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Can A Rotator Cuff Injury Cause Extreme Chest And Back Pain?

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Posted on Wed, 14 Jun 2017
Question: Can a rotator cuff injury cause extreme chest and back pain? I have severe pain in my upper chest and it is very painful to take a deep breath, cough, or even speaking loudly. I also have back pain behind my armpit area. I was diagnosed with rotator cuff injury due to the doctor inflicting increased pain in these by moving my arm in various positions. I do have pain in my shoulder and I feel ripples when I move my arm in certain positions. This makes sense to me with this symptom, but the chest and back pain are worrisome. I had rotator cuff surgery on my right arm 5 years ago and these symptoms were not present.
Thank you kindly for your time,

XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Looks other muscles are involved

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for the query and details.

We rarely see such good descriptions. At the outset it looks to be muscular in nature, i mean the chest pain and back pain. Your classical description of pain during cough, deep breath and loud speaking was apparent. However these kind of pains would be little with 2week NSAIDs. If NSAIDs and PT does not help it has to be further evaluated before a surgery was performed.
A shoulder joint MRI should help. Rotator cuff injury is primary but secondarily there could be other muscles involved. Why was there a rotator cuff injury there in the first place? I do not think vigorous movements during examination would injure in a 50 yr old. So the other reasons should be determined by the Orthopedic surgeon or Joint surgeon.

Thank you.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. V. N. S. Parinam

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 1727 Questions

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Can A Rotator Cuff Injury Cause Extreme Chest And Back Pain?

Brief Answer: Looks other muscles are involved Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for the query and details. We rarely see such good descriptions. At the outset it looks to be muscular in nature, i mean the chest pain and back pain. Your classical description of pain during cough, deep breath and loud speaking was apparent. However these kind of pains would be little with 2week NSAIDs. If NSAIDs and PT does not help it has to be further evaluated before a surgery was performed. A shoulder joint MRI should help. Rotator cuff injury is primary but secondarily there could be other muscles involved. Why was there a rotator cuff injury there in the first place? I do not think vigorous movements during examination would injure in a 50 yr old. So the other reasons should be determined by the Orthopedic surgeon or Joint surgeon. Thank you.