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Original poster

Awful sharp pain upper back between blades

28 replies

cobaltblue27 · 22/07/2020 21:56

Hello,
Two nights ago I developed an awful sharp pain around my right shoulder blade. It’s now settled in my upper middle back. It does seem to ebb and flow depending on how am I positioned (it’s a lot worse when lying flat). It’s so sharp and intense that I almost feel breathless at times and after bath time today I had to put myself to bed for an hour as the pain was so draining. I have been Googling and have been panicking about heart attack, gallbladder stones and gallbladder cancer, trapped nerves etc. Does anyone have any ideas?
We’re on holiday in France at the moment and have swum both Monday and Tuesday nights for the first time (and for a long time) as obviously haven’t been swimming for ages due to lockdown! Could it related to that?

OP posts:
Remona · 22/07/2020 22:04

Well clearly you should seek medical attention if it persists. It could be all manner of things. I doubt it’s your gallbladder if you have that particular pain in isolation. Gallbladder pain is the worst pain I’ve ever experienced and was accompanied by fevers and vomiting as well as excruciating pain radiating from my stomach up into my chest and shoulder.

I do have a similar pain to yours though in that I get a sharp pain right between my shoulder blades. It’s really severe at times. It’s actually coming from my neck. I’ve got degenerative discs in my lower cervical spine.

MutteringDarkly · 22/07/2020 22:05

You should get any severe chest pain checked out, straight away.

In the abstract my guess would be gallstones - but that doesn't mean much because I can't see you, and don't know your medical situation. Please go and get checked.

If it is gallstones, you can improve the symptoms by having a very low-fat diet. And you have my sympathy, that pain is really awful.

Original poster
cobaltblue27 · 22/07/2020 22:24

Does gallstone pain get much worse when you lay down? It really hurts when I stretch out my right hand forward. Chest pain now pretty much gone if I lie on my side. Not back until Sat and will then have to wait until Monday for an urgent appt at GP... I’m very anxious for a number of reasons and haven’t been sleeping too.

OP posts:
Original poster
cobaltblue27 · 22/07/2020 22:25

I should also add that am 47 very physically fit and active, not overweight, although am on long-term replacement medication for my thyroid and adrenal glands, both of which have been damaged by autoimmune issues...

OP posts:
Original poster
cobaltblue27 · 22/07/2020 22:25

37 not 47!!

OP posts:
FrustratedMess · 22/07/2020 22:28

No-one can really answer this question or give you the reassurance you need really.

You need blood tests at a minimum

Not2bObvious · 22/07/2020 22:40

I’ve had this, had physio for it. Or at least I think I have! Is it definitely in your back? If you could get a tennis ball to lie on at the point of pain, it can help greatly. In my case it was muscular and just took time to heal. Anti Inflammatory worked alongside something like solpadeine (ok to take side by side for a couple of days)
Chest pains might be tension & strain due to back ache? More a symptom than an issue - not an expert just a fellow stress/strain sufferer!

MyFriendGiraffrey · 23/07/2020 00:10

I used to have this type of pain quite frequently for years. It went once I measured myself for bras using the Boob or Bust method. Whenever it returns now I notice that it's when I've been wearing one of my older bras in the previous size.

I'm just wondering with you being on holiday, have you taken different bras to your usual everyday ones with you? Or with you mentioning swimming and not having done so for a while, does your swimming costume support you properly is it putting pressure on your breasts? Maybe causing muscle or nerve pain?

Of course best to get checked out by a GP but maybe something worth considering/changing.

Suewiththeredford · 23/07/2020 00:11

Have your stools gone a sort of clay colour? If so, gallstones. Betcha.

PickAChew · 23/07/2020 00:12

shoulder pain can be gut stuff. get it checked.

windthatbobbin · 23/07/2020 00:29

Of course get checked by a professional, but I had very similar and it was a compressed disc in my cervical spine (neck). The advice from a PP to lie on a tennis ball is really good - I would take 10 mins twice a day to relax fully down on it between each and every vertebra, each side, from neck to tail. So much cracks out if you give it time to.

Also anti-inflammatories to break the muscular spasm cycle, which is also part of the cause of the pain. Good luck!

sadie9 · 23/07/2020 00:30

It could also be stomach acid. Try some Rennies or Gaviscon, or see if drinking a big glass of milk makes it ease a little.

Original poster
cobaltblue27 · 23/07/2020 07:38

OK I’m trying to get hold of an English-speaking doctor out here. It really hurts if I swallow anything and if I burp (sorry if TMI), like a knife is turning in my right shoulder blade. Pain woke me up through then night. Would think given the swallowing/burping issue that this is something to do with gut? Also have this Globus sensation (have woken up with it for last two days) that something is stuck in my throat. Worried I’ve got some kind of cancer or something.

Don’t think it’s a bra thing as after feeding three children I have AA cup breasts! Nothing to support!

OP posts:
Northernsoullover · 23/07/2020 07:41

Here's a tip I found useful whenever I got pains or weird things happening with my body. Either don't Google or if you must add 'benign causes of..' then seek a medical opinion always.

LimeLemonOrange · 26/07/2020 18:10

@windthatbobbin how did you get the diagnosis of the compressed disc? I'm having issues at the moment with my back / neck / shoulder but the GP isn't being very helpful. Did you have an MRI?

LimeLemonOrange · 26/07/2020 18:10

Good luck OP, hope it goes away soon.

windthatbobbin · 26/07/2020 18:14

@LimeLemonOrange I went to two separate highly recommended people - one a physio, one a craniosacral osteopath.

Both diagnosed it correctly, then I had an MRI to be sure.

windthatbobbin · 26/07/2020 18:14

GP was worse than useless - give me Diclofenac which had zero effect.

justasking111 · 26/07/2020 18:15

Acid reflux it sounds like, are you drinking wine, eating tomatoes etc. Change of diet may have kicked it off. Get some ranitidine and gaviscon if you cannot find a doctor and lay off acid rich things and fatty foods.

Fosler · 26/07/2020 18:21

It could be acid reflux but it sounds exactly like the pain I got with gallstones. I cut down on fatty foods and certain fruits. Make a note of what you have eaten that could trigger the pain!

Oddly I got my first attack when in a France.

Hope you feel better soon.

Beeorwasp · 26/07/2020 18:23

Really? Asking strangers on the internet for medical advice?! Call a doctor!

Grumblyberries · 26/07/2020 18:25

sounds like how I felt when I had pleurisy

justasking111 · 26/07/2020 18:36

@Beeorwasp

Really? Asking strangers on the internet for medical advice?! Call a doctor!
The OP was trying to find an english speaking one the other day.
justasking111 · 28/07/2020 22:42

@cobaltblue27 how are you feeling?

Original poster
cobaltblue27 · 28/07/2020 23:12

Hi everyone,
Amazingly, by Saturday morning (when we were driving back) I was basically fine! Haven’t even thought about it all weekend. Had very slight twinge today but nothing compared to pain of last week. I wonder whether it could be something to do with gallbladder as my sister has gallstones and think they may be genetic? The diet point could be relevant as I was hoovering cheese and tomatoes and things. I feel fine now. They did a battery of tests for me today in hospital anyway (I have a couple of chronic health conditions) so they should hopefully provide some insight. Thanks everyone for all their insights and understanding.

For the record, I see doctors regularly (due to said health conditions) but do find the fellowship online comforting when it’s late at night and in you’re waiting for professional advice. Thanks everyone! X

OP posts: