Mid/Upper back pain on one side

[spill]

For about the past three months, I have been experiencing a sharp pain between my left shoulder blade and my spine. It occurs when I put my shoulders back, put my shoulder down, take a really deep breath/sneeze/cough, and anything that uses the muscles in that area. I have no pain when sleeping. I don't remember doing anything to cause the pain, just noticed it one day.

So far I have tried heat (very little relief), STIM (no relief), deep-tissue massage (very little relief), chiropractic care (no relief), and stretching (often causes pain) and strengthening (causes pain). The pain is different than what I would associate with a knot in my back or muscular strain. It is a very sharp pain.

I'm really not sure what I should do at this point. Continue with chiropractic care and stretching/strengthening? Or see an orthopedist? I would like to know what could possibly be wrong or causing the pain.

[Tom Plamondon PA-C]

Hello,

Interscapular pain can be quite bothersome and difficult to treat. I would think a muscular problem would have responded to the modalities you mentioned.

This may be a problem of the thoracic spine itself or of the attachments of the ribs to the thoracic spine.

Consider doing an MRI of the area since conservative treatment has failed.

Keep us posted.