What is this upper left back pain!!

Awesome advice

by PacedNRunning - 2018-09-04 13:14:46

Robin1. Yes! Good to know exactly what to try. I do have that S shaped stick with balls on it. I have been pushing on the area and it seems to help. This is just weird since it’s no where near my pacemaker. Thanks! 

Problems with rhomboid muscles

by Theknotguy - 2018-09-04 17:30:13

I've had the problems you've described since my pacemaker was implanted.  Right after it was implanted I'd have muscle spasms on the side my pacemaker was implanted at the base of the neck.  These spasms would make me just stop until the pain would subside. 

Robin1 had a bad experience with a licensed massage therapist.  I don't argue that.  I've had nothing but good experiences with the (now) two licensed massage therapists who work on me.  The first one went back to massage therapy school to get additional training then trained the second one.  Consequently no problems with the massage therapy.  So if you think the massage therapy might (or would) help I would have a discussion with your potential therapist before they laid a finger on you. I've had these therapists for the (now) four plus years.  They've finally worked their way down to the rock hard part of the rhomboid muscles.  I can't tell you how much pain they've removed.  

For me they ran the pacemaker leads under the collar bone on the left side. Something about having leads in that area has made the rhomboid muscles get really tight.   First on the left side, then on the right.  Don't know why this happens and, of course, the doctors say it isn't because of the pacemaker implant.  I just know it hurts.  

The other thing that has helped is getting on the heating pad and then stretching out the muscles.  You have to keep yourself well hydrated while doing this as the heating pad has a tendency to dry out the muscles.  

I haven't needed to use any pain killing drugs other than Tylenol or aspirin.  And I feel that has been a great help.  All I feel the pain killer drugs would do is to temporarily kill the pain and leave me with the same problem.  I'm now down to seeing a therapist once a month.  So, for the most part I feel really good.  

If someone where to tell you it's all in your head I would strongly disagree.  I sincerely hope you can find something that will help.  

Fitting name theknotguy

by PacedNRunning - 2018-09-04 19:02:44

Great advice. Love it and appreciate it!! Sounds like it could be my problem. I will def look into massage. I usually get massages for leg spasms so just add this one in the mix. Thanks for all the tips! I will surely look into them because this pain is the worst! I usually take either Motrin or Tylenol. I took Norco twice but it didn’t make a difference. 

Heat is helping

by loblolly - 2018-09-10 15:38:22

Yesterday my left shoulder and base of my neck were hurting ( day 6). Moist heat from one of those microwave heat packs is really helping relax the muscles. I do feel much better today. Taking tylenol , especially before bedtime, as well as applying the moist heat at bedtime seemed to really help me sleep better last night.

Loblolly

by PacedNRunning - 2018-09-10 16:31:44

thanks! I’ve done exactly what your doing. I even took a full rest day to see if that helps. It’s better but still there. I will be happy when it’s over. ;)