suggest please

Hi all,

I am suffering from this pain from 6 months. here are the symptoms

Pain on my upper back i.e exactly on left scapular area and somtimes sudden elctric shock like sensation in that area.
if pain is more it radiates to left arm, feeling of heaviness
adduction and external rotation is painful
pain in axillary area sometimes.
pain in the area of trapezius muscle, a small like feeling if rubbed in that area.
can someone please suggest me, gone too physical therapy too.
Thanks,

Hi

Find someone who can assess your upper ribs.

There are many conditions that present like that including:

1. referral from cervical spine (neck)
2. referral from nerve caught somewhere
3. muscle strain (unlikely)
4. scar tissue pulling from lung if there is a history of trauma
5. rib dysfunction (my best guess)

hi dear,

without a physical examination there’s nothing to build on.

on the other hand, I am interested to know your sex (male/female) simply because in my practice I have had a patient with similar complaints; who eventually had a mammogram and was found to have fibroadenoma in the left breast and a small cyst in the right breast.

the reason why I wish to share this is because most physios always count on musculoskeletal causes ONLY;
muscles and bones — due to overexertion, inflammation, muscle tear/scarring, costochondritis etc.
nerve - due to nerve entrapment/impingement, nerve tumors such as neuroma, spinal nerve root compression, neuropathy and/or pain originating from intercostals, pleura etc.

well, this is just an eye opener, so kindly keep your options open and follow up accordingly.

cheers,

thomas

If pain persist, try hot packs and TENS on that area.. And then slowly have strengthening exercise.. I think you have weak muscles in that area..

Hi all,
Thanks for your suggestions.

I am a female 30 yrs old. I have undergone routine checkup by gynec, she said evy thing is fine.
If there is a rib dysfunction, is that can be find through x-ray?
when i use hot pack it gives me relief, but after some time pain again starts.
though muscle power is good, i feel my arm is weak. all movements r fine.
i cant keep my arm in adduction.
Physicaltherapist gave me tens one day and ultrasound therapy 2 days and 4 days some manipulations on my back, said my muscles r tight. i am having little bit of scoliosis.

thanks

HI, thanks for the information, but unless I am mi2ssing something

What incident caused this? Or did it come on gradually? When did it happen.

You mentioned pHysio so far, what changes have occured in this time line since start.

What is the 24 hour pattern of symptoms, what aggravates it, what eases it?

edit:
Ok just saw the last post:

6 months, what caused the initial problem

Is it the same problem today as it was 6 months ago?

Many of your symptoms sound chronic and neuropathy related, did you suffer trauma to the Trapezius?

As above again, how suvere is the pain, does it change? You mention it comes on in sharp bursts. What is the exact areas that the pain is occuring on, you mentioned ribs.
Regards

Hi help,

your condition sounds like ribs to me. All the symptoms you describe in your last post fit the picture.

XRays won't show a rib problem like what i think you have (myofascial/motor control/articular dysfunction) unless there is an obvious fracture. nor will any other scan.

It will take a physio or chiro or osteo trained in movement dysfunction of the thoracic spine - there aren't many around.

It is learning how to use the small msucles around your ribs that is important.

Good luck!

Hi,
alophysio- Thanks for the advice. my physicaltherapist also guessed that one of my rib may be causing the scapula to protrude, but not exactly diagnosed and told to do, streching exs and what ever movts that i feel good. r there any particular movements which i should avoid?

canuck physio- pain started 6 months back, dont remember any trauma incident but before that once i went to desert safari in which we went for dunes ride in a qualis, where i sat in a centre i.e no shoulder belt. at that no pain but exactly after one week pain started and that time it was only in the left arm, then i took proper rest and painkillers and it came down. it started coming again when sit for long time and some work in kitchen by lifing that arm. if iam ust lying down no pain.initially pain was not there in scapula but from 3 to 4 months its coming. morning and evening time its more, its not so severe but its disturbing and ranges from 6 to 8 on 1to 10 scale. i cant sit for long time i feel like supporting my neck and back. besides my neck (leftside trapezius)i fell small lump like feeling when i press it moves. iam not working, am a student i read most of the time.some imes pain only in back of neck and scapular area and someimes only the arm.