Seeking Guidance on Back Pain After Lifting
Hello everyone, I'm a 26-year-old woman standing at 5'5" and my weight varies between 143 and 150 pounds. I've been strength training for several years now. Today at the gym, while performing dumbbell shoulder presses, I encountered an unexpected issue. Almost immediately after completing my set and setting the weights down, I experienced a severe pain radiating from my upper back area, particularly near the left side of my scapula. Interestingly, I wasn't using any heavier weights than usual, and this is the first instance I've suffered from this type of discomfort post-workout. I left the gym shortly thereafter as even walking became painful. The pain isn’t localized; it’s more generalized. When I sit on the couch with a heating pad behind me, I notice that my arm on the affected side starts to feel strange, along with some discomfort in my neck on the same side. The intensity heightens when I attempt to lift my chin or turn my head in either direction. Additionally, I've experienced difficulty getting up from a lying position—there were moments when I had to nearly throw myself off the couch to stand up. Maintaining an upright posture is also uncomfortable. At times, I feel sharp, shooting pains that extend to my neck and arms as well. Based on advice from a nurse in my family, I have already tried taking Aleve and applying heat, and I’m considering switching to ice shortly. The pain primarily occurs to the left of my shoulder blade, but certain movements aggravate the actual shoulder blade as well. Unfortunately, none of the measures I've taken thus far seem to improve the situation, and I continue to experience some tolerable shooting pain in my right arm, neck, and back areas where the pain originates. I’m curious to learn what kind of injury this might resemble and how long I should wait before seeking medical attention at an urgent care facility. There’s little relief to be found, apart from remaining still, yet even at rest, I am not completely pain-free. What are your thoughts on this injury?
Answers (1)
3/21/2025, 8:20:44 PM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you're experiencing significant discomfort in your upper back and neck following your gym session, which can understandably be concerning. Given the details you've provided, including radiating pain and difficulties with movement, it's important to carefully assess your situation.
Main Points:
- Possible Muscle Strain or Sprain: The pain you're experiencing may be due to a muscle strain or sprain, particularly related to your shoulder and upper back.
- Neurological Symptoms: The additional symptoms you're reporting, such as pain radiating to your arm and difficulty with neck movements, could suggest nerve involvement or irritation.
- Monitoring Symptoms: Close monitoring of your symptoms is crucial to determine if further medical attention is needed.
Explanation:
Injuries like muscle strains are common, especially after lifting activities. These can cause localized pain and muscle spasms, which may lead to pain radiating to adjacent areas, like your arm and neck. If you're experiencing shooting pains that extend beyond the local area, this could indicate nerve involvement, which may require more attention.
Next Steps:
- Rest: Avoid activities that exacerbate your pain, especially lifting and strenuous movements, for the next 24-48 hours to allow your body to start healing.
- Ice Therapy: Use ice packs for 15-20 minutes every hour to help reduce inflammation, especially in the first 48 hours after the incident. This might provide more relief than heat at this stage, given your symptoms.
- Pain Management: Continue taking Aleve (naproxen) as prescribed for pain relief, if you’re not having any adverse reactions. Ensure to follow the dosage recommendations on the package.
- Gentle Movement: After a couple of days of rest, try gentle stretching of your neck and upper back to maintain mobility and prevent stiffness, but avoid any movements that increase pain.
- Symptom Diary: Keep track of your pain levels, movements that worsen the pain, and any changes in symptoms, especially if you start to notice new symptoms like numbness or weakness in your arms.
When to Seek Further Help:
If your pain worsens, or if you experience symptoms such as significant weakness in your arms or legs, trouble standing or walking, or persistent pain that doesn’t improve with home care after a few days, you should seek medical attention. Additionally, if you experience tingling, numbness, or loss of bowel or bladder control, it's crucial to see a doctor promptly.
Take care, and I hope you feel better soon! Let me know if you have any more questions or need further assistance.
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