Severe burning pain around right shoulder blade, what could it be?

Elizabeth Kistner wrote:

ksf wrote:

I also have been suffering from this for years. I've done everything imaginable to try to make the pain go away. Mine started in my jaw and has worked its way down to the shoulder, neck, arm, wrist and hand. Then about 6 mos ago it has started on my other side.
First doctors said I had TMJ- had arthroscopy for that. Went to chiropractors, have had PT 3 times. Had neck surgery almost 3 yrs ago (C-5, C-6) which made matters worse! Now I have lost some neck function and the pain is now literally in my neck too.
Now they are saying it's RSD ( reflex sympathetic dystrophy) from the surgery, mild carpel tunnel in wrist and Fibromyalgia.
I have spent thousands ( and I mean thousands!) of dollars on doctors, surgeries ,test and medicines. Nothing has helped.
I take Paxil CR daily and live on pain meds.
While I can do most anything for a short time I cannot do anything for very long or I start getting muscle spasms and a severe headache.
For me I have given up hope for a cure. I've faced the fact this is the way I have to spend my life now (I'm 48).
I had to quit my job several years ago (after 30 yrs) and to be quite frank this sucks! but I've came to the conclusion this is the way it is going to be so I need to face facts, help myself as much as I can and just deal with it.
Thanks for listening.

Sorry you have had to live with pain. I myself believe I may have fibromyalgia and, just like you, have had to learn to cope with my pain. Only bad thing is, I don't get any pain pills cause I'm only 22 and have had this pain since my elbow deteriorated at 12. :/ between my surgeries and doctor's visits (luckily all my insurances/welfare covered it when I was 12, and insurance when I had my last surgery) my arm has cost about $100,000. It was about $74,000 for my first major surgery. $18,000 for my second. I've spent thousands on doctor's visits. My pain was mostly in my elbows. But, due to slips and falls from working as a chef, I now experience pain in my neck, shoulders, lower back, and knees. I've dealt with the pain by trying ALL of the OTC medicines. I've tried muscle rubs, lotions, creams, gels, and even alcohols and bath salts which I've actually paid out of my pocket for. Due to the fact that, between all this pain, and a mysterious stomach illness in which all possible tests came back as negative, it's hard to get taken serious. But, due to my age I unfortunately have to work. BUT, Just know I sympathize with you and know how you feel. :/ Hopefully some day there will be a miracle cure for people like us who have done lots and still suffer.

Was diagnosed with RSD 5 yrs ago by physical therapist after elbow dislocation and have been suffering since after subsequent injuries. Live on Neurontin for the nerve pain and Ambien in order to sleep and Imitrex for the migraines. Try to exercise as much as you can to drive through the pain. If you don't use it, you lose it which I have. Go to RSDSA.org for a wealth of information and support networks.

I had excruciating pain in my right shoulder and both knees for years. I tried all sorts of pain medications and medical gels with minor temporary relief.

I had heard rumors of mechanics, sports figures and veterinarians using WD40 on their painful knees shoulders and elbows. Well, I had a can kicking around my garage and I went to retrieve it. I sprayed it on my shoulder and knees - I could not believe it but the pain went away within ten minutes. The pain returns after I do physical work and I solve it with the spray and massage it in. The only detriment is the mild odour that a mechanic has to live with but it disappears after I wash the area with soap about an hour after applying.

I started a website and many people have told me of their success stories about WD40 and their pain relief for all these areas plus foot and ankle pain.

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I hope this relieves your pain as quickly as it did mine.
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In my past posts I have suggested  going to a chiropractor for the pain.  In my last post I relayed my own pain and experience with doctors and medications with no avail. After six months of pain, I decided to go to a chiropractor and I have been pain free ever since. I just want to follow up to see if anyone found relief in seeing a chiropractor?

I would also like to encourage others to advocate strongly for themselves with their doctor. You know your own body better than anyone else. Continue to demand comprehensive care from your doctor, do your own research and make recommendations as well.

In the end my doctor never suggested going to a chiropractor and basically said there was nothing he could do and I would be in pain for the rest off my life. All because he could not figure out what was wrong with me, nor could the orthopedic specialist. 

Please share your story so others may be encourage as well, I found tremendous relief for my severe pain.

Take care :-|

I WAS DIAGNOSED 2.5 YEARS AGO WITH 13 HERNIATED DISCS. I HAVE DISC DEGENERATED DISEAES. THEY OPERATED ON ME 2 YEARS AGO ON C3,C4,AND C5 . THEY WENT THROUGH THE FRONT AND I WAS BACK TO WORK IN 2 WEEKS . 3.5 MONTHS AGO THEY WENT THROUGH MY BACK AND THE PAIN IN MY LEFT ARM AND SPINE IS GONE, BUT MY RIGHT SHOULDER IS A DIFFERENT STORY. THEY HAVE MADE ME FEEL LIKE A GUINEA PIG AND NOTHING IS WORKING. THE STABBING,BURNING,FEELING LIKE YOUR BEING SHOCKED AND ITCHING, BUT WHEN YOU SCRATCH THE FLESH IS NUMB AND THE SKIN ON THE OUTSIDE IS SENSATIVE TO THE TOUCH. I FEEL LIKE IV'E BEEN BURNED.

