well be gallstones. I suffered for years undiagnosed and that's what it was. Usually had at least half an hour in almost labour-like pain in my upper back/sides etc then it relieved by itself. Drinking and weeing helped slightly but I just had to ride it out.
Call 111 though.

"getting ready to get dc out" were you lifting twisting your back picking up from ground picking up from behind you etc etc etc basically could you have pulled or twisted a muscle.

GALLSTONES! Had you eaten anything fatty about 2/3hrs before?

Thanks everyone, I'm going to call 111 and see what they suggest. Fingers crossed I just pulled something and it's a 'sofa injury'!

Fatty food doesn't always precede gallstones - it didn't with me which is partly why I never knew what it was!

@Andysbestadventure nope, hadn't even had breakfast yet!

@mumwon I was stood at the counter moving things from the counter into a bag, no twisting or lifting or stretching involved. Not that I can remember anyway!

I had this for weeks once. It was just back pain and the doctors did nothing. There seemed to be no cause but I think it was done to poor posture.

How are you this morning?

We’ve twice been in A&E with Dh thinking he was having a heart attack. Both times it was muscle strain from chopping wood.. He’s not allowed to do it now!
But also both times the nurses said he did the right thing, going in.

111 advised to take ibuprofen and call my gp this morning if it still hurts. It's actually much better today, so I think I must have moved funny! Thanks for all the advice and reassurance though

Glad to hear you're on the mend.