shoulder pain PMR or costocondritis?

[AnniesRyder5]

I recently ranted about having to jump the queue to get a suprascapular nerve block (avoiding a 12 month waiting list ) rather than reverse shoulder surgery which is a massive procedure in comparison .

I’m scheduled to go on Monday costing £5k so far which is annoying in itself but Crohn’s and reflux make taking painkillers counterproductive.

The doctor can’t guarantee the pain will disappear nor will the swelling or range of movement improve. But I’ve decided to give it a go. Meanwhile I’m tapering but I’ve been struggling and so I’m sticking at 6mg for a while.

However my additional gripe is the supposed non related pain in the same shoulder but lower down in the shoulder blade. It’s so painful I can’t sit back on it. The pain doctor thinks it’s costocondritis and gave me a private prescription for lidocaine patches but so far they haven’t touched the pain

Now I’m wondering could it be our friend PMR?

It seems it’s all guesswork - suck it and see !

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I don't think either my physio or pain specialist would class the shoulder blade pain I get as costochondritis. Wrong place! I will agree that sternal pain from costochondritis can radiate into the back between the shoulder blades but I think you have to have the chest pain first. I didn't find lidocaine patches a lot of use except for spasmed muscles and that was a very different pain.

[AnniesRyder5 in reply to PMRpro]

thank you Madam ambassador. I must admit I was diagnosed with costocondritis years ago after a bout of flu and the pain was at the front in my chest. Do you have an opinion what this shoulder blade pain is?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to AnniesRyder5]

Mine is due to spasmed back muscles. Our back muscles have a lot to do to keep up upright - I have almost no pain while sitting in a well supported position but depending on how bad the tight muscles are, standing or walking when I have to put strain on the back muscles starts it off.

injurymap.com/articles/shou...

No1 there mentions myofascial pain and how to deal with it - that is my problem 99% of the time and my physio here is awfully good at identifying where!

[Karendeena in reply to PMRpro]

PMRpro I get muscle spasms that are excruciating in my thoracic area, suffered them on and off for years albeit not very often. Is this part of PMR I wonder? I have been told it's spondylitis and have physio, I must admit it does feel mechanical as it comes on when I twist or carry a backpack handbag, I have to be so careful. Docs prescribed diazapam and I take Zopiclone sometimes to aid sleep although they don't seem to work very well

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Karendeena]

I have to be careful like that too and mostly it is muscle spasm in response to the movement having exacerbated the attachments of soft tissue and bones.

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

My physio here is brilliant at identifying the dodgy bits and works on them - very painful at the time but once she has mobilised things it improves so the pain is worth it

treatingpain.com/news-updat...

mentions the cause as muscle tension and might be interesting.

One fashion I detest is wearing a bag across your body - putting the strap over your head to be on the opposite shoulder - do you know what I mean? HOWEVER - since my husband died I took over his manbag and wear it like that and it does seem to help.

[herdysheep in reply to PMRpro]

I have succumbed to the cross body bag and it definitely helps. Trousers with enough pockets even better!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to herdysheep]

But they are a dying breed! Bought new summer trousers and had to pay to get a pocket put in!!!!

[herdysheep in reply to PMRpro]

The world is going to pot. I used to think jeans were not for people of my age, but at least they have plenty of pockets.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to herdysheep]

I love my jeans - intend to keep wearing them for some years yet!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Me too!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to herdysheep]

Jeans, absolutely...and many other things according to the lady who runs this site - after all we are the generation that changed fashion and views....

chicatanyage.com/

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Pay for good quality ones and they are fine for a wedding or a funeral in Italy!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Yes I have Italian made jeans that are years old.,, way before GCA. Unfortunately the original company was taken over by a German one a few years [and quality wasn't quite as good] but they have now folded...

[herdysheep in reply to DorsetLady]

Oh dear. I don't do chic and stylish! My jeans are the only trousers that fit after weight loss.. Plenty of other clothes waiting (weighting) for weight reversal!!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to herdysheep]

😏

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to herdysheep]

" I don't do chic and stylish!"

Me neither - which is why the fairly relaxed rules here suit me down to the ground! Find the UK concepts of chic and stylish out of my world!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Don't say I do either, except my own version...🤷‍♀️

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Comfort above all

[piglette]

I had costochondritis, which was unbelievably painful, I tried to give up breathing!!! 🥹 It was round the bottom of the ribs area though. It does not sound particularly like PMR problems. It could be referred pain from somewhere as PMRPro suggests.

[AnniesRyder5]

there are times when I wish I’d learned more about the body! Or if not me couldn’t doctors just consider more options instead of just fobbing us off!