Have had serious shoulder problems in past.  For sometime, thankfully, I was pain free, due to great doctors and therapists.  It was amazing.  Then my husband had a shingles attack, very severe.  Pain in his jaw, neck, shoulder, arm, hand.  My husband is a busy man, nothing stops him.  But this did.  He was down for weeks, and is still in severe pain.  Activity is very limited.  Seeing what he was going through, I had the shingles vaccine.  My shoulder pain has returned, only it's very different.  It's a burning pain in my right shoulder blade, the side they gave me the vaccine.  I have burning pain in my neck and jaw.  Can't help but wonder if I'm crazy, how could this happen, when I thought my problem was corrected.   Kinda sorry I had the vaccine.  Really not sure if it's the vaccine or not, or if I also have a milder case of the shingles.  Pretty upsetting.

I went to a chiropractor for 6wks with little results. I am still fighting the pain in my neck to my shoulder and radiating down my right arm. During one session the chiropractor "popped" my first rib into place and it was the worst pain ever. But nothing will "stay" in place. My neck is straight not with a natural curve. The only thing that has really changed is the burning sensation in my right shoulder blade area. It is not as severe. But, overall nothing has changed. I have also had two more steroid injections in my shoulder. I have honetly lost count now. My orthopedic doc has suggested surgery, even though he is not sure what is wrong. But obviously there is something in my shoulder, like an impengement. He believes that the TOS and the shoulder are two separate issues. I don't know when I will get relief!! So exhausted!!

Don't give up! Try to keep going to the chiropractor, it takes awhile for your body to adjust to its new alignment. Eventually, your bones will get used to being in their new position. I had the same problem with my ribs, they had to be "popped" back in place three times before they stayed in place. Since then, I have been going for almost a year now.

I have the same issue. Burning tingling pain around my left shoulder blade. Docs can't find anything surprise! Lol. I had no idea what was going on for years. I was a pharmacy tech for five years while studying to be a chemist. Turns out we have a never coming out right there. if you get a slight curvature of the spine it puts pressure on it...causing never pain....the tingly burning stabbing sensation thats not made better by most pain meds. Short of stopping all tasks that need you to use your arms there isn't much you can do. Most treatments make it worse. I haven't found anything that really works. You would think with so many people in office jobs they would a: know what the problem is. B: not make it worse with things like pt shot s and surgery and c: have some treatment that is actually affective.

hey everyone Thoracic outlet syndrome has a lot of the same symptoms as you all are describing and it is more common in people who do repetitive movements such as working at a computer. ask an orthopedic surgeon about it and maybe they will be able to lead you in the right direction. hope this helps!

I do have a same problem for ower 2 years.I need to quit my job of it.I suffering with same problem.Right shoulder and neck pain.I been see a meny differrent dr, and specialis but every one have a different diagnosis for me.
Now I'm on sllep medications,antidepressant and pain pills,wich I will be very soon addicted to it.No cure for my
pain.Thats is answer from dr,Thanks for lissening, And good luck

OMG I have the exact same thing. Happened after an auto accident. Stupid ortho said same thing....muscle pain....but it is unbearable. So off to PT I go! And it's not helping. Shocker. After several weeks of this c**p, I can't get anything prescribed that HELPS. I really despise doctors sometimes.

I do have the same experience and it all happened after I had a shoulder and neck injury 9 years ago. I can understand as it has impacted my career and life plans. Nothing helps the burning in the shoulder. You might want to go and get a MRA on your neck and shoulder. None of my doctors will send me for me, but it was suspected I had a labreal tear in the shoulder. You definately need to get the testing done. Physio exercises that target the neck and back of the shoulder have helped a bit. I use a theraband.

I too have an excruciating nerve type pain on my shoulder blade. It kind of feels like I'm being burned, electrocuted, and at the same time, someone dumped a whole bottle of capsazin (sp?) on my shoulder blade. When touched or rubbed on by clothes (even silk) it feels like.... dead, but still painful. My dad had Gillian-barre syndrome twice at 8 and 16 years old. After I got told that my doctor and a neurologist had no idea what it was, I assumed that it was a hand-me-down side effect of this. But I could've written the original post.

I'm 19 years old.

I've never worked a computer job or really spent much time on the computer until starting college.

My pain first began as a child of 7 or 8 years old.

I have the same! Could it be Arthritus?

I have had right shoulder blade pain on and off since I was a child in school. Inflammation causes the pain. Some natural anti inflammatories are turmeric, pineapple, pawpaw (papaya) ginger. Turmeric is the best of these and cheap to buy at supermarkets. Half a teaspoon of the powder twice a day is my dosage. It doesn't taste nice but you can take it in pineapple juice for a double effect as pineapple contains the anti-inflammatory Bromelain. I used to take the usual painkillers- NSAIDs but developed stomach ulcers. That was when I researched natural anti inflammatories. I work on a laptop and have found the inflammation from over use of right arm tendons has flared up recently. I am out of turmeric and must get some as a week of taking it settles my shoulderblade and my arm.