Question for medical types

[powslut]

I've had a super tense back for the last couple years (since i compression fractured a vertabrae) and it's been acting up lately. About two weeks ago I went for a deep muscle massage and since have had a feeling of numbness around my left shoulder blade. I went to the dr here about 5 days ago and he prescribed me tetrazapam as a muscle relaxant and told me to hit the ibuprofen as well. The doctor's around here are notorious for misdiagnosis and I am a touch concerned as the situations hasn't improved at all and I feel a bit like a zombie...what should I do?

[Trackhead]

What level was your injury at? C-spine? T-spine? L-Spine?

[0BernhardFranz]

powslut ask my ma maybe she is a great doc with MCL we might come to Lech within january I will send you an email if we know think we could help you bernhard franz call her at 0049607435136
what if you kind of got your nerve punched in by the message and the painkillers are extra numbing you all over as they are so heavy

[Trackhead]

[powslut]

It was t-spine, though i can't remember specifically which one.

edit - spaced on that one.

[0BernhardFranz]

logically as you otherwidse the message could not affect the shoulder as it comes below that message area - just heard my ma say just be careful messagists ain´t doctors ( now a doc learns maybe 10 000 times as much I think or 1 mio )
if you know a good pow ski school but as traditional as the arlberg school where i learned i mean just the most qualified not just people tripping in lech st anton or so let me know also if you can recommend a place to stay and rent gear if you have time
maybe dont move your thing till you are clear he did not tear some nerve amd you could worsen it i think tell my ma tomorrow

[lph]

Muscle spasm/tension is one of the complications and causes of pain after a compression fracture. Therefore, going to a massage therapist was probably a good move.

As for the 'numbness' not sure what to make of that. As you can see from trackhead's chart, it could very well be related to a nerve root from the upper T spine, especially since you are describing near the shoulder blade.

Honestly, if it was me, I would probably do the muscle relaxant and anti inflammatory thing, and see what happens, give it 2-3 weeks total before you go searching for second opinions, 5 days isn't much time and I don't think there is much to get worked up over at this point.

[snowfire]

I would go to a physical therapist. But then again, I'm biased.

[taoslcl]

Being a physical therapy student I agree with snowfire, see a good PT. The massage probably caused something to compress the nerve root associated with your shoulder blade although it seems like you numbness may be a little high for that scenario. I would try some upper trunk stretching like sitting on a chair and turning and holding the strech for a good 30 sec a couple of times throughout the day. Also lying on your back with knees bent up and rotating knees from side to side. Good stretching could loosen up the muscle or even move the bony part that is compressing you nerve but you may also need some manual therapy work at the level of the nerve compression to move things around a little. Like I said, I'm just a student right now so I would go and see a PT if thats possible.

[Jim S]

Come to me for an MRI?

Could be many things but each are best diagnosed NOT over the Internet.
Good luck; pain sucks.

[Jim S]

Muscle spasm/tension is one of the complications and causes of pain after a compression fracture. Therefore, going to a massage therapist was probably a good move.

As for the 'numbness' not sure what to make of that. As you can see from trackhead's chart, it could very well be related to a nerve root from the upper T spine, especially since you are describing near the shoulder blade.

Honestly, if it was me, I would probably do the muscle relaxant and anti inflammatory thing, and see what happens, give it 2-3 weeks total before you go searching for second opinions, 5 days isn't much time and I don't think there is much to get worked up over at this point.

+ 1 indeed

[snowfire]

Being a physical therapy student I agree with snowfire, see a good PT. The massage probably caused something to compress the nerve root associated with your shoulder blade although it seems like you numbness may be a little high for that scenario. I would try some upper trunk stretching like sitting on a chair and turning and holding the strech for a good 30 sec a couple of times throughout the day. Also lying on your back with knees bent up and rotating knees from side to side. Good stretching could loosen up the muscle or even move the bony part that is compressing you nerve but you may also need some manual therapy work at the level of the nerve compression to move things around a little. Like I said, I'm just a student right now so I would go and see a PT if thats possible.

Where do you go to PT school? I go to UCHSC in Denver. Doing my first rotation in Durango currently. I agree about the trunk stretching... but there are tests a good PT will perform to determine what's causing it and hopefully nip it in the butt.

[taoslcl]

I'm at U of New Mexico. I'm headed up to SLC tomorrow for a two week neuro clinical and to ski Alta for the first time. Can be many things so yes...this cannot be diagnosed over the internet.

[Vinman]

thinking in a totally different direction.......

IMHO your doc handing out muscle relaxers and IB is just an easy way to not have to get to the root of the problem and offer a quick fix. While the drugs may help in the short term if there are underlying mecahnical issues they probably won't make it go away long term which would be the goal.

Again IMHO you should have some sort of orthopedic evaluation done by a Certified Athletic Trainer, Physical Therapist or a good sports medicine doc to get to the root of the problem and not just treat the symptoms. The eval should include sitting and standing posture and possibly workspace evaulation as well. There may be things you are doing to perpetuate your pain that you do not realize such as repetitive motions, poor sitting posture, poor workspace set up (reaching for mouse/keyboard, monitor set up too low, repetitive motions....) Any of these can contibute to upper back pain via the development of tiggerpoints, especially for someone who has had an injury such as yours.

[0BernhardFranz]

no go to real doc only