Left shoulder pain when sat down

[Bluestone]

Its more a burning sensation, which gets worse if I sit in the same position for a prolonged period of time. I seem to get it when sat on the computor or driving.

[Sqad]

Not enough information.

How long have you been having this pain?

Are you on any medication or have any underlying pre existing illness?

Is the pain present all the time....does eating make it better, worse, or no effect.

Have you taken any medication for the pain and if so did it relieve the pain?

Thank you.

[daffy654]

Are you left or right handed?

[Bluestone]

Pain for 5+ years

No medication - nor underlying health problems

Pain is not present constantly, but comes when I've been sat for more than 30 minites

I take Ibuprofen which does ease the pain - although it almost instantly disappears if I get up and walk around

I am right-handed

Many thanks

[Sqad]

Thanks for your full and rapid response.
This is no big deal and is almost certainly muscular on nature...a type of repetitive strain injury if you like.

I gather thatvyou need your PC for your job and I which case I would carry on with the Ibuprofen and try and get as many breaks from the PC as possible.

[sandyRoe]

Do you wear glasses when using the computer? If you do you might need a pair that don't have you leaning forward when you're working.

[Bluestone]

Thank you very much for your answer Sqad. It's good to know it's nothing that requires a doctors visit.

SandyRoe - I am probably overdue an eye test, so I shall book myself in for one.
Thank you.

[Eve]

I get a horrible burning pain in my shoulderblades, moreso the right one (I'm right handed) and physio have been helping me with it (Ibuprofen doesn't touch it - diclofenac helped the most).

I have fibromyalgia but it is probably at least partly posture related etc... as worse when I'm sat at a computer and gets almost unbearable during the day (mine takes a while to settle after I get up). I thought it was gallbladder related as I had gallstones and was gutted when I had my gallbladder removed and it didn't disappear with it!

My physio said the muscles round there are quite thick from being inflamed/tight etc...

Accupuncture has been helping a lot though it comes back but the more I had accupuncture the more it helped it. I am very careful with my work chair and have a pillow on it to cushion it (and wrap some lint round my bra strap too) and use a foot rest, wrist rest and document holder (for arthritis and the fibro too).

I also find different types of work make a difference, it's easier when I move more freely, say letter writing rather than processing data where I'm more fixed in one position for longer periods of time. I also make sure I move a lot and take regular rest breaks and stretch out.

I also learnt from physio how to do better stretches which weren't the kind that I was doing myself which probably weren't helping matters. I have some I can do when I'm moving and on rest breaks during the day too.

In my job before that I sat stiller for longer so I used to put a hot water bottle behind my shoulderblades which really helped with the heat and cushioning, making sure it was only part full and squeezing the air out before sealing so it is more squishy (rather than when full).

Strangely enough when my physio was showing me some exercises last week after releasing stiff joints off round my spine and ribs she noticed I arch my back which doesn't help. She showed me how to straighten my back better which, as she said it would, felt like I was hunching forward and wrong but that was actually the correct posture and it has actually been helping. (Maybe overcompensating for being generously chested hasn't helped either!).

Thinking back from days of ballet and gymnastics (and a kind soul calling me hollow back at school) I think this may have been a problem for a while!

[Eve]

Another point, have you had a workspace desk assessment? Make sure you are sitting properly eg arms straight to keyboard/mouse, screen at eye level etc...

[Bluestone]

Thank you Jenna1978. I think you are probably right. It could well be posture as I do tend to hunch forward when I'm sat at the computer. I'm fine if I'm sat on the sofa with my laptop but if I sit at the dining table then it comes within 15-20 minutes and can really hurt and burn. Thank you.