Expert: Dr. Paul Newhart - 9/5/2008

Question
Hi

My wife is in terrible pain, she had lower back surgery to fix a blown disk.  With the back pain she is have terrible shoulder pain, (one is raised higher than the other). She says it radiates from her chestbone up through her right shoulder and down her right arm...what could this be, and what treatments are available?

Thanks!

Answer
Without a thorough exam, this will be a shot in the dark.  She can have a number of things happening:  spasm from the low back to the shoulder blades, creating the spasm, a mislaigned rib, a misalignment in general.  I would suggest seeing a good chiropractor, have her assessed and treated, and a proper rehab program set up.