Tendonitis

[thequietman]

My thai doctor diagnosed me with tendonitis in my upper back.

It affects the area around my ribs both sides. I have had it for about 2 months. I didn't go to visit him until 5 weeks in and I realized it wasn't going to go away.

He gave me anti inflame tablets that seemed to work and the discomfort went from my left side but remained in the right. (I am right handed). I stopped exercising and just lay up. Swimming seemed to help.

3 days ago I had a thai massage and a good stretch routine and next day the discomfort was back on the left side again and more-so now on the right side and my upper back. Can anyone give me any advice on how to treat this. I have never had it before. I read that Multi Amino Acid tablets can work. Has anyone had my problem and used these tablets.

There is no pain just general tightness around the ribs and back.

Many thanks for any advice. This is driving me nuts.

PS. heat rubs help a lot and ease the tightness but I want it gone. I am 43 years old.

Edited April 17, 2013 by thequietman

[Sheryl]

Well first of all, avoid massages since (as you have found) they may worsen it.

I am very unclear as to the exact location and nature of your problem. The area where the ribs meet the spine in the upper back, if this is where you have the pain, is not a common site for tendonitis. Did the doctor say which tendons were affected? And was he an orthopedic specialist?

IF the pain is located near where the ribs meet the spine, might be an injury to the costovertebral ligaments. More like a sprain than tendonitis, this takes quite some time to resolve. However this is usually one one, not both, sides. You seem to be saying the pain is one both sides.

Can you clarify:

-exactly where the pain is, whether on one or both sides of the spine

- what type of movements worsen the pain

- whether it had any precipitating factors (for example an acute onset related to lifting something or twisting around)

- whether your arms and shoulders are affected

- whether the doctor you saw was an ortho specialist

[thequietman]

Well first of all, avoid massages since (as you have found) they may worsen it.

I am very unclear as to the exact location and nature of your problem. The area where the ribs meet the spine in the upper back, if this is where you have the pain, is not a common site for tendonitis. Did the doctor say which tendons were affected? And was he an orthopedic specialist?

IF the pain is located near where the ribs meet the spine, might be an injury to the costovertebral ligaments. More like a sprain than tendonitis, this takes quite some time to resolve. However this is usually one one, not both, sides. You seem to be saying the pain is one both sides.

Can you clarify:

-exactly where the pain is, whether on one or both sides of the spine

- what type of movements worsen the pain

- whether it had any precipitating factors (for example an acute onset related to lifting something or twisting around)

- whether your arms and shoulders are affected

- whether the doctor you saw was an ortho specialist

Hi, thanks for the reply.

I had tender points on my right ribs. when I pushed on the space between the ribs it gave me sore spots. Off to the doctor. he pushed and prodded and then made me lie on my front. He then pushed his finger at about the shoulder blade into the tendon on both sides and it caused me pain enough to call out.

he put me on anti inflame and I could feel them working. I did stretches and hill walking and seemed to aggravate it. It then happened on the left ribs. It was sore to lie on either side. I had spasms that woke me. The left side subsided after swimming and rest. The right side rib tightness remained but less so.

Had a thai massage and a stretch routine (twists, touching my toes, stretching my legs). Next day the left side tightness on ribs was back. The tightness is now front of ribs both sides and more so left side on my back (directly behind the ribs).

If I do twisting exercises it aggravates the situation.

It just started one day at work when I was sitting down, on my right rib. Just a dull pain and as I pressed at it, it got more sensitive. (the ribs are no longer sensitive to touch). My posture is poor and I am over weight.

My shoulders and neck have always been tense since I was in my twenties. I stress a lot and my stress appears in my neck and shoulders.

My doctor is a general practitioner but he seemed to find the sore points promptly.

Thanks for your help.

[Sheryl]

Sorry I am still unclear, when you refer to pain at the ribs do you mean on the chest, at your sides or in back near the spinal column?

And does twisting your body from side to side hurt?

