Shooting pain in Right Shoulder, need Suggestions

@AmbiePam (85958)
United States
December 15, 2007 5:48pm CST
About two hours ago there was a small pain under my right shoulder blade on my back. It's now so bad I can't turn to the right at all without excrutiatiing pain. I can't find my capzasin, and besides Excedrin I don't have anything to help the pain. I can't get out right now, because the snow storm they have been promising has arrived. Perhaps tomorrow I can go. I don't have a corn bag to heat either. I'm just wondering if someone could know what would do that so suddenly? Sure, I have back and neck problems, but not in this area, not underneath my shoulder blade. If anyone has any suggestions I'm open to them. If this doesn't go away by Monday I'm going to go see someone about it if I can get out of the parking lot. I just want to howl right now. Someone care to help whiny old me?
3 people like this
8 responses
• United States
16 Dec 07
I definitely suggest going to a doctor. Have you tried icing it or maybe using a hot water bottle or a heating pad to help with pain? I'm not sure if that would help but it may. You never know unless you try I guess.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (85958)
• United States
16 Dec 07
I don't have anything to use to put heat on it, but I could put ice on it. It occurred to me it could be my fibromyalgia, but I've never had fibro pain so concentrated. That you for the advice.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Dec 07
Some variation of a wash rag with warm water in a ziploc bag?
1 person likes this
@peanutjar (5198)
• Canada
16 Dec 07
Hi AmbiePam,have you exerted yourself somehow by lifting,pulling or even moving the wrong way by sitting in a chair?I get something like this when i sit on a chair/couch and have my body crouched sideways,i get a muscle cramp or stabbing pain in my muscle bhind my shoulder blade.I take a warm bath and soak it in the water and relax.It tends to go away after that or rub some muscle cream reliever on your shoulder blade where the pain is.I dont know what else i could say other than do go see a doctor who can determine it correctly.Hope it goes away and also that you do not get alot of snow! Peanutjar:)
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (85958)
• United States
16 Dec 07
I hope we don't get a lot of snow either. It's pretty at first, but then gets dirty and troublesome. : )
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
17 Dec 07
Sounds like a nerve is oversensitive, or something has irritated it. I dont know what your current neck & back problems are, and it may be related to this. Do you have a hot water bottle? What about a soak in the bath? Sorry I cant be more helpful.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85958)
• United States
17 Dec 07
You are very helpful.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
17 Dec 07
Ambie, my husband is an ER tech, he said to try Motrin and Tylenol. If you have rice, but it in a pillowcase and fold it down to appropriate size and heat in microwave. Also, try try a good old fashion hot shower. I hope you are feeling better by now...btw - the 8 inches that they promised us in the storm has fizzled down to about 3 inches...very depressing.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85958)
• United States
17 Dec 07
Thank you! You were hoping for the full 8 inches? : ) After all the hoopla, we didn't even get an inch. The ice storm last week was way worse than this. Today was nothing. : )
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
16 Dec 07
I'll have to review this a bit more, but if you can Ambie, for now try to rest up. Place a pillow underneath the shoulder area when laying down so the pain won't be as intense. You could also put ice along with this to see if it'll numb the pain for awhile. I still say rest up for a bit, maybe overnight and see if your body starts taking care of it by itself (happens for me enough times).
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85958)
• United States
16 Dec 07
Thank you programer. I'm glad to see you!
• Australia
16 Dec 07
If you have nothing else to help, then get in a warm shower and slowly move the shoulder around. I dislocated my shoulder about 10 years ago, and still get pain from it now. It sounds like you could have pulled a muscle. Maybe you have spent way too much time here chatting away! lol. I know I get sore hands when I do!
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85958)
• United States
16 Dec 07
It very well could be the chatting! But I think it was more of me lifting heavy things. This morning around 4am I couldn't take it, so I went to the ER. I drove one handed of course. : ) It got to where I couldn't lift my arm or sleep, so I wanted to get it taken care of. My regular doc only works Thursdays so I couldn't see him for a long time (four days would seem long to me). Turns out it was muscle spasms due to frequent heavy lifting as well as to partial dehydration. I drink more than 8 glassses of water a day, but a couple meds deplete me of it quickly. Anyway, he felt the tightness and this huge knot which I could feel with my good arm. So he gave me something that should take care of it. I'm not supposed to lift more than 5 pounds due to a prior accident, but even lifting one bag of light groceries is more than that! When you're single, you have to depend on yourself. : ) It's not like anyone, single or not, has a butlet hanging around.
@AmbiePam (85958)
• United States
17 Dec 07
Will do!
• Australia
17 Dec 07
I hope it gets better for you soon. And if you do find that butler lying around, ask him if he has a brother that you could send our way! lol.
1 person likes this
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
16 Dec 07
It's possible that you have a rib out. Were you coughing, if so, that could do it. If you can't get out to see someone who could help you, maybe you could try the excedrin, and try to relax, and maybe the pain will ease up. You could try getting a towel wet with warm water, wring it out and place it on the sore area, or just get in the shower and let the warm water run over it, and see if that helps. Usually if you have a new injury, it's better to use a cold compress, to help reduce inflammation. Whatever feels better for you, either heat or cold is probably OK. I hope you get some relief soon.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85958)
• United States
16 Dec 07
I HAVE been coughing today. I went outside an hour ago and it was freezing. I noticed the pain was better when I was outside. I guess the cold compress might be the best thing to do. I just want to get rid of the pain, it's unlike anything I've felt before. Thank you for your advice, I appreciate it!
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
16 Dec 07
Sorry I can't help! I wish I could give you instant relief but I can't.....dang!
1 person likes this