These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.
Chronic scapula pain
Question: I have had constant pain in left scapula area for 15 years. Doctors have not been able to do anything about the pain. One specialist suggested that surgery to scrape the bottom off the scapula would help. That seems quite drastic when no one knows what is really causing the pain. Stress makes the pain worse. It feels like a throbbing knot of muscle that is only relieved with pressure on the spot. I can “rotate” the shoulder, which causes a “grinding” of the scapular area. That is some relief even though one doctor said that is not good to constantly “pop” those bones or “grind” that area. A Cortizone shot to the area didn’t relieve the pain. I am wondering if acupuncture would help or if there was anything else I could do
Answer: Acupuncture might be of help and would not be particularly invasive. Also, the surgical approach, if acupuncture does not work, is not reversible. Try a massage therapy and/or a Rolfer (a special type of massage). I would see and osteopathic physician at least once. They tend to try different techniques.