[thequietman]

Sorry I am still unclear, when you refer to pain at the ribs do you mean on the chest, at your sides or in back near the spinal column?

And does twisting your body from side to side hurt?

Hi, the tightness was at the front of the ribs (top 3 ribs) but is now at the sides both left and right. Before the massage the left side was ok and had disappeared.. Because of the massage and the stretching its extended to the back a little on left side.

The tenderness or tension is also at the shoulder blade on both sides. Today I found the tension point and used the window frame to rub back and forward for about 2 minutes. when I stopped my neck crunched and cracked and I felt a little relief. I tried it on the left side and the pressure at the left side has decreased a little. The back discomfort and the feeling that the tendons are inflamed is quite recent. Before it was only the rib area. The doctor pushed on the tender points at my visit but I am only feeling the point of the inflammation recently.

I have suffered greatly with tension in my shoulders and neck for quite some time. It started to occur after a car accident 20 years ago. Slight whip lash I think. Getting some aching in my upper left arm but that only began since the massage. My whole upper body feels like it has had a huge workout but it hasn't. Went for a 2 hour walk today and its been a little better since then. I am still applying heat rub.

Twisting from side to side hurts on my left side of spine. (feels like a pulled muscle) It was on the right side before but not now. Just did it and it doesn't hurt so much now but I feel the muscle 'bulging' a little with a little discomfort.

Thanks for your advice in this matter. it is very much appreciated.

[thequietman]

Sorry I am still unclear, when you refer to pain at the ribs do you mean on the chest, at your sides or in back near the spinal column?

And does twisting your body from side to side hurt?

Sorry just to add, there is slight discomfort at exactly the same points in the back at my upper ribs on both sides. (the middle of my back).

There is no pain as such, just discomfort and tension. Previous to the onset of all this, I pulled something in my back a few months back that was only relieved when I put my back flat to a wall and just waited. Took about 5 days for that to go away. I am now loosing weight and have changed my diet drastically since the onset of this. I have lost 9 kg ( I am now 82kg) and need to loose at least another stone.

Once I get this issue sorted I intend to start a proper exercise regime.

Thanks.

Edited April 17, 2013 by thequietman

[Sheryl]

My problem here is that I am still not clear what the problem is. It is particularly confusing that you say the doctor stated specifically that it was tendonitis yet your description of where the pain is does not fit that, and your description of where he identified trigger points doesn't seem to, either.

Also confused by the reference to rib pain. If I understand the last post correctly you have pain over the ribcage on the chest, which might suggest costochondritis, but the rest of the description is not consistent with that.

For pretty much everything this might be, avoiding manipulation of the affected area and any movements that worsen the pain, along with continuing to take anti-inflammatory medication, would be advised. be sure the anti-inflammatories are taken oin a full stomach as they can cause gastritis.

For some but not all of the possibilities, physiotherapy and/or cortisone injections might be helpful. Physio would have to be prescribed specific to a firm diagnosis and cortisone injection would have to be done by a trained ortho specialist. So either way, if the pain continues, it would be worth consulting an ortho at a hospital with a PT dept.

Should you happen to see your GP again, do ask him specifically which tendon he believes is inflammed. In the upper back region tendonitis usually involves the shoulder but that generally presents as arm pain, not what you describe.

Once you have recovered from whatever this is, with regard to your chronic neck tension (a problem I share), attention to the type of thickness of your pillow specific to the position you tend to sleep in can be helpful and so too is periodic cervical traction, you can but inflatable devices you pump up (similiar to how a BP cuff is pumped up) online for around $30. I have one and it is very helpful. I use it while watching TV or sometimes while driving. Nicely stretches out the neck muscles. I also find wearing a for cervical collar (available at large pharmacies and medical supply shops) at neck helps.

[thequietman]

My problem here is that I am still not clear what the problem is. It is particularly confusing that you say the doctor stated specifically that it was tendonitis yet your description of where the pain is does not fit that, and your description of where he identified trigger points doesn't seem to, either.

