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What is causing my daily back and chest pain?!?

Posted , 8 users are following.

scottymar10
scottymar10

I'm a 33 year old male (with chronic fatigue syndrome). About 2 months ago I went down to a virus or something, which I have since recovered. I have almost all my energy back. The one thing I can't kick is the daily upper-mid back and chest pain.

it hurts right around the spine and under my shoulder blades. The pain often shoots into my chest as well. I went to ER twice and family doc multiple times in past few weeks. They say my heart and lungs are fine. It's refreshing to know it's not life threatening, but I still have no answers.

my pain usually gets worse over the course of the day. By 5 or 6 pm I'm in full blown hurt mode, racing to get home to a hot bath or heating pad. The only time I don't hurt is when I first wake up in the morning. 

I had 2 massages. The first went well. The second left me in bad pain on my left side all the way along the front, following the path of a rib.

i saw my chiro yesterday, who said I had a rib out of place and the massage therapist had rubbed on it too hard mistaking the rib head as a muscle knot and inflaming the muscles around it. He "lined everything up" and sent me home. However, today I'm hurting worse than before. I'm so sore.

i do notice sitting for long periods over a computer or driving long distances aggravate it. 

Heat seems to help more than ice.

ibuprofen does NOTHING to help it

The pain is a constant dull ache in the dead center of my spine that I can feel underneath shoulder blades and into my sternum.

it hits me EVERY SINGLE DAY usually starts around mid day and by late day is in full blown hurt mode until I get heat on it.

My chest will hurt too, if I lay down and put my tablet or laptop on it for more than a few minutes.

ive been dealing with this for about 6 weeks now. I thought made costochondritis, but I dunno if that would hurt mostly in my back. I'm not sure what it could be. Any thoughts? Or tips to relieve pain?

im a 33 year old  basketball coach who hasn't been able to be active for 2 months now since all this started, and it's making my life miserable.

1 like, 17 replies

17 Replies

  • scottymar10
    scottymar10

    Posted

    Also from time to time over past few weeks I get a dull ache/crampy pain in my right calf muscle... I dunno if it's linked to the issue or not but worse mentioning. 
  • pat38625
    pat38625 scottymar10

    Posted

    Hi, I am so sorry that you are feeling the way you are.  I am a fellow sufferer with ME/CFS 15 years now and last May June time I started to ache all over and put it down to something I have done in my sleep, turned over quickly or something.  It progressed slowly and I didn't pay much attention to it.  But then it gradually got worse and I was prescribed 1 weeks course of steroid and my body stopped aching.  But as soon as I finished the 7 day course, it was back again.  To cut a long story short I was diagnosed with PMR November '14 and was put on 20mg pred (steroid) and what a relief.  I could not get over the fact, that these little tablets could do so much in the way of pain relief.  At my worst, I could not turn in bed even to get 2 painkillers.

    I am not qualfied to give advice but I can empathise with you.  If it is PMR you have, nothing will touch the pain only steroids and that is a fact.  Some people who are further down the road than me will be along at some time to give you advice.  Regards Pat from Belfast, Northern Ireland.

    • scottymar10
      scottymar10 pat38625

      Posted

      What type of doctor would I see do diagnosis this? At this point my fam doc thinks it's just all in my head.
    • pat38625
      pat38625 scottymar10

      Posted

      Here in the uk it could be your own dr. or a referral from your own doctor to see a rheumatologist.  I have to go now, and I hope you get sorted out.  Keep in touch, this is a brilliant website with brilliant people on it.  Pat
  • artfingers
    artfingers scottymar10

    Posted

    and have them check your blood for elevated Creactive protein and Erythrocyte sedimentation rate.  Some people may still have PMR without having high levels of these blood levels, but most will have pretty high levels at least until they get onto pred.  Let's hope it is a quick answer for you, good luck.
    • scottymar10
      scottymar10 artfingers

      Posted

      My CPK level was 700 the first time they checked it. It since has dropped back down. Last 3 readings were in normal range. They never gave me an explanation for the initial spike. They just said "I wouldn't read too much into it"

      my rheumotologist said everything looked good on the tests he ran and just chopped everything up to mayofacial pain and chronic fatigue syndrome. 

      However, the ER doc did give me some prednisone to help with any swelling in my chest. I haven't taken any though. Should I try it to see if it helps? Last time I took those things they ripped my stomach apart haha, but I'm willing to give it a go again, if you think it might help

    • EileenH
      EileenH scottymar10

      Posted

      I think the thing you should be looking at is the rheumatologist's suggestion of myofascial pain syndrome. What you are describing really isn't typical of polymyalgia rheumatica - which is where you've landed.

