Pain between shoulders. Feels like muscle, but doesn't react to pain meds.

[Concerned-pa 17]

So about 3-4 weeks ago, I woke up in the middle of the night with pain and soreness that felt like a pulled muscle right between my shoulder blades. It was way worse lying on my side and it got to the point I had to get up and take some ibuprofen. It helped a little and I got some sleep, but it bothered me for almost a week and was always worse at night. Then it went away.

Sunday night, I was awoken again with the same pain, and it's a little worse than last time. It doesn't really seem to respond to Ibuprofen as well as Tylenol. There's not lumps, or tender spots, but it just feels like a really bad strain. However, I also woke up last night all sweaty, and I've just felt "off" since this started a few days ago. Typing this out sounds like a routine muscle strain, but the fact that pain meds don't help much, and it's way worse lying down has me wondering if it might be a tumor somewhere. I'm trying to talk myself off the ledge so to speak, but it's not improving 3.5 days later.

[Ironman 198]

On ‎6‎/‎9‎/‎2021 at 1:16 PM, Concerned-pa said:

So about 3-4 weeks ago, I woke up in the middle of the night with pain and soreness that felt like a pulled muscle right between my shoulder blades. It was way worse lying on my side and it got to the point I had to get up and take some ibuprofen. It helped a little and I got some sleep, but it bothered me for almost a week and was always worse at night. Then it went away.

Sunday night, I was awoken again with the same pain, and it's a little worse than last time. It doesn't really seem to respond to Ibuprofen as well as Tylenol. There's not lumps, or tender spots, but it just feels like a really bad strain. However, I also woke up last night all sweaty, and I've just felt "off" since this started a few days ago. Typing this out sounds like a routine muscle strain, but the fact that pain meds don't help much, and it's way worse lying down has me wondering if it might be a tumor somewhere. I'm trying to talk myself off the ledge so to speak, but it's not improving 3.5 days later.

Have you tried analgesic cream like Ben-Gay, Aspercreme, or Sportscreme?  Ibuprofen doesn't seem to react to muscle issues since it's not directly nerves.  If you pulled a muscle, you still kind of need to GENTLY stretch it so it doesn't cramp.   

[Concerned-pa 17]

2 hours ago, Ironman said:

Have you tried analgesic cream like Ben-Gay, Aspercreme, or Sportscreme?  Ibuprofen doesn't seem to react to muscle issues since it's not directly nerves.  If you pulled a muscle, you still kind of need to GENTLY stretch it so it doesn't cramp.   

Actually, Icy Hot and Voltaren helped some.

[Concerned-pa 17]

Going to see the doctor today. I actually was functioning pretty well yesterday. I unloaded to trailers of mulch, chased the boys around (although I could feel some tenderness when we were playing soccer in the yard). Went to bed and felt pretty good. Got a full nights sleep, but woke up this morning in pain again. Got up and moving around (soaked in the hot tub) and it's a little better. Oddly enough, the pain feels like it's on the other side of my spine more so today. It's always in the center-ish, but most days it feels more sore on my right side. This morning it's on my left.

[Ironman 198]

5 hours ago, Concerned-pa said:

Going to see the doctor today. I actually was functioning pretty well yesterday. I unloaded to trailers of mulch, chased the boys around (although I could feel some tenderness when we were playing soccer in the yard). Went to bed and felt pretty good. Got a full nights sleep, but woke up this morning in pain again. Got up and moving around (soaked in the hot tub) and it's a little better. Oddly enough, the pain feels like it's on the other side of my spine more so today. It's always in the center-ish, but most days it feels more sore on my right side. This morning it's on my left.

Did you stretch out after that activity.  Soreness can be from not doing that.  Your muscles went through all that activity and then nothing.  Lactic acid builds up and causes soreness.

[Concerned-pa 17]

55 minutes ago, Ironman said:

Did you stretch out after that activity.  Soreness can be from not doing that.  Your muscles went through all that activity and then nothing.  Lactic acid builds up and causes soreness.

No stretching. I went to the doctor today. They don't think it's muscle as they can't locate a tender spot. Thinking it might be spine related. Had an X-ray, but still waiting nervously on the results.

[Ironman 198]

3 hours ago, Concerned-pa said:

No stretching. I went to the doctor today. They don't think it's muscle as they can't locate a tender spot. Thinking it might be spine related. Had an X-ray, but still waiting nervously on the results.

Eek - more ominous.  Lifting things aggravated it.  I have issues like that when I shovel snow if I am not careful.  Lift with your legs, not your back. 

[Concerned-pa 17]

X Ray was clean.

[MARC 431]

Great news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ironman 198]

16 hours ago, Concerned-pa said:

X Ray was clean.

Wow.  That takes a lot out of the picture. 

2 hours ago, MARC said:

Great news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, surprise!

[Concerned-pa 17]

Just wondering what it could be...