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Arm pain and headache not helped with ibuprofen ?

Not sure if these two are even related... But for the past three days I've had arm pain that feels sort of like an extreme circulation cut off/ it comes and goes bit seems worse when I'm in bed. I first noticed it Saturday when I was putting my hair in a ponytail, my arm seemed to hurt so bad I had to stop. But it's hurting off and on at rest as well. I also have lots of belching. Not sure if indigestion or something like that could cause arm pain ?? Another thing that I'm not sure if its connected or not --- I've had a headache for two days that hurts even worse when I move around and ibuprofen isn't helping :( any advice besides go to the doctor ?? Yes I know I need to but I've been sickly for a while (doctors have found nothing) and its caused me to keep getting denied every time I apply or insurance .. I'm way in debt from going to the hospital before and them finding nothing so I only want to go if absolute necessary
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363281 tn?1643235611
COMMUNITY LEADER
I would like to add my two cents as well. If a person has this issue and has tried everything else with little or no success, then I feel that seeing a chiropractor would be beneficial. If it is due to pinched nerves, the issue will not get better until the nerve has been released from what it causing the impingement, which is usually a misaligned vertebrae. The chiropractor will take some x-rays, look them over and discuss the findings. He/she will also tell you if your case can be helped with chiropractic adjustments. After a few treatments, you should start feeling better.
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Avatar universal
Sorry about resurrecting this topic. By now your complaints will have evolved, for better or worse, so I doubt my advice will help you at this point. Still, a lot of people suffer from this problem, so this might still help someone with similar symptoms who is browsing the web.
Going to a doctor has the advantage that he/she examines you. This means ruling out different causes by an elimination process, testing passive structures (ligaments, joint capsule, bursa), active structures (muscles), nerve function and blood vessels. Also, if a doctor suspects there might be an underlying problem which is not directly related to the locomotor system (think of heart attacks, infection, nutritional imbalances, organ failure such as kidneys or liver, etc..), a doctor is the perfect person to do (or request) additional diagnostics (RX-foto, MRI-scan, blood analysis, DNA-analysis, ..). Certain form of treatment are the sole domain of doctors too, think of prescription of medication or injection.
That being said, going on the little information we have to go on... The complaints seem related to a specific movement (pony tail) which suggests a problem of the locomotor system, I'd rule out heart attack or blood clots (you don't mention pale skin or blue swelling). You also mentioned pain builds up in the afternoon, which makes me think of bad posture or a badly executed repetitive action. It really does seem like a nerve which is being pinched, nerve symptoms may or may not include any of the following : hard to localize pain within the arm, superficial burning sensation or hypersensitivity of well definable areas of the skin, pin prick like tingling, or even numbness of certain skin areas, muscle weakness or paralysis (immediately seek medical advice).
So what could cause a nerve to be compressed? A herniation of a vertebral disc (it happens), tumors (rare), compression by neck muscles (m. scaleni) or slouched shoulders / hyperextended neck (very common), an extra cervical rib (uncommon), pressure from outside your body (narrow bra-straps, heavy purse, resting your arm on an edge, etc..), swelling, trauma. I'd rule out carpal tunnel syndrome (nerves compressed in the wrist) since you have symptoms in the lower arm.
Therapy : I am a fan of good massages, this may help locate the exact structures which are causing the problems. Careful stretching of the neck muscles. Relaxation of neck muscles by certain exercises (sighing, suddenly dropping your shoulders). Gentle mobilization / stretch of the arm nerves. Posture correction, try to balance your head onto your vertebrae, taking the load of neck muscles, allowing your muscles to relax. Elastic tape might help you to support certain movements and make you aware of unhelpful posture. Also, look for daily activities that hurt, use your pain in a positive way to identify the cause, then try to improve or avoid the way you do that. Maybe a life-style consultant / psychologist / haptonomist / yoga-instructor could guide you. Possibly you could benefit from drugs or an infiltration, again, for which you need to see a doctor.
Hope this helps someone.
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Avatar universal
Also, if it was a blood clot would it only hurt in one specific spot though ? Cuz there are several different spots thru out the arm that the pain comes and goes.. Like its mainly my whole entire forearm but then every once and a while it hurts close to my wrist or elbow. Anyone have any insight on this ?
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Avatar universal
Also just to note the headache went away after about three days but tomorrow will be a week with the arm pain. Should I be worried about blod clots ? It's not a severe pain and it comes and goes.. Most of the time the pain doesn't even come on til afternoon
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Avatar universal
Hmm... Well, it's been a week and I've been on the couch most of the week so i don't * think* it's movement or rest that effects it but who knows. I guess we will see how it turns out. It always subsides when I take tums or gas x too... Is there any digestive issue or gerd or anything that anyone knows that causes this ?? Seems very odd but It would be a very big coincidence all these times.. Thanks for the advice again !
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1 Comments
So I know this is an old post but did you ever find the problem. Been dealing with the exact same symptoms on and off for a few months.
4851940 tn?1515694593
Possibly.
The more you rest it, it will allow time to heal.  

