Back Pain below left shoulder blade?!
Question: I have searched and searched on the internet, but not really found anything. I have not gone to the doctor yet, but willl make appointment. About a couple of months ago, I noticed a pain on the left side of my back about 4 or 5 inches to the left of my spine and just at the bottom of my left shoulder blade. It doesn't hurt all of the time. If I sit straight up (like your suppose to) it doesn't hurt. But, I don't sit like that all of the time. Anyway, when I take a deep breath or move wrong it hurts. It's not like a 10 pain. I've been to the chiropractor two times and it hasn't helped. I expressed my concern about my lung and he said it wasn't my lung, that it was probably a muscle. It's kind of like a mild burning pain and just a pain (don't know how to explain). Can anybody please let me know if they know what it could be?
Answers: I have searched and searched on the internet, but not really found anything. I have not gone to the doctor yet, but willl make appointment. About a couple of months ago, I noticed a pain on the left side of my back about 4 or 5 inches to the left of my spine and just at the bottom of my left shoulder blade. It doesn't hurt all of the time. If I sit straight up (like your suppose to) it doesn't hurt. But, I don't sit like that all of the time. Anyway, when I take a deep breath or move wrong it hurts. It's not like a 10 pain. I've been to the chiropractor two times and it hasn't helped. I expressed my concern about my lung and he said it wasn't my lung, that it was probably a muscle. It's kind of like a mild burning pain and just a pain (don't know how to explain). Can anybody please let me know if they know what it could be?
Hi Mommaq20
If you can sit straight and the pain eases, firslty it is nothing to worry about and unlikely to be your lung.
Most common cause of this is either a rib not moving correctly and the muscles around it being tighter - this will cause the pain if you bend slightly forward and take a deep breath in. Certain movements - especially twisting - will jam the rib head and make the pain worse.
It may also be a minor diaphragm tightness. The Diaphragm can refer to this area and has similar pain characteristics as the rib. Add in a few spinal joints not being 100% and it can become quite annoying.
Most Chiropractors (being one I should know) will not look at the rib cage and very few assess the diaphragm. In my practice both of these are very common with the pain you describe.
As to fixing it...
There are a few things you can do at home to ease it, some breathing techniques will help relax the diaphragm but you should try to get your entire spine to work better.
The link below will give you a few things to do which should ease things quickly. If you don't feel better, feel free to email me.
All the best
Dr Graeme Teague
It sounds kind of like what I have. Mine is on the right side and it doesn't hurt all the time. Does it bother you when you lift your arm up? Does it seem to crack if you just move your shoulder blade? It could be a rotor cup injury.
if youve started workin out with weights it could be that but dont get 2 stressed about it