What Causes Tingling Sensation Under The Shoulder Blades And Lower Left Back Pain?

Posted on Tue, 20 Sep 2016

Question: I have tongling under shoulder blades and lower left back pain. Ive had several tests such as ct scans and mri of cervical and thoratic spine, all normal.

Even if the symptoms have been going on since May? Thanks

Answered by Dr. Sandip Kabra (12 hours later)

it could be due to temporary nerve compression and very unlikely due to some major disease.

Brief Answer:
Provide more information.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking follow-up query and sorry for the delayed response,

I have read your query again,

Tingling over shoulder blades with left lower back pain could have plenty of causes. Means it could be temporary like nerve compression or due to some underlying medical problems,so they all should be ruled out by appropriate tests.

But before going into further discussion,I would like to ask some more information

Is this tingling sensations is continuous or intermittent?
Have you undergone any other tests (like blood) apart from CT scan and MRI of spine?
Have you taken any medications for symptomatic relief?
Any history of recent or past disease like diabetes or hypertension?

Please get back to me with these answers,I will guide you accordingly after that.

Regards,

Dr.Sandip Kabra

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Sandip Kabra (12 hours later)

Thank you for your respomse. No history of any disease. Ive also had mri of brain, colonoscopy, endoscopy, chest xray, lumbar xray, shoulder xray, as well as physical therapy. Condition is not improving, but rather getting worse. Im just worried that it could be a pancoast tumor with my symptoms. Ive heard it can be easily missed. Would you suggest a second opinion of my ct scan? Ive also been taking gabopendin, but that hasnot helped either. Thank you!

Answered by Dr. Sandip Kabra (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Very unlikley pancoast tumor.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM,

Thanks for sharing more information,

Since you have done CT and MRI with chest X-ray,it is very unlikely to be missed pancoast tumor in that,so I would not in favor to repeat CT scan.

As you have already done CT and MRI without any conclusion,I would also want to rule out some systemic diseases if not done earlier.

1) Thyroid dysfunction
2) Vitamin D,B12 and folic acid deficiency
3) Peripheral Neuropathy.

You may check your thyroid status with Vitamin D,B12 and folic acid as their deficiency may also lead to tingling or numbness.

In case, if above tests come normal, then approach a neurologist for a nerve conduction study to rule out the chances of neuropathy (though slightly unlikely here)

Regards,

Dr.Sandip Kabra

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Priyanka G Raj