Upper Back Pain, Thoracic
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Tue, 09/22/2009 - 16:32
MRI Normal, Pain in thoracic, between lower part of shoulderblades
I have read similar topics to my own. Feels like a sad story for me. I have severe pain in between my shoulder blades on my thoracic region of my back. This pain sometimes radiates to my neck and lower back region also. I have had this pain nearly 7 months now but it has became unbearable in the last 2 months. The first time I had the pain I was physically moving something in a pushing manner and felt what could be described as a water balloon filled with warm water exploding in my upper back between lower shoulder blade area. At the time it was not that terrible of a pain. But thru my job as a assembly tech for an automotive plant, I have aggravated the pain and at times the pain becomes more than unbearable. 9/10 on pain scale. The pain when triggered feels as if a baseball sized swelling in that region is being stabbed every few seconds. This can be brought on by doing something as simple as a sink of dishes, or thru phys ther as simple as lifting 2 lb weights in different motions that effect that region of the back. (lifting them while lying on stomach to infront of my head or on my sides) I have had MRI's taken of cervix thoracic and lumbar regions all resulting in normal findings with nothing added. Like others I went thru physical therapy, chiropractor visits and everything else before my insurance would honor the MRIs and I was convinced the results would come up that I should not be able to even walk without crying!!! To my surprise nothing was found. Being only 23 years old Im very scared that Ive now put doubt in my doctors eyes of my pain and will not be given anything for the pain after yesterdays visit. I was put on Percocet, Flexeril, Mobic and Predisone after my failure to find help with motrin and ultram. The meds they put me on now do not take the pain away but dull it enough to make it thru a day. They now have me going to an acupuncture therapist and am convinced it is a muscular issue. Can someone help me or has anyone else been diagnosed with the same issue? Adding the doctor has now explained to me I will need to return to work within 2 weeks because they cannot find reason for me not to be able to work as I said my job is physically demanding 8 hours of the work day. Lifting up to 35lb parts 700 times a day, Im very scared this could cause further long term damage.
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i hope this is just muscular. there is a post just below your post that might give you some good advice. here is a link to it.....pete
http://www.spine-health.com/forum/upper-back-pain-thoracic/severe-thorac...
Banned from Spine-Health
Thank you i will check them out!!!
Have you had flexion extension x-rays throughout your spine?
If you haven't please do. When my NS looked at my MRI he said my symptoms didn't match the MRI so he added the xrays. This is where they found the instability. My L5 was pretty much dislocated from the S1 and was extremely painful but it was intermitten. Pain followed movement.
Good luck,
Julie
MRI 12/07 L4-5 Herniated w/Nerve Impingment. L5/S1 Posterior Central Protrusions- indents @Thecal Sac. L4/S1 Moderate Facet Anthropy. 6/08 MRI and Flexion Extension Xrays- revealed grade 3 Retrolisthesis L5/S1, Spondy L4
Constant LBP and Bilateral Radiculopathy going on 17 months. PT, MT, Chiro, Traction, Selective Nerve Root Injections........ You name it I probably did it.
*****L4-S1 PLIF 7/28/08******* Considered a perfect success!
Newest problem: Shocking sharp pain in neck, shoulders and elbows, burning painful hands, and constant numbness/tingling in both hands.
MRI C6-7 disc protrusion with right lateral recess narrowing, C5-6 disc protrusion & spondylosis with bilateral neuralformen bony stenosis.
I am currently waiting for my neck surgery to be schedule ACDF C5/C6/C7- Insurance has required conservative treatment (PT and elecromagnetic therapy).
Does the pain radiate to the chest? I have had the same pain in my shoulder blades the pain goes into my shoulders and around to my chest. I did have an MRI and they found a herniated disc at T2-T3 level. Does the pain get worse while sitting for long periods of time?
Very odd you mention the chest pain boosa as I have had a very odd pain as of recent that starts near my arm pits and now has become very painful on left part of chest. Almost as if when I breath it becomes more painful and eerie. As for Julie I had the thoracic mri and they said nothing wrong came out normal im very confused because I compared my results/films to online films and see an area at t8/t9 that has a hairline type mark from the nucleus of the disk to the spinal cord and when I compare it to different herniated pics it was very similar. My doctor said that the mri report read normal and that I was no doctor so she wouldnt look at my findings. I was obsessed with my films looking at them for 8 hours 3 st8 days lol as I was very weirded out by them saying I was fine and that was when i noticed the t8/t9. But once again I am no doctor. If anyone is familar with films I would like to email it to them and c if they c what i am. THANK YOU!!! BTW I LOVE THIS SITE. Very calming and everyone has been a pleasure!!
Very odd you mention the chest pain boosa as I have had a very odd pain as of recent that starts near my arm pits and now has become very painful on left part of chest. Almost as if when I breath it becomes more painful and eerie. As for Julie I had the thoracic mri and they said nothing wrong came out normal im very confused because I compared my results/films to online films and see an area at t8/t9 that has a hairline type mark from the nucleus of the disk to the spinal cord and when I compare it to different herniated pics it was very similar. My doctor said that the mri report read normal and that I was no doctor so she wouldnt look at my findings. I was obsessed with my films looking at them for 8 hours 3 st8 days lol as I was very weirded out by them saying I was fine and that was when i noticed the t8/t9. But once again I am no doctor. If anyone is familar with films I would like to email it to them and c if they c what i am. THANK YOU!!! BTW I LOVE THIS SITE. Very calming and everyone has been a pleasure!! Also Julie why would that not be seen on an MRI just wondering?? Mine was done without contrast if that makes any sense.
MRI is done laying down flat on the back. What my NS and I looked at were the xray views taken when I was curled fwd and extended backward. This shows instability for me (cervical also has some).It will also show the loss of disc height.
On my most recent MRI I had 2 NS in the same office looking at the disc's axial view (it was full of something like gas or fluid). The lateral view didn't look to bad. The other tests indicated positive for nerve problems and loss of strength.
My email is JulieAlv@msn.com
I find MRI viewing interesting, I would love to view yours- X-ray also if you have them.
Thanks,
Julie
MRI 12/07 L4-5 Herniated w/Nerve Impingment. L5/S1 Posterior Central Protrusions- indents @Thecal Sac. L4/S1 Moderate Facet Anthropy. 6/08 MRI and Flexion Extension Xrays- revealed grade 3 Retrolisthesis L5/S1, Spondy L4
Constant LBP and Bilateral Radiculopathy going on 17 months. PT, MT, Chiro, Traction, Selective Nerve Root Injections........ You name it I probably did it.
*****L4-S1 PLIF 7/28/08******* Considered a perfect success!
Newest problem: Shocking sharp pain in neck, shoulders and elbows, burning painful hands, and constant numbness/tingling in both hands.
MRI C6-7 disc protrusion with right lateral recess narrowing, C5-6 disc protrusion & spondylosis with bilateral neuralformen bony stenosis.
I am currently waiting for my neck surgery to be schedule ACDF C5/C6/C7- Insurance has required conservative treatment (PT and elecromagnetic therapy).
email sent of the problem i thought im having but would like some feedback on what you c thank you again!!!