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

[johnboat]

I used to experience mild pain in my back when swallowing cold fluids. Barium swallow revealed some seepage ( I guess reflux) back into esophagus. Doc said it was esophagitis. Did anti-acids for years. It seemed to subside when I stopped drinking a lot of beverages with meals, also when I stopped overeating. This was about 30 years ago. About a week or so ago I have started experiencing it again. I think it's time for me to cut down on drinks with meals and over eating again. I have experienced some recent regurge and wonder if that's my culprit. Good luck with your problem! ja

[Laveque]

Hi Healthylife,

It has been long since I did not come to the forum mbecause my problem is still continuing and it will be 2 years soon. Problems still have.
Pain when swallowing even my saliva , everyday . Without swallowing I also have severe pain in my neck and left back . Moreover when I bend my neck forward İT HURTS  soo much. Did your problem go? I have it for 2 years .

[Healthylife12]

I had the same problem it started out with my neck , when I would try to turn my neck around it would give my back right shoulder a pain , after like a week I was eating and when ever I swallowed a food it would give me a pinching pain in a back I think that is a back muscle problem because my muscle was hurting first ! But if u guys know what is it please write me

[shybutterfly4]

I am.wondering the same about menstruation affecting our situations more for the past 3 or 4 months i have gotten.very sick at some point n than i realize its around my pre-mentrual cycle this month my chest and bach hurt so.much and will not go.away i do not want to take pain medicine.because i dont want.to.aggravate my what ever is wrong with me as almost anything i eat does

[Laveque]

Hi my friend,

I have this constant pain for about a year. I have it also without swallowing and it rises upon swallowing at on specific point on my left shoulder blade area and also raditaing to my left arm .
Have you seen any doctor? And is your similar to what I am describing?

[simplymetx]

Wow ....I was really scared before I started reading about the pain everyone is going through. Mine is exactly the same; however, mine generated from waking up stress out knowing that I had two deadlines due and even though I knew I had them done, just the fact of thinking about them day and night.  I honestly believe that it is all stress related. I hurt when I swallow as well and I guess that is really what freaked me out.  I am going to try a couple of things and if it helps I will post.  Icy hot seemed to relieve some of the pain but not all the way.  Does anyones pain radiate to their arms?