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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Source of Pain?
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury.
Source of Pain?
by Kiwi01, Oct 05, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Doctor,
I have had a pain for about 9 months that my doctors are not sure about. The pain comes on when I exercise (walk). Its most commom pattern is that the pain starts on the inside of the right elbow after walking for about 5-10 minutes and then spreads up near the bicep or tricep or even the right shoulder. Sometimes there will be a slight numbing sensation in the hand or fingers. The pain tends to subside somewhat as I get 20-25 minutes into the walk. My orthopedic doctor thinks it is tendonitis and says we can inject the shoulder or wait longer and see if it gets better by doing shoulder strenthening and stretching exercises. We are puzzled a little because the pain can only be somewhat reproduced and that it comes on with exertion even when trying to hold the right arm steady. I would appreciate your insight into other possibilities of the cause of the pain, ways to better diagnose it or any other suggestions. Thank you.
I have had a pain for about 9 months that my doctors are not sure about. The pain comes on when I exercise (walk). Its most commom pattern is that the pain starts on the inside of the right elbow after walking for about 5-10 minutes and then spreads up near the bicep or tricep or even the right shoulder. Sometimes there will be a slight numbing sensation in the hand or fingers. The pain tends to subside somewhat as I get 20-25 minutes into the walk. My orthopedic doctor thinks it is tendonitis and says we can inject the shoulder or wait longer and see if it gets better by doing shoulder strenthening and stretching exercises. We are puzzled a little because the pain can only be somewhat reproduced and that it comes on with exertion even when trying to hold the right arm steady. I would appreciate your insight into other possibilities of the cause of the pain, ways to better diagnose it or any other suggestions. Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Oct 05, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Terry:
Sorry to hear about your arm problem. It is alittle puzzling that the pain only occurs when you walk and not at other times when you are active. Let's suppose that it was a nerve from the cervical spine, then one would expect the pain to occur when you did similar motions, at what ever activity your engaged in. However, that doesn't happen. So, if was a nerve problem then you should see it at other times when your arm and shoulder are producing the same motion. I think I would lean toward not thinking this was a nerve problem. The only possibility that I can think of is if your ulnar nerve was mildly entrapped and by walking your aggrevating it. That might be detected by EMG. I would be more inclined to consider vascular etiologies. It only occurs when you exercise and your arm is actively moving. It may be that you have a narrowing of an artery or the way your shoulder sways? It is difficult for me to say over the internet. I am not sure why a tendonitis would cause pain in the shoulder and hand, but I am not an orthopedic surgeon.
Sorry, but I am abit baffled.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
Sorry to hear about your arm problem. It is alittle puzzling that the pain only occurs when you walk and not at other times when you are active. Let's suppose that it was a nerve from the cervical spine, then one would expect the pain to occur when you did similar motions, at what ever activity your engaged in. However, that doesn't happen. So, if was a nerve problem then you should see it at other times when your arm and shoulder are producing the same motion. I think I would lean toward not thinking this was a nerve problem. The only possibility that I can think of is if your ulnar nerve was mildly entrapped and by walking your aggrevating it. That might be detected by EMG. I would be more inclined to consider vascular etiologies. It only occurs when you exercise and your arm is actively moving. It may be that you have a narrowing of an artery or the way your shoulder sways? It is difficult for me to say over the internet. I am not sure why a tendonitis would cause pain in the shoulder and hand, but I am not an orthopedic surgeon.
Sorry, but I am abit baffled.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
