19 year old dd has upper back pain - which type of specialist to see?

[LimitIsUp]

Its upper back and feels like something is trapped.

She wonders if it has been exacerbated by hunching over a sink in her part time coffee shop job.

She also has anxiety so carries a lot of tension in her neck and shoulders.

Who should she see?
Sports masseur
Chiropractor
Oesteopath
A N Other?

Thanks

Osteopath

GP. Upper (thoracic) back pain can be a symptom of breast cancers. Unlikely but needs to be checked.

I had similar and had various massages over the years, sports and other. No one could tell me what the problem was and massage only offered temporary relief. Saw a physio and immediately the problem was identified, and after a few vigorous sessions (it felt like they were jumping up and down on my spine) the tension eased. Still comes back occasionally but that physio made such a huge difference.

GP first IMO. You need to get a medical opinion to narrow down the differential diagnoses.

Physiotherapist

Okay, GP first then (for one of their wonderful telephone consultations). Thank you

I’d go straight for physio. Gp will probably be useless and to say rest it. I’m being unfair to some GPs there, but IME they aren’t very good at that sort of problem.

How bad is the pain? Does it keep her awake at night?

Physio, then possibly sports massages for maintenance once the initial issue has been dealt with.

I am inclined to agree SheWoreYellow so I have booked a GP appointment (just to exclude sinister causes, apparently being under 20 with upper back pain is a potential red flag) and a physio appointment. The earliest GP appointment is a telephone appointment on the 14th and the Physio appointment is on the 15th.

@Innocenta

How bad is the pain? Does it keep her awake at night?

No, its just annoying and uncomfortable rather than excrutiating

Really glad to hear that, OP. Still important to see the GP, but pain that keeps someone awake is a red flag for more serious causes, so if you'd said yes, I was going to recommend that you have her mention that specifically to the doctor. I think you're very wise to go with both GP and physio! Hope she feels better soon

Thanks Innocenta

GP - I had upper back pain for a week or so, eventually phoned GP saying I felt a bit off and back was very sore - was still able to walk around and do stuff as normal - reasonably … turned it was pleurisy and pneumonia (was fine after a week in bed on strong pain relief) . I was putting it down to just a bit of back pain . So I’d definitely get her checked just to be sure .

A good physio is worth their weight in gold. Mine refused to treat me or take any money off me after 3 sessions and commented that she was able to refer for an MRI (I had been waiting ages) and that something was very wrong
MRI scan that week, followed by spinal surgery
I'm forever grateful to her for spotting a herniated disc which led to cauda equina

Does it feel like she's been literally stabbed in the back? Sharp pain when inhaling?

No harm in asking the GP, but had it been quicker to get a physio appointment, they will also look out for red flags and refer on appropriately.

@Susannahmoody

Does it feel like she's been literally stabbed in the back? Sharp pain when inhaling?

No, it doesn't. It's more of an ache