Joanne,
My best guess (because I'm dealing with something very similar) would/could be cervical myelopathy which can involve neck, shoulder, arm and leg. Take a look and see if any of those symptoms march up at all, and if so, schedule am MRI.
Best,
jrodi
Dear Dr. Kaul,
Thanks for the information. I was referred to PT by the Ortho. I haven't gone yet, because for 2 mos prior to seeing him I had PT and it didn't seem to do much. I feel as if it will be a waste of time. I guess my concern would be the whole side feeling odd. Is there diagnosis that involves the arm and leg at the same time? It's not weakness as I can use my leg and arm but it feels odd. Also, if it is nerve impingement, what would be treatment for that? Just curious. Thanks again for your help!! I really appreciate it.
Regards,
Joanne
Hi there!
Well, without a detailed clinical evaluation it would be difficult to determine the cause of your symptoms. Possibilities that may need to be considered include muscle/ ligament/ tendon tears/ injuries, nerve impingement, degeneration, capsulitis, bursitis, tendonitis, fractures, growths/ masses, ischemia, referred pain from other regions such as the respiratory/ GI tract etc. I would suggest resting the arm for a while and avoiding heavy activity around the joint. Tylenol/ OTC NSAIDS may be helpful for pain relief. After an initial period of rest for a few days, physiotherapy to strengthen the muscles around the joint may be initiated. If there is no improvement with the measures in 4-6 weeks, I would suggest seeking a review with your treating orthopedician to look for other secondary issues and for suggestion of an appropriate management plan.
Hope this helps.
Take care!