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Shoulder, Upper arm pain, upper mid back........pinched Nerve

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Shoulder, Upper arm pain, upper mid back........pinched Nerve

by Domino1124, Oct 02, 2005 12:00AM

Tags: pain, neuromuscular, Neurology

I've had a pain at the top of my shoulder now for about a week. It's travel's at times from there to that little knot that connects the back of your neck to your shoulder blade, and then to my bicep (if I had one)down to the elbow area (the front part actually). the arm part doesnt really hurt, though at time I feel pain and a need to reach back and squeeze that knot or the top part of my shoulder/arm. but it is such a big dull ache that I can barely concentrate at times. When the pain does come I feel like I have to move it to get relief but no kind of movement helps. The whole area at differnet spots at times get's really tingly (the tingly feeling is closer to the way your skin feels after pulling open the oven rack and the oven mit fell. Kinda like a singed feeling. Does anyone know what I mean?) to the point of thinking it's itchy and just the slight pressure of a warm squeeze or light rubbing very temporarily helps (meaning feels okay only while being rubbed or squeezed). I've been told by friends that I am favoring my right side. I have been told by a doctor that I do indeed have a pinched nerve and was prescribed Skelaxin 800mgs to be taken twice a day and Naproxen 500 mgs to be taken 3 times a day. I started taking the meds a day and one half ago and have no relief. How long does it take this medicine to start working? What can I do to help it? Thx

Doctor's Answer

by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, Oct 06, 2005 12:00AM

You may indeed have a pinched nerve in the neck - maybe at the C5 or C6 level. This could cause tingling or numbness in the shoulder/scapular area radiating down to the upper arm, and potentially weakness of external rotation of the arm or arm abduction (raising the arm). The diagnosis may be clinically apparent in the neurological examination by sensory exam, muscle weakness, and reflexes. If there is a clear precipitant, an MRI of teh neck may not be necessary, but usually it is good to do an MRI to look for whats compressing the nerve root - usually an osteophyte or some bony spur related to wear and tear but more rarely a growth or disc. Surgery is only done in cases of intractable pain or progressive neurological dysfunction (ie losin gmuscle strength in the arm). An EMG needle study of the arm can also confirm the diagnosis and asses the severity. Naproxen and other anti-inflammatories have an immediate analgesic effect but the anti-inflammatoy effect takes about 7-10 days to kick in, be patient! Many times these pinched nerves resolvewith conservative therapy. Be sure to follow with your doctor andupdate him with your progress.

Member Comments (6)

by jelly bean, Oct 09, 2005 12:00AM

Thank god for the internet. I have been suffering for two months with a horrible burning and tingling in both arms, shoulders,legs and chest. It comes and goes and seems to be worse at night and keeps me awake. I have also felt weak and tired and was feeling like I was the only one in the world feeling this way. I am getting a referal from my general physician to go to a neurologists and truly hope that he can provide me with some answers. I found it most interesting that so many people suffer with the same symptoms and it gives me hope that I can find an answer. Thanks everyone for your comments and for sharing your information.

by karebear1, Oct 12, 2005 12:00AM

Hi everyone,

First time here. I'm hoping that I can get some answers or maybe at least some advice. I have been having reoccurring episodes of pain fro about 3-4 yrs now. It has not allowed me to work for 3 months and I'm confused as to why I can't get pain relief. I have pain at the back of my head,which causes headaches repeatedly,pain also down my neck across my shoulders and down my right arm. Doctor thinks it is Fibromylgia I don't think so.Sending me for an mri end of October. Hopefully I will get some answers then.My thought it is from a car accident I was in Oct/2000 hense a pinched nerve? Any thoughts? Emg came back normal. Just looking for some explanation.

by steevo, Oct 18, 2005 12:00AM

Maybe this might help or scare you I don't know. I had surgery 4 weeks ago after trying 12 weeks of non-operative procedures for the pains I had in my shoulders,arms and hand. The nerves between the c-5 to t-1 all affect these areas, so far as I've learned from my reading. I had 1 level of fusion done at c-6 to c-7 anterior and a posterior surgery to remove a bone chip with hardware installed, I did not want surgery but the bone chip was not going away by itself. Yes I do still have the pains but was told in time the nerves and muscles will heal and the pain should go away. We'll see. My arm strength seems to be comming back, I to have lost some size of the bicep. Could it be possible there is something wrong at c-5 to c-6 level to that was missed? Hey karebear I'm no expert but pinched nerves in the upper c region can cause headaches. I don't know what fibromyglia is but I would suggest for you to look it up along with anything else related to your problems. The more you learn the better you'll be. Hope this helps. steevo

by divinedimepiece, Nov 03, 2005 12:00AM

Hey....ive been having trouble with my upper back...i went to the doctor and was told that it was a tight muscle irritating a nerve...she told me to just stretch it...but I was wondering is there anything else I can do..because that seems to not be working.......

by mikky, Nov 05, 2005 12:00AM

I tried to stretch myself having got up from bed this morning as always, and felt this bad, excruciating pain in the upper part of my back- where the right arm joins with the back. after relaxing for a while, it seemed subsided, tried a body twist to the right side and it hurts but hurts even more when i take a deep breathe. i also had ringing in my ear for two weeks, now only in the right ear. dizziness, headache, backache and feverish feelings have all been part of me in the past one year or so. sometimes, i feel something like a fly touch the centre of my head which is always clean-shaven, and despite several efforts and series of xrays, blood, urine tests and abdominal c.t scan by my g.p, nothing unusual has been found. i also feel some swelling in the lower right part of my stomach. sometimes, i feel like collapsing when i walk, just as if my legs are not strong enough to carry me. could someone please help me?

by sarita541, Feb 28, 2008 03:26PM

A related discussion, Satish was started.

by bert434, Mar 28, 2008 09:11AM

A related discussion, back, leg. upper arm and shoulder pain was started.

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