sudden pain below left scapula

Posted by bronta @bronta, Jun 5, 2019

What could cause sudden pain below the left scapula? Breathing deep exacerbates the pain. Otherwise very healthy - no issues other than a little bit out of shape. Fell lightly off bike a week ago.

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Hello @bronta, welcome to Connect. If you don't mind me asking and if you are comfortable sharing, did the pain start presenting itself after you fell off of your bike? Or has this been an ongoing issue? There are some discussions on rotator cuff and shoulder injuries on Connect, but as some members have discussed - and I have experienced personally - shoulder injuries can be hard to determine without medical expertise.

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@JustinMcClanahan

Hello @bronta, welcome to Connect. If you don't mind me asking and if you are comfortable sharing, did the pain start presenting itself after you fell off of your bike? Or has this been an ongoing issue? There are some discussions on rotator cuff and shoulder injuries on Connect, but as some members have discussed - and I have experienced personally - shoulder injuries can be hard to determine without medical expertise.

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I've never had that type of pain before, and rarely have any pain. It's totally unusual. The pain presented at about 9:30 a.m. about 8 days after biking accident. Until about 8:30pm on the same day it presented -- so for about 12 hours-- the pain was somewhat acute: it was unavoidable, but sitting up very straight, and stretching the arm back helped. Breathing very deep as I do fairly regularly with weekly yoga class and every day wake up increased the pain.

It has since subsided a bit, but is still there, in that same location. A deep breath does increase it but not to the level it wasthe first 12 hours. I am scheduled to see my doctor in a month or so, and am hoping this will wait til then - as it's difficult to get in.

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@bronta

I've never had that type of pain before, and rarely have any pain. It's totally unusual. The pain presented at about 9:30 a.m. about 8 days after biking accident. Until about 8:30pm on the same day it presented -- so for about 12 hours-- the pain was somewhat acute: it was unavoidable, but sitting up very straight, and stretching the arm back helped. Breathing very deep as I do fairly regularly with weekly yoga class and every day wake up increased the pain.

It has since subsided a bit, but is still there, in that same location. A deep breath does increase it but not to the level it wasthe first 12 hours. I am scheduled to see my doctor in a month or so, and am hoping this will wait til then - as it's difficult to get in.

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@bronte I wonder if you bruised a rib when you took that tumble? With a pronouncement of pain on deep breath, there is added strain to rib/diaphragm area on that intake of air. Perhaps a strain of the shoulder. Is it on the same side you landed on with the fall? If the pain is not subsiding, perhaps you can plead your case to the medical office and be seen earlier. I'm certain neither you or they would want a condition to exacerbate due to their not being able to fit you in. That could be grounds for some unfavorable action!
Ginger

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@gingerw

@bronte I wonder if you bruised a rib when you took that tumble? With a pronouncement of pain on deep breath, there is added strain to rib/diaphragm area on that intake of air. Perhaps a strain of the shoulder. Is it on the same side you landed on with the fall? If the pain is not subsiding, perhaps you can plead your case to the medical office and be seen earlier. I'm certain neither you or they would want a condition to exacerbate due to their not being able to fit you in. That could be grounds for some unfavorable action!
Ginger

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Thanks. I am wondering, what else could it be-- and think it is as you suggest some residual from the small scrape. It's on the opposite side, but was thinking perhaps muscle/bone got forced out of usual space on landing, which was light-- I had a few small scrapes, all but gone now.

The weird thing is the delay... And somewhat intensity.

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@bronta

Thanks. I am wondering, what else could it be-- and think it is as you suggest some residual from the small scrape. It's on the opposite side, but was thinking perhaps muscle/bone got forced out of usual space on landing, which was light-- I had a few small scrapes, all but gone now.

The weird thing is the delay... And somewhat intensity.

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@bronta Landing on either side will force a sudden repositioning of everything. That said, I wouldn't be surprised an area that you might not consider, would be affected.
Ginger

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