Wishing you a speedy recovery.
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Avatar universal
It's now been 6 days and I still have it off and on every day...  Would it  still be nerve pain even if it doesn't tingle? It's just more of a weakness and like someone is squeezing it feeling ? Thanks so much for the advice guys
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Avatar universal
Yes I'm a nurse and I agree it sounds like nerve pain
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Avatar universal
Youre not going to like this answer.....but you do need to go to the doc. It sounds like it could possibly be nerve pain in your arm which can also travel the nerve pathway to your head. Motrin wont help with that type of pain....sorry to say :/ If going to the doc is totally out of the qiestion then i suggest ice and topical treatment like icy hot. I say this because i injured two of my brachial plexus nerves and i self treated for a few weeks hoping the pain would subside when the nerve relaxed. It was a no go....however on the brighter side it could be probable that you simply pinched a nerve by tweaking it the wrong way. Most pinched nerves heal on their own if you rest the area and do the treatments i listed. As far as the belching goes....im not aware of how much motrin you have been taking but it is very hard on the stomach. You could possibly he having some acid reflux. That can be taken care of with otc zantac taken as needed or prilosec daily for long term treatment. I hope i was of some help. Good luck..nerve pain is a doozy...keep me posted!
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4851940 tn?1515694593
If you are still taking the Ibuprofen, I would suggest that you stop taking it as it is not helping you.  Also Ibuprofen can cause stomach problems and some people are not able to take it because of adverse side effects.
Ibuprofen is not a pain reliever, it is an anti-inflammatory drug.

For pain relief you would be better off taking normal pain relief medications like paracetamol, taking the dosage as recommended on the packet.

Your arm pain may be related to the neck part of the spinal column.  If you mean that you feel like pins and needles when you say the circulation is cut off, this is likely to be either a pinched nerve in the neck area of your spine, or a condition called carpal tunnel syndrome.  

You may benefit from a shoulder and neck massage with some massage oil (your partner or friend can do this for you).

If it is a carpal tunnel problem (the carpal tunnel is in the wrist area), you will need to rest the wrist and immobilise it by either strapping round a bandage around your hand, wrist and half way up the arm, or by purchasing a wrist splint.  The supports come separately for the left and right hand and are Velcroed in to place.  They have a metal bar inside the support and this is placed on the palm side of your hand.  This type of support stops the movement of the wrist and allows it to heal.

If you do any repetitive work, you will need to think about changing or minimising what you do so as the condition does not get any worse.  If you continue to ignore the symptoms and carry on with repetitive use of the hand, it will get worse.  

Carpal tunnel syndrome is usually felt as pins and needles in the hand and fingers.  But if it actual pain that you are feeling it may be overuse of the tendons and tendon sheaths and again, to help recovery, it needs to be rested and not overused.

If you have got a problem with the neck, that will also cause headaches.
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