Pain left shoulder blade and arm

[LottieLou3]

Hi, I’ve been having a pain in my left shoulder blade and occasionally down my arm for the past couple of weeks.
ill start by saying it’s definitely not heart related as gp sent me for ecg and Lung X-ray and blood tests at the hospital.
I’ve then been to my physio who loosened off the muscles in my neck and a got some brief relief but only 36hrs later and I’m still in discomfort. I wouldn’t say it’s a sudden, stabbing pain or anything. Just a constant in the background that is uncomfortable. I’ve got full movement of my arm and shoulder.
Initially I thought this is wear and tear carrying my son who is 12 months and really heavy now!

anyone had similar?

It probably is .

Work on your core if your core is weak it’s causes all sorts of pain especially back .

Did your physio give you exercises to do?
Stop carrying your child on that side. I used to have what was like a bum belt with a shelf for my DC to sit on so less carrying

It possibly is, or could be something like a bulging disc - though the physio should have picked that up.

Get some stretching exercises, use a heat pack on it etc.

Hope you get some relief soon!

Sounds like a rotator cuff problem. I’d get more physiotherapy.

I’d see an osteopath. It’s the only thing that seems to help when I get this sort of pain and whatever she does seems to actually last (unlike physio who doesn’t seem to do much).

I've been having the same thing the last few weeks. I've just been put onto omeprazole to see if that helps as sometimes I'm not sure if it's like indigestion. Other times it feels more muscular. Just wanted to say you're not alone?

Thanks so much for all the responses so quickly :) I’ll keep trying physio or osteopath.

@iamwhoiam27 that does make me feel better to know I’m not alone. I’d agree sometimes it’s more muscular and sometimes maybe more digestion related. Feel it a bit under my ribs too

Yes I get it under my ribs too. My anxiety has been bad lately and doctor said that can cause a lot of reflux type issues so trying these meds and going back to see him in 4 weeks.

Lived Thro this OP ! It’s a cervical slipped disc/bulging disc . It creeps up on you. Mine was triggered by toddler in a back carrier and also breast feeding .Took a year to settle and now 5 years has recurred in a lower disc after a minor fall so pain pattern slightly different. This time I was aggressive about implementing what I learned last time so things improving. the things that help .. no sitting - I’m strict about this - taking gravity off neck helps so if I rest I lie down , try to keep neck tall and straight in neutral position and avoid twisting neck, no pillow if back sleeping , very thin minimal pillow if side sleeping, no lifting or straining, walking helps so inc step count w no handbag or heavy pockets & loose clothing , low dose oral steroids, regular painkillers taken on timetable BEFORE pain and spasm ramp up eg nsaid paracetamol and low dose over the counter codeine ( physio advised this and can see vast improvement - take pain meds before getting up now) and possibly short course diazepam - this time last week I was at stage of needing emergency mri & losing sensation in arm and now 95% better . I’d avoid osteopath at this stage - I think he triggered the deterioration last time as lost sensation in hand after seeing him and pain ramped up so I think his manipulation just irritated the nerve root. The physio this time has said walking will be enough to stretch the nerves when pain so acute & I think he’s correct. A soft collar can be helpful if not worn too often.

You need a decent chiropractor, solved all my pain/shoulder/neck pain issues in only 3 sessions and gave me exercises to do to maintain it. That was due to carrying 2 heavy babies through pregnancy and as newborns/babies etc. I ruined myself but had no issues since the chiropractor sorted me out.

@iamwhoiam27 ahh that’s interesting you mentioned anxiety because I’m quite an anxious person and I have been feeling a lot more anxious recently - just returned to work after may leave, little one started nursery and is always ill etc so wouldn’t be surprised if it’s all linked.

Yes I didn't realise the link between the two. Doctor didn't seem at all worried about my heart after doing a few checks. I'm only on day 2 of the meds and I know they can take a while to work but I have had less pain so far so we shall see!
When you get the pain in your chest try taking a rennie to see if it helps. More often than not it has been for me which is another reason why the doctor is leaning towards reflux.

@Foofedifiknow ahh ok, I’ve obviously been dr googling and slipped rib / thoracic outlet syndrome has appeared on my search.

Did you discuss this with your gp? I feel like my go will no nothing about it so who do you ask to be referred to?

also wondering, have you been diagnosed with any hypermobility? I think I am mildly hypermobile although never discussed with a dr as I e never had a reason to but I am thinking that this might play into it too.

This happened to me. Started as very mild and got worse over a period of months until it had affected my arm movement. It turned out to be frozen shoulder, but was treated fully with a steroidal injection under the shoulder blade.

Mine turned out to be bursitis.
I started off with a strained rotator cuff but continued heavy lifting awkwardly due to pain which resulted in bursitis. Rest & physio exercises helped plus steroid injection.

You'd need an ultrasound to show if its rotator cuff or bursitis. The physio I saw also did the ultrasound scan & steroid injection. (Private so not sure if you could get this on NHS)