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What Causes Pain Between Shoulder Blades Radiating To Jaw And Ear?

Posted on Mon, 13 Apr 2015

Question: I am a 57 year old female who has a bulging disk and GERD. A couple time a week and sometimes a two or three times a day I get an extreme pain in between my shoulder blades that radiates around to my right jaw and ear. If someone pushes on my back while laying on my stomach they can get it to pop and then I am fine otherwise this will last anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes. If I am by myself and I roll up a towel and lay on it I can get a little relief but my jaw still hurts. This started 15 years ago but has been more frequent. It starts the majority of the time when I'm sitting but has even woke me up. What is this?

Answered by Dr. Albana Sejdini (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
MRI or ct-scan reports are needed...

Detailed Answer:
Hi my dear,

I am sorry for the situation you are in.

You are reporting to have pain between your shoulder blades radiating to jaw and ear. You are also reporting to have bulging disc.

All the pain you are feeling is due to bulging disc. However, I need to know the exact location of it after reviewing MRI report. Can you provide it or any other examination reports?

Next, you are also reporting to have GERD, the location of your pain is not typical for GERD. If I was your caring doctor would suggest to run abdominal ultrasound to evaluate the current condition of your liver and gallbladder to rule out respective issues.

Looking forward to have the requested reports in.
Dr.Albana

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Albana Sejdini (1 hour later)

The bulging disk is at the L5

Answered by Dr. Albana Sejdini (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Other examinations are needed...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Thank you for providing the requested data. If the bulging disc is at L5, usually the pain would be located in the lower limbs.

As you are having the pain located between shoulder blades, then you need further diagnostic tests to determine the right cause :

- MRI of vertebral spine to rule out any other damage located elsewhere the L5

- abdominal ultrasound and liver/pancreas / gallbladder problems

- cardiac check up: ECG, echocardiogram

- upper endoscopy to evaluate GI problems

All these tests would help find out the right cause.

When having the painful episode, I advise to discuss with your doctor to prescribe injections with:
- pain killer in combination with myorelaxant to see if they help
- get GERD treated with antacids and ranitidine
- physiotherapy can also help

Hope it helped!
Dr.Albana

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Albana Sejdini (6 minutes later)

I have an electro stem machine that gives me some relief but it's hard to get the pads on when I'm by myself. I was on Nexium for years but weened myself off because I think it not good for your bones. I don't have a lot of issues with my acid reflux anymore. I control it with diet and aloe Vera tablets.

Answered by Dr. Albana Sejdini (12 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Still insist to run further tests to rule out internal organs problems...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back my dear,

I am glad to know that you are perfectly controlling your acid reflux with diet and Aloe Vera tablets.

Electro stem machine is also an excellent pain relief alternative. Physiotherapy is crucial in dominating your symptoms along with using pain killers.

I still think you should run the above-mentioned tests to rule out heart, gallbladder, pancreas issues.

All the best!

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar