Left shoulder blade muscle... stinking, sharp, burning pain

[mightymouse23]

I get this extremely bad knot in my left shoulder blade muscle area....between the blade and my spinal chord area... when i stuff envelopes or cook or fish.. it gets excruciatingly bad.. i know its just one of the muscles.. but why is it ONLY the LEFT side all the time and how can i minimize the pain because it gets to where i cant hold my head up sometimes.  It was knotted so bad the other day, it started to make my neck have a numbing/stinging excruciating feeling going up my spine from the beginning sore spot.. i just dont know how to cure it...

[PPNH]

I'm sorry. but there is no sure-fire exercise that is going to help you - you have already discovered that exercise makes it worse. You have an injury that needs time to heal. I recommend you use ice, moist heat, anti-inflammatories and rest.

Please take it easy.

[raven303]

Thank you for making the comment you are not fat - I am either and have the same problem.  I thought the insensitive comment the other "poster" made was inappropriate.  I am 5'3 and 100 lbs. and have terrible upper back issues caused by whiplash but the same symptoms as you all seem to have.  I have found the shoulder exercises make it worse.  I am willing to try these exercises I have read about.   The dr. I have been seeing has helped my neck but then the upper back issue flared up.  The day after my appt. last week, I felt as though a mack truck hit me.  Very difficult to lift or pull on anything.  Need a sure-fire exercise that will help this fast!  Anyone!?

[PPNH]

Please read what I wrote on November 24, 2009 on how to treat an active trigger point in the serratus posterior superior muscle. The trick to exposing this trigger point is to move the shoulder blade aside (abduct) by reaching your arm across your body.

Another trick is to find the key trigger point. As you have experienced different muscles can be affected. If you can find the source it will eliminate all of your problems.

Roll around on tennis balls to find the spot. You'll know when you hit it because it will produce a pain that is highly sensitive. Let your body weight add the pressure.

Use heat to relax muscles and cold to relieve pain & inflammation.

Good luck!

[PPNH]

The trigger point may be under your shoulder blade.

[PPNH]

Apply ice. What happened nine days ago?

[redleg64]

I need some help.  Eight days ago, when I got up in the morning.  I rolled my shoulders back while taking a deep breath.  I had a shooting pain in the middle of my shoulder blades  which wrapped around to my sternum.  Pretty intense pain I may add.  It went away and I thought everything was OK.  During the day, I noticed pain in the muscle group next to the spinal column.  Then I noticed pain under the left shoulder blade, and finally I noticed pain in the neck at the Adams Apple level.  ( I believe this is the left anterior scalene muscle based on what I have read here).  I have seen my chiropractor three time and the pain is still with me and getting worse.  Not able to sleep at night, hurts when sitting, burning sensation in the muscles.  I am fit and healthy 6' 185lbs.  I have slight pain when I take a breath in next to the thoracic vertebrae where this all started.  I have read and printed out your advice on Left Anterior Scalene Muscle trigger points, and Serratus Posterior Superior Muscle trigger point.  Is there anything I can to to reduce the pain in the large muscle group running up and down the side of the spinal column near especially in the thoracic area. ( Behind the heart)?  Where it the trigger point to reduce tightness in the muscle group.  This area also hurts when I bent my chin to my chest.  Thanks.  Jim