Suggest Treatment For Mild Back And Shoulder Pain

Posted on Mon, 12 Jan 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 12 Jan 2015 Answered on

Mon, 9 Feb 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have had mid back pain up to my neck, around the bottom of both shoulder blades. I have been having headaches in the back of my head, even into my ears jaws. I often feel as though I am bloated with pain in both sides of ribs. I had an MRI and they just said that I had arthritis. I had a herniated disc in my lumbar, to which I had surgery at the Laser Spine Institute to shrink. The pain in my mid to upper back started before I had problems with my lumbar. The pain is everyday, usually around the middle part of the day, into the night. I was taking hydrocodone and trama dol to help with the lumbar pain, and it is the only thing that helps with the current pain in the mid and upper back.

Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
? Spondyloarthopathy

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

Thank you for writing on health care magic

Well the kind of pain you are describing, i would like to know a bit more details, because if they have labelled it as arthritis, it has to be something more to it.

1. What is the total duration of the pain you have had

2. Is the pain more in the nights when you turn position?

3. DO you feel stiff in the mornings when you wake up?

4. ANy joints outside the spine which are affected?

5. Any one in your family has similar complaints?/

6. Did you ever get your inflammatory markers checked like ESR, CRP

Herniated disc is a common problem in every individual especially who play sports. But it is not going to cause symptoms in the upper back.

Do let me know these queries. If possible, could you scan and attach the MRI report as well, It would be helpful

Await your reply
Regards
Dr Naval

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad