Question
I'm having pain in my neck and between my shoulder blades. It started in the evening a couple of days ago and is now slowly easing off. This happens periodically and is seemingly random. I also tend to have some slight numbness in my feet and toes. The pain and stiffness get so bad that its almost debilitating when it happens. Any ideas as to what might be causing this? Thank You.

Answer
Hi Kevin,

Pain between the shoulder blades in most often the rhomboid muscles and related to a slumped posture as these muscles become overstretched and weakened. When scar tissue is involved, it can become a chronic problem.

That being said, pain between the shoulder blades can also result from a disc problem at the sixth and seventh neck bones or cervical vertebrae and this can effect the seventh and eighth nerve roots. Typically there are other symptoms like pain and/or numbness/tingling in the last three fingers and pinky side of the forearm. There can be weakness of the triceps muscle along with bending your wrist down or extending your fingers up.

That being said, there is also the question of whether the numbness in your feet is related to a problem in the neck. This could be a separate issue and may be related to a lower back or vascular problem, however; if there is a problem with the disc in the neck, like a broad backward (posterior) soft herniation with or without central stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal from a hard tissue problem - arthritic or congenital narrowing), it could be possible that the symptoms in your feet are due to a problem in the neck or a similar situation in your back.

A disc problem or stenosis can place pressure on the spinal cord or its covering, the thecal sac. Symptoms may present as numbness/tingling or weakness and lack of coordination in the legs.

You may notice the problem in your feet act up as your neck/between shoulders acts up and this might indicate a correlation. As stated, this could be a separate issue related to the back.

So, either a chronic muscular problem or possible disc and/or central stenosis issue. An orthopedic/neurological examination is needed. If not muscular in origin, an MRI of the cervical spine and/or lumbar spine would show these issues.

I hope this helps.

Kind regards.

Dr. Steve