Awful upper back pain. Am so sick of it. Please help

[Orangeanddemons]

I've had grumbling upper back pain for a year. It's gradually got worse and worse. Now it's just awful.

I'm having physio which is doing nothing. Every movement and action inflames it.

I've got tramadol and cohydramol. Neither seem to do very much to it. I can't sit or read or do anything comfortable except lie. Am so sick of struggling on with this horrible pain all the time. I've made another appointment to go back to the doctors but not sure what they can do

Chiropractor or osteopath.

If you are in or near Taunton can recommend a good chiropractor.

I think it's muscular rather than structural. I'm nowhere Taunton unfortunately.

Have you had an x-ray?

After a year and such strong meds you need a proper diagnosis. Press your GP for an MRI scan and a referral to a spinal specialist.

Good luck. Feel free to join us on the back pain thread. Allcomers welcome.

My utmost sympathy OP. How bloody awful. Push hard for a referral like Matilda said. No one should have to live like that. I've only had the latest bout of pain for 3 weeks and I'm making several calls a day trying to get to a specialist. Get well soon.

I haven't pushed for a referral, because I didn't think there was anything they could do.

It's in between shoulder blade and spine. Lower back has gone too

It still needs investigating in order to get the right treatment. It's no way to live and might be quite easily sorted if muscular. You just don't know without investigations.

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It still needs investigating in order to get the right treatment. You just don't know without investigations.

This is very true - I was being treated for posture and it turns out there are fractures in there . Please, OP, press for further investigation.

If it is muscular then there is presumably a cause, which may be structural. Can you find a recommendation for a chiro near you? Or look into postural analysis, or both?

I would really recommend finding a good chiropractor. Mine makes referrals for X-rays and MRIs if he thinks it is necessary.

I'm having problems at the moment with upper spine - bony protrusions pressing on nerves down my arm. We know what it is because I had an MRI last year.

A chiropractor would more than likely be able to do something. You might fund your lower back is involved now because you may be holding yourself awkwardly to try to avoid pain in your upper back. It's definitely worth seeing one.

Having said that I am flying to Dublin tomorrow to see a guy who specialises in somethng called Endorphin Release Therapy. It sounds very odd but it works. I have had this problem before about 15 years ago and was in agony. He sorted it in two appointments. So I'm seeing him again.

Thanks for all the advice. It's been shit again today.

I never found either chiro or osteo have worked for me. I usually respond better to physio for some reason.

Have made another doctors appointment for Friday.

If you have chronic unremitting thoracic spine pain which has not been helped by physiotherapy, and is not easing with your current analgesia then you need to return to your GP to discuss further diagnostic and treatment options with them.

Sorry xpost. I see you have made an appointment.