Upper left side back pain

Upper left side back pain

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Shannon Mac

Original Poster:

126 posts

186 months

Monday 16th August 2010
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Hi all.

Just looking for a little advice really. I really hate going to the doctors, so want to avoid it if possible. When I say hate, I actually mean I have panic attacks.

For a few days now I've been having some awful pain in my upper left back. I think I might have strained it, but I'm not sure. I can't remember specifically doing so, but it feels kind of like a strain.

Now what is concerning me is that the pain is gradually getting worse, and a combination of Nurofen Plus and Extra strength paracetamol just isn't touching the pain, not even taking the edge off. The pain also seems to be radiating towards my spine and maybe down a bit towards my lower ribs. The odd thing though is that if I go to sleep, when I wake it's like the pain has completely gone, but returns within the hour. This also makes me think it's a sprain and perhaps in my relaxed state (asleep) my muscles relax enough to ease things.

Could it be that this is really just a sprain, and if so can you recommend any other over the counter anti inflammatories?

King Herald

23,501 posts

223 months

Monday 16th August 2010
quotequote all
It can be a sign of a heart attack, though very doubtful of course. Most people think the common symptom is the old chest and left arm pain, but apparently not.

Sounds more like torn muscle or something of that ilk.

But, I had similar pain about a year ago, right under my left shoulder blade, and it gradually walked up my back, on top the shoulder, and slowly down to my left bicep, over several weeks. A nagging throbbing pain that never seemed to go away.

Doctor was useless, offered me Cocodamol and anti-inflammatories, but Google turned up 'bad posture in front of the computer' as the most common cause of this sort of pain.

I adjusted my chair, raised the monitor, both at home and work, started sitting upright, and the pain literally went away in 48 hours.

Before that I had been slouching down, leaning forward on my elbows etc, when using the pc, which apparently causes the neck to tilt forward, put excess leverage on the spine, and weakened/squished the old 'discs', subsequently squeezing the nerves. There was no pain in the shoulder, it was just the nerve being molested in the spine.

Shannon Mac

Original Poster:

126 posts

186 months

Monday 16th August 2010
quotequote all
Oh.

I had a heart attack a couple of years ago. Think I better get myself to the doctors to make sure. Though surely after it going on for a few days it's not likely to be that.

Also since posting this first post the pain seems to have moved to the middle of my back altogether! It's also now accompanied by heart burn, bleh. Strange.

Edited by Shannon Mac on Monday 16th August 04:14