Painful muscle spasms in should/trap

I've been suffering from very large and painful muscle spasms in my left trap and shoulder. Sometimes they are so bad that my left trap appears significantly larger than my right. I've tried several muscle relaxers- soma, flexeril and valium and none of them have done any good. Currently I've started on baclofen, which so far has actually given me some relief, but it has not eliminated the spasms. Along with muscle relaxers, I've tried heat, massage, rest and ice, all with little effect. I also exercise 4 times a week and I stretch almost every day, which helps a little. The muscle is basically contracted all day, and it's been going on for about 2 years now. A massage feels wonderful, and I can the muscle feels like a rock when it's rubbed, each masseuse has been shocked and commented on how hard/tight it feels. The muscle will relax a little, but not completely after a massage, but within 10-15 minutes it feels just as tight as it did before the massage. Does anyone know of anything that can help reduce or eliminate this problem? Any certain stretches or therapies that might help? I would greatly appreciate any suggestions.

 

Also:

I've also tried icy hot patches and cream, tiger balm patches and cream, capsacin cream, lidoderm and flextor patches- all with very little or no relief.

Have you tried Physical Therapy (PT) with them using the ultra sound machine?
it helps me along with everything else you mentioned....
I also have a home tens unit which my physical therapist instructed where to place the pads...
do you see a pain management doctor? or just your pcp (primary care physician)?
ask your doctor about a neck and shoulder MRI and or nerve testing...
Good Luck to you and hope this info helps...

mrtom-
Sounds strange, but I had a similar bout with shoulder pain and found out is was my acid reflux showing up in my shoulder. It made my left shoulder hurt so bad and it was also swollen up. My PCP tried muscle relaxers and they didn't help. They ordered an MRI, but I decided to try my left over PPIs and after 15 to 20 minutes it went away. I had been dealing with this for about a month and was going crazy from the pain and nothing would stop it. Not saying this is the same thing, but if you happen to have this problem also you might want to give it a try. I took 2 of my Prevacid and it went away in less than a half and hour. They did find some arthritis in the shoulder, but it doesn't hurt that bad.

Take care,
Bill

Hi Mrtom82,

Welcome to HW ,

i would like to introduce myself name is leisa from Australaia.

Sorry to heaar of your pain, i do hope you can find some effective pain relief, we deserve it!
I have the exact problems as you shoulder pain, muscles spasam trap pain ,neck pain .
Everything you have explauined is exactly what i am going through, my muscles are to constantly contracted casusing severe burning pain, & pins & needles numbness.

Like you i to have not been able idenify the causes.
I to have had massage theraphy etc... and a few other treatments and like you said within 15 to 20 minutes pain comes back.

I Would suggest you see a gp or specialist to identfy the causes. you need to find out why this is occuring, to know how to deal with it.
and have a care plan in place.

I am speaking with my gp tommorow and kindly demanding a x-ray or mri , or cat scan , sl should you.
See how we go, i couldnt believe you post as its exactly the same senario as i am in. But i do have also a few other medical conditions such as scoloiois of the spine 45 degree angle- DDD -osteoarthritis- lateral wedge disc closure- axial twisting of the spine, Bone Spurs,anxiety and clinical insomnia.

Seek medical advise and keep us posted, goodluck
Keep well
Cheers
Punchfit_ Leisa

Hi mrtom,

Welcome to the chronic pain board.  I hope you find good support here.  I am glad to hear that the baclofen is helping some.  That is a wonder med for me.  I agree with the others in that you need to aggressively search for a cause.  I really don't have a lot of good advice and I really just wanted to show my support.  I know someone that has the baclofen pump.  That is when you have a pump inserted and the drug is then administered directly into the spine.  She has found it to be a Godsend.  I have had trouble with severe spasticity in one leg that resulted in my leg actually turning and becoming "toe-in" (pidgeon toed on one side).  I got botox on a series of muscles and that really helped me.

I hope you can find some relief soon.  Meanwhile, please stay and let us get to know you. 

Oh, yeah. The old pain in the shoulder. I had pain in one shoulder, radiating down the bicep and arm to the hand, last year and got an injection in the lumbar region that migrated up the channels to the head and neck, made me dizzy and also fixed the shoulder problem.

Now I have shoulder pain, just the same, in the opposite shoulder right now from bad neck injury. Neck injections and even nerve ablation and loads of PT have not gotten rid of it. Today I had a different PT that deliberately stretched my bicep vigorously and it's a little better. I know it's from a pinched nerve in the neck, just haven't gotten the right treatment yet.

I've tried all the pain meds, muscle relaxants I tolerate, including baclofen, and have not had any relief from any med.



Pain is often not caused by something going on where it feels like it is.