Upper back pain with more pain when swallowing

[JustineB]

I am a hairstylist, age 41 and female. I have been doing hair 23 years, but recently purchased the salon I have been working at and my workload tripled.

Anyway....my upper back is always in pain from keeping my arms elevated when cutting hair and also using a very heavy blowdryer in my left hand.  
Recently (about a month ago) my neck began to do a weird snap, crackle, pop as I turned my head slowly, kind of like if you were checking traffic before pulling out, or just turning your head to talk to someone etc. It would only do it maybe a couple times a day, or skip a couple days and then happen again.  Shortly after that I began to expericence some neck pain, and upper back pain.

Within a few days of that, I began to feel pain in that region (upper back by shoulder blades) when I swallow food. As the food passes that area where my back hurts it sort of intensifies that pain I already felt. I tried to blow it off thinking it was a pulled muscle, that I had slept wrong, or it was from my new hairdryer that weighs a ton. I kept waiting for it to stop, but it still has not gone away.  I then began to worry and looking up stuff on the internet. All of the people I talk to whether friends, family, or clients have never heard upper back pain and then pain in back when swallowing.
So if any of you have had this or have known someone who had this I would be interested in hearing from you. I went to Urgent Care and they took a Chest X-ray and and EKG and were normal.   So it's not my lungs, chest or heart. I think it has something to do with my neck popping and then the pain I already have in my shoulder area all the time.
Does anyone know if this could be a nerve?

Please send me a private message or comments here. thank you! JB

[Yolopurple]

Well I visited this site a few days ago when I was having the same problems. Pain when I swallow that I can feel passing through my upper back and feeling like something is constantly stuck in my throat. I started to comment but just gave it a few days. I've been having this problem all week but today it completely stopped. I noticed the last few days I did nothing but BURP! Then I realized, it was acid reflux and the burping was a sign it was clearing. I never went to the doctor but I slowed down eating and avoided foods that would aggravate it. I hope its gone now. But anyway I hope that this is the same for some of you.

[ladymichele]

I have the same thing mine is due a spur growing on c5 and c6 which is growing into my throat I now may need surgery to fis the problem , I also start choking uncontrollably for no reason , I don't know if that also happens to u maybe this will help

[ScienceJ]

This is so annoying, I also experience the problem (obviously why I am here), and at first I thought something got stuck down my througth..then i thought something scractched it and damage my internals (i was getting desperate for a cause), now i am starting to think it is cause I am using a different chair since our company relocated... But how does that cause a pain that causes sleepless nights??? I am starving, but dont want to eat...
Hope we find an anwser soon...

Thank care

[youngfree22]

i am 15 and am having the same problem!!!!!!! did you find the answer?

[SupremeHealer]

6 hours ago, i discovered i had same problem  when i swallow.   I had a feeling that there is a tumor in the spinal cord or nerve that caused the pain.  
Make hard boil egg.  Roll it in the painful area to melt tumor.  Do it often and longer.  See if it works.  

[sourdough]

to  all who have issues with shoulders neck and scapula, yes it can wreck your life. I am finally gaining on my problems after nine years and eight surgeries ,long thoracic nerve damage, torn labrum  bankart tear and   many  others.finding the right doctors is key.mri with dye contrast is important. good luck and don't give up   carl