Diagnose me. Upper back chronic pain.

[Anonymous]

I had a double mastectomy and reconstruction in 2016. By 2018, I had nagging pain in between my shoulder blades, mostly left. My PCP was very dismissive and although we ran a few tests, nothing came of it. By 2020 my pain had become kind of unbearable. I started the round of orthopedic surgeons, spine surgeons, chiropractors, PT, massage therapists, etc. Thoracic outlet became the diagnosis, but didn’t really ring true because my arms do not hurt or have issues. Now today in 2024, the pain has now turned into more pain and now intense stiffness throughout my upper back. I try many things, but I mostly get on with it and suffer while being functional but miserable. I’d appreciate any new ideas. Can a chronic injury turn into a chronic inflammation issue?

[Anonymous]

I had this but to a lesser degree than it sounds like you’re dealing with.

In my case, I had an underlying infection and my body was freaking out. Once the infection got better (in my case it was valley fever), it went away. But it took about a year for this all to play out.

I took a lot of Epsom salt baths and swimming helped too. I also took turmeric. These things didn’t really solve it but maybe helped a bit

[Anonymous]

Do you work on a computer?

[Anonymous]

It may be referred pain meaning it’s coming from a different area. I would go get a neuromuscular massage from a PT and ask if they can do dry needling. This worked wonders for me.

[Anonymous]

Try some different physical therapists. Cupping and an out of network PT helped my lower back after 1.5 years of pain.

Agree with referred pain. My problem was related to my hip.

Sorry no longer in the area so no recs.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]I had a double mastectomy and reconstruction in 2016. By 2018, I had nagging pain in between my shoulder blades, mostly left. My PCP was very dismissive and although we ran a few tests, nothing came of it. By 2020 my pain had become kind of unbearable. I started the round of orthopedic surgeons, spine surgeons, chiropractors, PT, massage therapists, etc. Thoracic outlet became the diagnosis, but didn’t really ring true because my arms do not hurt or have issues. Now today in 2024, the pain has now turned into more pain and now intense stiffness throughout my upper back. I try many things, but I mostly get on with it and suffer while being functional but miserable. I’d appreciate any new ideas. Can a chronic injury turn into a chronic inflammation issue?[/quote]

Do you have knots in your upper back?

Are you concerned it's a return of the cancer?

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. The surgery was prophylactic. I do not work on a computer or have bad task posture. I’m puzzled that this was seemingly a localized problem that has become chronic and progressive. I had my pain doctor check out Lyme possibility, but he used the standard testing and that came out negative. I guess my next stop should be a rheumatologist. Who knows. I have no time or patience for this pain. Haha.

[Anonymous]

Mine was an entrapped nerve and the pain up presently worse throughout the day or if I sat for a long period period. Dry needling helped immensely I could not believe it.

[Anonymous]

Acupuncture works wonders for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Acupuncture works wonders for me.

Who do you see?

[Anonymous]

My husband had a collapsed disc in his neck and the pain was most severe under the shoulder blade

[Anonymous]

Try Bethesda physiocare if you are local. This sounds like myofascial pain and can be treated with dry needling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Acupuncture works wonders for me.

Who do you see?

I’m outside of Boston so can’t help with that. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Is it worse in the morning before you get up and improves with movement?

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]I had a double mastectomy and reconstruction in 2016. By 2018, I had nagging pain in between my shoulder blades, mostly left. My PCP was very dismissive and although we ran a few tests, nothing came of it. By 2020 my pain had become kind of unbearable. I started the round of orthopedic surgeons, spine surgeons, chiropractors, PT, massage therapists, etc. Thoracic outlet became the diagnosis, but didn’t really ring true because my arms do not hurt or have issues. Now today in 2024, the pain has now turned into more pain and now intense stiffness throughout my upper back. I try many things, but I mostly get on with it and suffer while being functional but miserable. I’d appreciate any new ideas. Can a chronic injury turn into a chronic inflammation issue?[/quote]

My mom had intractable back pain for about 20 years, and it turned out to be the metastatic breast cancer that killed her.

I’d pay out of pocket for the Grail Galleri liquid biopsy screen test, then get every cancer test ever if the Galleri test is positive.