Back and shoulder aches

F

FairyScarlet

New member
I'm new to this but here goes:
I've had this back and shoulder problem for some time now. at times it gets so painful I'm up half the night trying to get rid of the pain using the normal drug (paracetamol) to help. I've been to see my GP and even a physio- therapist. I respect their profession and, in part, some of their medical advice. I have even been to specialists who have used their magical wands (the ultra-scan machine) with no help what so-ever. For my comfort I was sent a $500.00 bill for a time that lasted no longer than 45 minutes.
Here's my question: If there is anyone out there who has been going through what I am going through right now and has found some relief. It would be great to know what or how you conquered this problem. This whole thing is making me 'dizzy'.:dizzy:
 
Well, it could be a lot of things. Have they done x-rays or other tests to try and figure out exactly what's wrong? Have you gotten a diagnosis of some kind? Do you know what sorts of things tend to make your pain worse? Where exactly is it, or does it seem to move around?

You say you had ultra-scan, do you mean you had an ultrasound treatment to relieve pain? Generally ultrasound isn't considered all that effective, though a few people got relief.

I've had back/shoulder pain for 11 years now, and it took a while to get answers. Some doctors claimed I had something called fibromyalgia, others said my symptoms weren't serious enough to qualify. Right now, I have a fairly simple treatment plan that works well most of the time. Because a lot of my pain is from muscles, I exercise and stretch my back and shoulders twice a day every day. I get massage every week--expensive, but it helps. And I also take a drug called nortriptyline. It's not a painkiller, but it does relieve pain.

In terms of immediate pain relief, you might want to try heat or ice. I also find that the topical medicines such as Aspercreme or Icyhot help a lot.

Finally, I try to keep good posture and not sit in awkward positions. If I'm working at a desk, I try to get up and move around often.
 
great advice jane. i just wanted to add something tho. if this has been an ongoing issue with no real Dx or relief, simply obtaining an MRI ON that shoulder would be able to actually show that very important rotator cuff area with its many tendons and other structures within it down to that shoulder joint that CAN become damaged over time with only alot of ongoing wear and tear?

many many people just end up with alot of wear and tear damage to the tendons over time just lifting moving things or if you have played alot of sports like softball or bowling for any real length of time, that too matters as it requires rather ongoing and continued overuse of that rotator cuff to just even 'do' alot of this type of stuff. i completely snapped my very top tendon a few years ago(this just IS the MOST commonly torn of all tendons in the rotator) and had no clue as to how bad things really were in mine til i had a very revealing MRI done on my shoulder. i had alot of just wear and tear type injuries with some other tearing in the tendon right beneath the one that was tearing and finally snapped in half one morning on me just lifting up something that only wieghed around maybe like seven pounds? insane really how that much damage could have been going on in there, but i DID have reocurring pain there too.

this just could very simply "be' at least some level of real actual tendon/ligament/muscle damage among other possibles in that shoulder area that is creating alot of ongoing inflammation and of course the pain that comes along with this type of injury. i would see about just getting that one MRI done tho. at least you would know if this was or was not the base of the problems.

when you mention the 'back" problems? is this IN that upper area too like c spine or are you talking your lower spinal levels? just wondering what areas of the back you are referring to. if you could explain all the symptoms you are actually having and where, it would really help us to better help you here. like do you have ANY actual loss of any range of motion in that arm/shoulder area at all or is anything just too painful to actually move into any ROMS? that would in most cases be a huge indicator of possible rotator involvement/damage. FB
 
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