Shoulder blade pain

[JanieBaxter]

Has anyone suffered excruciating shoulder blade pain? It wasn't a symptom when I was diagnosed with PMR 3 years ago. I'm currently on 5mg pred after a failed reduction last xmas and having to go back to 15mg and now reducing again.

[MrsNails]

Hi Janie

Shoulder pain can be a symptom of a shoulder injury or referred pain from elsewhere such as your Gall Bladder in your right shoulder blade or in your left shoulder blade, as in my case it’s a precursor to an Angina Attack, so for me it’s actually helpful.....

But, l have had two major shoulder issues in the past one being a torn subscapularis & the other an impingement that led to Surgery to decompress the subacromial space.

So it really needs to be checked out to see what’s going on.

Best Wishes & Kind Regards

MrsN

[SnazzyD]

A bit more info might help someone recognise it. What sort of pain? In bouts? When did it start? What activity do you do? Is there anything I that gets it going or makes it better? Certain times of day? That’s enough for starters 🙂

[JanieBaxter in reply to SnazzyD]

Hi its more a muscular pain as only hurts when I move or take a deep breath. It seems to be worse towards the end of the day when I would assume my pred is wearing off? It doesn't hurt when at rest but at night in bed when I try to turn over or raise myself it is agony. During the day it is an ache when I move certain ways. I am as I said on a taper programme so I am thinking about increasing a bit to see if it helps and that way I woud hopefully know if PMR related?

[SnazzyD in reply to JanieBaxter]

Might be worth a try. Is your doc happy for you to do trial and error? I don’t have PMR but others will probably comment. I think I’ve read a few times putting it up to 5mg for some days.

[Absentee01]

Hi Janie,

Shoulder pain was my first symptom of PMR: misdiagnosed for months as bursitis / arthritis / strain and treated unsuccessfully with physio, painkillers, etc. it was so excruciating I would cry trying to put on my bra. Pain spread to every joint with exhaustion and weight loss til PMR finally diagnosed. Prednisone gave immediate relief, though I’ve had some more shoulder twinges since tapering down.

Best of luck.

[JanieBaxter in reply to Absentee01]

Hi its more a muscular pain as only hurts when I move or take a deep breath. It seems to be worse towards the end of the day when I would assume my pred is wearing off? It doesn't hurt when at rest but at night in bed when I try to turn over or raise myself it is agony. During the day it is an ache when I move certain ways. I am as I said on a taper programme so I am thinking about increasing a bit to see if it helps and that way I woud hopefully know if PMR related?

[Absentee01 in reply to JanieBaxter]

...sounds very much like my experience: I had to prop my arms up on pillows at night and I couldn’t turn over without intense pain. I once had to ask my husband to lift my arm back up when it slipped behind me in bed. It was Misery. Without any knowledge of PMR I assumed it was muscular pain.

[AussieMel]

I got bursitis in my shoulder a few months ago. It came on as a general ache but got more specific as time wore on.

I ended up needing a steroid shot in my shoulder which, thankfully, worked.

[mmer8625]

Hi JanieBaxter

I had excruciating shoulder blade pain in both shoulders for about 3 years. It turned out I had an under active thyroid and my vitamin D was very low. Once I got on thyroid meds and increased my vit D level from 34 to over 70 all the pain cleared up and I have not had it since. Vit D is for bones. Are your vitamins and minerals optimal?

[Miserypants]

I had excuciating shoulder pain and kept seizing up, once in front of the dr! Still told me it was muscular even though he knew I had osteospirosis.! Three months later he agreed to a thoracic xray and turned out to be wedge fractures of T6 and T7! In a back brace for 6 weeks as T 7 unstable. Still have painful episodes. Scoliosis no helping, all shown up on MRI.

[tangocharlie]

My problems all started with arm pain which was actually a sign of a frozen shoulder. Somehow PMR followed on from that. So it looks like arm pain can be a sign of all sorts of things

[Marilyn1959]

I have excruciating shooting pain in right shoulder blade at present. However it was originally in base of spine, then slightly higher to the right of spine, now at shoulder blade. It manifests in really sharp spasms that take your breath away, so am putting it down as muscular. Been going on for a few weeks now. No pain laying down or at rest at night time. Overdue more pain block injections at base of neck, which may help. If you do speak to doctor let us know outcome as I am interested in the cause.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Marilyn1959]

Does it relate to acitions - like leaning forwards, even slightly? For me the initial base of spine pain would be sacroiliac joint-related, advancing to the lats (latissimus dorsi muscle) and then to sround the shoulderblade ...

Myofascial pain syndrome to blame - see below

[Marilyn1959 in reply to PMRpro]

Having read info, it is highly likely it is myofascial pain. Have had pain block injections previously (6 at base of neck across top of shoulders), which lasted about six months. Interestingly my consultant rang me, as lockdown was easing, to ask if I needed some more. Stupidly I was concerned as I was still shielding and was in no pain at the time, so I said leave it for the time being! Have requested telephone appointment and now have to wait for that call in November! Should have booked it in when he called previously. Bah humbug!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Marilyn1959]

Know the feeling! I will have a pain clinic session where we decide we can leave it this time but well before the next I'm muttering ...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

healthline.com/health/shoul...

It COULD be related to PMR if you have myofascial pain syndrome along with it (I do).

spineuniverse.com/condition....

[karegodd]

Morning from Canada. I’ve had PMR for 3 and 1/2 years. Currently at 6 mg prednisone. Have stopped tapering for now because my worst symptom of shoulder blade pain and pain in the upper trapezius area was getting so bad. My body told me to pause on the taper and it is liking staying put at 6 mg. I get monthly massages and it is always the should blade region which is the worse. I really think it is poor blood flow to the rotator cuff muscles which sit under and on top of the shoulder blade as well as the larger muscles that stabilize the shoulder blade. It makes sense to me. Other areas like hips pelvis neck and even rib cage were a lot worse in the first couple of years and will flare with an imbalance of physical and or mental/emotional stress. Good luck to you and you are not alone with your shoulder blade pain. 😊

[Phoenix51]

Just this morning! I woke up in early hours with terrible pain in my left shoulder blade. Have no idea why. I am now lying with a hot water bottle under my shoulder blade. Once I get into a comfortable position I am almost pain free but as soon as I move I’m in such pain. I’m on 15mg Pred and two weeks ago started on MMF. on Friday I started with a sore throat and headache and generally very tired. Sore throat has gone but headache still there and now shoulder blade pain. Feeling sorry for myself 🙄I hope you get some answers and your pain lessens. Take care

[Phoenix51 in reply to Phoenix51]

Forgot to say, I have osteoporosis too

[Classic_yellow]

Hi, I have had really similar symptoms for 9 years on and off my latest flare-up gas lasted 8 weeks. I am age 27 and have never had a diagnosis stick. Rheumatologist is beginning to convince me it's phantom pains from a surgery to drain pericarditis. Pain killers have not touched it but I do get done relief from chiropractors.