shoulder pain

In May 2008, my truckdriver husband suffered an obstruction intestinally.  The VA hospital in South Dakota operated 3 times in 20 days and finally removed scar tissue from an earlier obstruction in 1978 for a total now of 13" of his small intestine being removed.  In September, he started having pain in his left bicept which progressed upward and inward to include both shoulders.  He is in constant pain shooting down into his hands and fingers.  His fingers tingle and he often wakes up in the middle of the night with his arms sleeping and bone pain driving him to toss and turn constantly to find a 'spot'.  He has been on 6 months of coumadine and heparin earlier for a massive blood clot suffered in his left thigh that threw a small clot into his right lung June 16, and he was on a respirator for 5 days for the second time in a month.
He has had morphine, Fenfen, Tylenol, and hydrocodone 10 mg/acetametophine 500 which he still takes to "dull" it for now.
A chiropractor has tried to help to no avail.  He is scheduled for a cervical MRI Monday, January 19th and to see a neurologist.  What can we do to stop the pain?

[Prem Pillay, MD]

He may have cervical spine problems causing this. I do agree that he needs a neuro and spine evaluation and an MRI of his neck.
It would be best to see your family doctor for pain meds in the meantime.

Dr Prem Pillay