Also confused by the reference to rib pain. If I understand the last post correctly you have pain over the ribcage on the chest, which might suggest costochondritis, but the rest of the description is not consistent with that.

For pretty much everything this might be, avoiding manipulation of the affected area and any movements that worsen the pain, along with continuing to take anti-inflammatory medication, would be advised. be sure the anti-inflammatories are taken oin a full stomach as they can cause gastritis.

For some but not all of the possibilities, physiotherapy and/or cortisone injections might be helpful. Physio would have to be prescribed specific to a firm diagnosis and cortisone injection would have to be done by a trained ortho specialist. So either way, if the pain continues, it would be worth consulting an ortho at a hospital with a PT dept.

Should you happen to see your GP again, do ask him specifically which tendon he believes is inflammed. In the upper back region tendonitis usually involves the shoulder but that generally presents as arm pain, not what you describe.

Once you have recovered from whatever this is, with regard to your chronic neck tension (a problem I share), attention to the type of thickness of your pillow specific to the position you tend to sleep in can be helpful and so too is periodic cervical traction, you can but inflatable devices you pump up (similiar to how a BP cuff is pumped up) online for around $30. I have one and it is very helpful. I use it while watching TV or sometimes while driving. Nicely stretches out the neck muscles. I also find wearing a for cervical collar (available at large pharmacies and medical supply shops) at neck helps.

Thank you, I am sorry I can't describe it better. If you were to place your hand just under the chest with the fingers facing inwards, then a full hand length to the wrist, is where the tightness occurs. The top part of the ribs. When it occurred first it was like a mild pressure (no Pain) but as I pushed my fingers into the ribs , I found tender spots. (2 or 3) The doctor pushed hard down on my chest and hard on either side of ribs. Nothing. He did a chest xray - nothing. Asked to turn over on my stomach. he pushed down with his finger and I guess now, with hindsite, its at the point of the shoulder and arm joint. (sorry so vague before) The pain then presented on left side of ribs (same place) and so both sides caused pain if I lay on my side. Slept on my back until left side pain went away. Right side remained but milder.

10 days of anti-inflame later and right side discomfort still there.

Flash forward to now. Thai massage and 30 min stretching and next morning left side back again.

Been resting for 4 days now and left side starting to fade again. My muscles or tendons are very hard now and my upper back aches on both sides. I have felt this tension before many times but I have never had the right side or left side discomfort.

2 months now and while not painful, it is frustrating.

Many thanks again for your input.

[Sheryl]

Tendonitis in the shoulder area would usually be either at the head of the biceps or of the rotator cuff, but both of these would usually present as arm pain and problem with certain arm motions, such as lifting the arm above the head.

I suppose it is possible the pain in your case is for some reason atypically referred. Or it may be something else.

It is not unsual for tendonitis in the shoulder to take up to 3 months to resolve. Both physical therapy and cortison injections are sometimes useful. Less often, surgery is indicated, i.e. if the tendonistis is secondary to impingement of the tendon.

Again, best advise I can give is to see an ortho specialist at a hospital that has a PT dept so that PT can be prescribed after a clear diagnisis. Could also at that point ask if cortisone injection would be appropriate.

[thequietman]

Tendonitis in the shoulder area would usually be either at the head of the biceps or of the rotator cuff, but both of these would usually present as arm pain and problem with certain arm motions, such as lifting the arm above the head.

I suppose it is possible the pain in your case is for some reason atypically referred. Or it may be something else.

It is not unsual for tendonitis in the shoulder to take up to 3 months to resolve. Both physical therapy and cortison injections are sometimes useful. Less often, surgery is indicated, i.e. if the tendonistis is secondary to impingement of the tendon.

Again, best advise I can give is to see an ortho specialist at a hospital that has a PT dept so that PT can be prescribed after a clear diagnisis. Could also at that point ask if cortisone injection would be appropriate.

HI, if I extend my arms above my head there is a crunching in my shoulders - every time. I have had this for a long time. I will try to find a PT in my town. Many Thanks.

Edited April 17, 2013 by thequietman