cutting down on PPIs: dull ache in between shoulder blades

I am a 37 year old female with a normal weight BMI. I have been on 40 mg Nexium since 5/2017 for GERD and LPR. I started slowly cutting down November 2017. I am currently on 30 mg Nexium and really struggling. I don’t have heartburn or voice issues again, but I have a dull ache between my shoulder blades. It has gotten worse and worse the more I cut down on the Nexium. Sometimes it is almost debillitating and I feel scared of esophagus issues. Sometimes the pain goes up to my neck and down my back. I am currently taking mastic gum between meals, 75 mg ranitidine, chewing DGL licorice, taking digestive enzymes, and drinking aloe vera juice before meals. I am on a probiotic and drinking apple cider vinegar in water twice per day. I have tried dietary changes and have recently given up sugary sweets. I am drinking alkaline water.

My question is, should I be worried about the nearly constant dull ache between my shoulder blades or is this a normal part of acid rebound? If it’s normal, I can persevere through the pain and keep cutting down on that horrid PPI. Has anyone else dealt with this? I am considering making an appointment with my PCP, but they always say I should increase my PPI as high as possible. I am tired of drugs. I am only 37 years old. I have tried getting off PPIs once before in 2016 and it worked for awhile, but then I had shooting pain in my back and chest. I got scared at that point and started up again and increased from 20 mg to 40 mg per my PCP’s instructions. I have been on and off Nexium and Omeprazole off and on since 2015. I have had 2 endoscopies. The one in 2015 showed a small hiatal hernia and mild gastritis and the one in 2017 did not show a hernia and looked pretty good. I am grateful for any help.

I get pain in between my shoulder blades as well although I am not sure if its a symptom of acid reflux or physical. I know my Chiropractor has seen that my first rib slips up from time to time which cause pain in the upper back/chest.

I would try to go see a Chrio and get there opinion, however it is weird that it happens when you ween off the PPI's.

I have the same pain between the shoulder blades. I was taking pantoprazole but the pain was worse. So I stopped taking it. The pain goes away at night and return about 11 am-noon and stays most of the day on and off.

I will see a GI in April so maybe he will help. I will let you know. And yes, the pain is not incapacitating but there all day. I also suffer anxiety so it is making it worse. Also let me know if you find something.

Hi Jenga 21,
I went to the GI and had an endoscopy done. My esophagus is burnt from acid and my hiatal hernia is 4cm. The doctor suggested 300 mg twice per day of rantidine and gaviscon 10 min after every meal. It has been working but my anxiety is so high right now that the pain is back. So I am not really sure if it is due to anxiety or GERD. Have you found any solution?

Hi AnxietyKelller,

My pain is getting worse or a bit sharper, so I'm increasing my ranitidine to 150 mg twice per day tomorrow. I take Gaviscon after dinner and am thinking of taking it between meals as well. Do you take the liquid form or the tablets? If you take the tablets, how many do you take after each meal?