      Google myofascial pain syndrome - if you can find someone who will treat you on the basis of that you may get some relief. For various reasons knots of inflamed muscle fibres form trigger points in pairs on either side of the spine: in the shoulders, in the low back and about rib level. The muscles go into spasm to protect themselves and other structures from pain and can lead to nerves being pinched or irritated and then causing referred pain, in the case of the mid back ones, into the ribs. 

      Massage done properly can mobilise the trigger points and improve the effect on the nerves, It sounds as if the therapist you saw mistook your rib for such a trigger point - although you would inititally probably feel worse before you felt better even if they had worked on a trigger point. Another approach is using cortisone and muscle relaxant injections but for that you need a doctor who will do it and I have no idea who you could approach (I assume you are in the USA?) and you obviously aren't going to get any help from your GP.

      I have had myofasial pain syndrome and was lucky enough to have a very good pain specialist here in Italy who believes in sorting out the underlying problem. Before I saw her, when I lived in the UK,  I used something called Bowen therapy - and I use it here too now the basic problem was sorted, but in the UK it kept me pretty well pain free and upright for years. A lot of people on the various polymyalgia forms (there are 3 based in the UK) have had what is probably a similar problem to you and have used Bowen successfully

      Since you appear to be n your own with this it makes sense for you to try a few sessions. If it is going to help you you will see a result in up to 3 sessions - it may not be a full improvement but there will be a difference that suggests it is worth persevering with. No change - it probably isn't going to help.

      Google Bowen4life and you will find a site that explains it and even has a video. It looks weird but it does work for many muscular problems. There are lists of therapists there or search Bowen therapists lists and you will get a couple of sites with links. It is worth a try.

  • scottymar10
    scottymar10

    Posted

    I do t even know what PMR is. 

    I will say this, my back pops and cracks like crazy when I lift my arms or roll my shoulders

  • artfingers
    artfingers scottymar10

    Posted

    PMR is Polymyalgia Rheumatica.  Google it and do a bit of research and read up on it on this site.  If you take the prednisone make sure you take it WITH food.  It can be an interesting test to take prednisone to see if it will help (15 mg is usually the starting dose). If it is PMR it typically is an instantaneous result.  But sometimes pred can mask other problems so following up w/the dr is important too.  I was so reluctant to take pred at first, but when I did, it solved the mystery of what I had been told was fibromyalgia (but wasn't really).  Good luck.
    • scottymar10
      scottymar10 artfingers

      Posted

      Thank you. 

      I looked up symptoms. I have some but not all. I don't run any fever. It says people feel stiff especially when getting out of bed. Usually when I wake up is when I feel the best. My pains start as the day go on, not get better as I move.

      do you think my rheumotologist would have caught this though? 

      I honestly don't know what type of doctor to go see to get help with this. My fam doc seems to think it's all in my head, so I can't even get a referral. I'm sure my anxiety doesn't help my symptoms, but I know 100% that it's not the cause of my pain everyday.

  • julian.
    julian. scottymar10

    Posted

    have you considered posture
    • scottymar10
      scottymar10 julian.

      Posted

      I have. I've been trying really hard to catch myself and correct it, but a lifetime of bad habits is hard to easily break. Haven't noticed a difference just yet
  • jane14277
    jane14277 scottymar10

    Posted

    Have you tried physiotherapy? Also I think Dr's say it's all in your head beause they don't know what it is. I have an older friend who's been in pain and not feeling herself since August. She's been given so many diagnosis even had an operation for carpal tunnel. After finally spending a week in hospital being tested, she has rheumatoid arthiritis, which runs in her family. Now medicated she's almost her old self and enjoying life again. It's not all in your mind that's just an insult.
    • scottymar10
      scottymar10 jane14277

      Posted

      I agree. I almost wish they'd MRI my back to check and see. All tests I've had so far are normal
    • michellenca19
      michellenca19 scottymar10

      Posted

      Did you ever find answers or have you gotten any relief?? I am experiencing the same exact pain and have been for 11 months now.
    • michellenca19
      michellenca19 scottymar10

      Posted

      Did you ever find any answers or relief? I have been dealing with the same pain for 11 months.
    • keny89863
      keny89863 michellenca19

      Posted

      Did you find any relief? I have the same symptoms.

      It will be appreciated

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