Severe pain in left shoulder blade.

[Brychni]

Bore da!

Last night I had possibly the most severe pain so far which woke me up several times.

It started under my left shoulder blade and radiated to the front and sides of my upper ribcage and all the way down my arm. I tried changing positions but it didn't help and at one point I did think I needed to call an ambulance.

I got up a second time and took a naproxen 500mg and managed to get back to sleep. No pain this morning but it was really worrying.

Has anyone else had this and is it likely to be related to inflammatory arthritis?

[charisma]

No. I do get severe L shoulder pain when RA is not subdued adequately but it is permanent, not transitory.

It also strikes around the top of the shoulder-clavicle-sternum rather than what you describe.

I think it might be wise to call 111. The NHS is concerned about the decrease in calls for such symptoms. Stay safe and please get advice. x

[bubblyalex]

I have costochondritis and that is anywhere around my sternum and all the way to the back ... under control at the moment but basically anywhere there is cartilage. Naproxen is my go to pill for this. I have back chest and arm stretches which have helped this a lot.

[Hidden]

Yes I often wake with shoulder pain. I sleep on my left side and the right side hurts. I think it falls forward. I have bought a support pillow for me knees and put this in front of my shoulder when I wake it takes the weight of the shoulder. It does help

[Brychni in reply to Hidden]

it feels like it's coming from the inside - if you know what I mean?

[bubblyalex in reply to Brychni]

Yes I think I do. It was underneath and inside. I had this for ages and am slightly worried it will come back with moving meds around. We’ll see. Do talk to your doc though. Not a lot they can do if it is costo sorry to say but this is where physio stretches helped a lot.

[oldtimer]

It's difficult when the pain is on the left side and goes down the arm. I think I would have been tempted to call 999 under those circumstances.

I'm almost grateful when it's on the other side - then I know it's not a heart attack.

But don't ignore this type of pain - we're not immune from having a heart attack because the pain is more likely to be our Rheumatoid Disease.

[allanah]

I think just in case call 111, it can be cardiac or inflammatory. They can check u out quickly

[Brychni in reply to allanah]

nothing will happen 'quickly' here. Everything is so far away! 😫

[charisma in reply to Brychni]

Are you nervous of calling? Best just do it. Not worth taking risks. And if it is something treatable, you will get proper care in that way too.

[Brychni in reply to charisma]

I feel fine now, well I still have lingering pains in back of ribs but I get that all the time. Also, I have always struggled to take deep breaths - it seems normal for me.

[charisma in reply to Brychni]

You will know best what is normal.

[bubblyalex in reply to charisma]

Agreed.

[Brychni in reply to charisma]

You've hit the nail on the head - it's not normal but so many of my pains are not normal but the progression of inflammatory arthritis. I'm sure I read somewhere that pain at night is quite a common feature of RA?

[charisma in reply to Brychni]

Only if not controlled adequately with DMARDs. The only pain I ever had down an arm was due to the shoulder-breastbone-collarbone and neck joints under attack. And it went away only with better drug therapy. x

[Brychni in reply to charisma]

I'll have to wait for the hydroxychloroquine to take effect then. It's only been 5 weeks!

[bubblyalex in reply to Brychni]

Same here. I’m asthmatic. Since the Costco if I sneeze cough laugh it’s Like an explosion going off in my chest 😏

[Billybongos]

Not good but I find getting up n doing something take Ur mind off it helps n a hot water bottle ...hope it easy soon xx

[KittyJ]

If it happens again I would call an ambulance, better to get checked out to reassure you it’s nothing serious.

[allanah]

But call anyway !!

[Nicanoo]

Helo

I've had this too, absolutely awful. Go lie in a bath, as hot as you can bare it really helped me. Also a hot water bottle, these flares aren't permanent and can be stress related. Pob lwc ar y taith, nos da

[Brychni]

Diolch yn fawr, Nicanoo. Not sure I know the difference between just joint pain and a flare. The shoulder thing was absolutely the worst though. If it happens again I will certainly try the hot water bottle, or I might get grain bags for microwave.

With you was it for a long time or sporadic? I've noticed that as it's died down I am left with reduced movement.

Nos da.