Here's the scoop: your problem is NOT in your back! Your problem is in your NECK! Everyone has been looking in the wrong place! The nerves in the spinal cord exit the spine in the neck and go down the arm, and everyone understands that a ruptured disc can cause pain to radiate down the arm - but small branches from several levels break off, join together, and go down along the sides of the spine as the "long thoracic nerve". I know this from personal experience. As a family physician I did not know about this, and my pain started in the middle of the night feeling like someone was stabbing me in the back - but my wife was sleeping soundly. My doc - who is a very competent sports medicine physician - examined my back, and even did some injections in my back. He ordered a thoracic MRI, which the radiologists interpreted as normal. My pain was becoming excruciating. I took my MRI films to a radiologist that I know for review - he put them on the view-box and within two seconds said: "there's your problem" - pointing up to the neck which was visible in one of the vertical images. I had a huge ruptured disc. He explained about the long thoracic nerve. I ended up having surgery. Since then I have had dozens of patients with pain inside the shoulder blades - and when I say we need to do an MRI of the neck they look at me like I am an idiot....... But I am an idiot that learns! So - go back and ask about a neck MRI. And this would certainly explain why you have pain when you bend your head forward! Good luck with this! Also - interestingly - Dr. Andrew Holman, a rheumatologist in Seattle, has posted on here about his research which shows that a large number of people diagnosed with fibromyalgia actually have disc problems causing spinal stenosis (narrowing on the spinal cord) in the neck.
I really do appreciate the quick response, so yeah I have known it was my neck for a couple years now. So here is my reasoning for waiting this long to reach out and am so glad that someone with experience responded. Despite the pain I am still very active, lifting weights, men's softball, and golf and so on. Was your mobility affected in the surgery? Any pros and cons would be greatly appreciated. Like I said I am very thankful for your time given in that explanation.
Um that very much does sound like neck related pain. I would highly recommend a repeat MRI but include your cervical spine and thoracic with and without contrast.I have deformities in my cervical spine I am still very active I just can't bend in certain ways.
Thank you. i am just scared of what they may find. I don't know if I am willing to take a reduction in my life style. Don't know how long I could be off work or afford it