Pain, aching and burning on right side of neck, shoulder and shoulder blade area, and forearm and wrist and hand pain

[Realist1One]

I had a old basketball injury that came back and hunt me. I did a bad dunk and swung on the rim and fall on my wrist and the whole arm was extended like I was trying to catch my fall. I fracture a bone in my wrist, and I had mild pain in my shoulder but I just shook it off and I guess shaking it off so much it became worst.

I have had these symptoms subject above for 2 and ½ years now and doctors can’t figure out what’s wrong with me. I did a MRI nothing jumps out on my MRI for my right side of neck, shoulder, but for my wrist MRI it showed that I had fluid in there and that was last year the fluid comes and goes now. The Pain tended to hurt every day I can sit or laying down, drive, cook, walk, and etc it still hurt.. it is a dull, burning pain, my fingers tingle sometimes now sometimes I have upper chest pain. The pain have its days when the pain get worst, but it is a constant pain and it is getting on my nerves. I did Physical therapy and that didn’t help at all. All they did was putting electro pads on my neck and shoulder then heat and after that they pop my back and neck and I all he was doing was making the pain worst but it did take the stiff tension from my neck that’s it. They said I might have a nerve problem and I had to go to neurology and they said that everything looks good. So what is wrong with my right side

[Realist1One]

I had 3 surgeries on my left wrist because I a bone spear, bone scope, and a cyst remove. and that wrist been in pain for a good min until my right side started to hurt worst. Now it is hurt off and on. it feel like it is traveling to my left side of my neck and my wrist. I did traction the other day and my right side was in dire pain. They told me after I did traction to stop the next appointments cause it is not going to help me at all. it is like the pain is above my right side ear lobe, to my neck, upper chest between the top part collar bone to under my arm pit, shoulder, shoulder blade, and between spine and shoulder blade. then to my elbow, to my forearm and my wrist.

[Tuckamore]

The nausea, chest pain and gas really sound like it is related to GERD or a similar condition. Have you had a scope done or been evaluated for GERD?

Pain can also cause nausea and sometimes headaches but not generally chest pain or burping. It sounds more like you have two different things going on rather than one. I am far from a physician or an expert.

The shoulder, forearm, elbow and wrist pain is more than likely from the original injury or referred pain coming from one condition or location. I'm assuming that it is from the shoulder of cervical spine area. Sometimes you can experience sympathy pain in another location than your actual pain is located and that may be why you are feeling pain in the opposite wrist. It's a guess.

I know that the military can be restricting but I encourage you to continue to search for answers. I really think that the possibility of a upper GI issues needs to be explored. It could account for some or even half of your distress.

[Realist1One]

also headaches sometimes

[Realist1One]

these are the symptons I have right now
I get nausa in the mornings and a something through out the day,
right side of neck has burning, dull pain,
right upper chest pain its like a stabbing pain like I have gas and I'm burping a lot,
right wrist and sometimes the left wrist pain is has a sharp stabing, stiff, tiggling feeling... Forearm is the same and my elbow too.
right shoulder and shoulder blade pain like sharp, burning dull pain and being fatigue a lot..


By looking at this what you think I have.

[Tuckamore]

I did respond for the second time to your posted but some how my computer lost it. Sorry. So let me try again.

A think your request to redo all the tests is realistic. I encourage you to find a physician that will honor your request. And I encourage you to take charge of your health care and be assertive. You won't be sorry.

Sometimes we have to face that whatever we have isn't "fixable." We will be in pain management for the remainder of our lives. It's not a great thought but it is a reality for some of us. However that doesn't mean that you shouldn't keep searching for answers and that you won't find a resolution.

Have you considered consulting a DO (Doctor of Osteopathy). I saw multiple specialist over many years that could find nothing wrong with me. Then after two visits with a DO I had a definitive diagnosis (DX). I am not saying that a DO will have a DX for you but it may be worth considering.      

I too have been told that PT is useless for me although I have been through a program several times. My neurosurgeon recommended I get into Pilates.

You mentioned the military. Did I miss something? Are you in the military? Please keep in touch. I am very hopeful that you will find a solution to your pain.

[Realist1One]

They did a  MRI on my neck area and on my shoulder with out contrast. I talk to a couple of military doc's and they said they don't use contrast on the neck. I went to Pt and they are going to start traction on me. The Pt doc said he believe it will not work for me, because he it tried  o do it with his hands and it hurt worst. He believe that pain management will help me out better.

I'm not giving up trying to find whats wrong with me. I'm just giving up on the military because I can't do my military duties and it going to take a good time for myself get better. The time I will show improvement they will be ready to kick me out. so I might as well do it before they do it.

[Mollyrae]

Hi Realist1One:

Sorry for the injury. After reading your story, I'm wondering as to what area the MRI was done. If the MRI was done on the shoulder area, it may not show the cause of pain if it's related to your muscles. Muscle injuries take a very long time to heal and if you re-injure it (and you really don't have to do much to re-injure it) can lead to pain like it happened yesterday and the MRI will not show it.

It also sound like you're having Back issues. This is why I asked on what part of the body had the MRI. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to have an MRI done in that area. Falling the way you did could have also injures the spine and at the time, didn't even realize it. It sounds funny but sometimes holding a gallon of milk can throw the back out.

Contrast related MRI's as Tuck suggested can be much more helpful rather than one without. That may also be something to ask your Doctor about.

The body can be mysterious when trying to find illnesses and causes for pain. The more you keep at the medical world, the better and closer you are to finding an answer. Don't give up.

I really hope this helps as well. Take care and good luck,
Mollyrae

[Realist1One]

No I didn't received the contrast in my MRI.. I ask my Doc to see if I can get another MRI done but this time with the Contrast and she said no. When she said that I told her I will like a second opinion and she refer me to ortho / sports medicine.

I talk to Sports Med  and they said I need to go to neurology and if everything shows up negitive they was going to send me to pain management to treat the pain..I think they are picking straws trying to figure out thats wrong with me.. He told me to make appt to neuro and P.T. P.T.are going to try something different than the other mil bases did.I already. i know it not going to work because they dont know what I have, just or maybe a nerve problem. I did neuro yesterday and thats when I found out it was negitive. I want them to redo all my test and do a blood test for cancer or tomars, anything right now.my next appointment for my doc is 9 Apr. I will get back with you when I find out what they are going to do,

Thanks for comment me on my page, and I hope it works and i will keep you updated if you like

[Realist1One]

No I didn't received the contrast in my MRI.. I ask my Doc to see if I can get another MRI done but this time with the Contrast and she said no. When she said that I told her I will like a second opinion and she refer me to ortho / sports medicine.

I talk to Sports Med  and they said I need to go to neurology and if everything shows up negitive they was going to send me to pain management to treat the pain..I think they are picking straws trying to figure out thats wrong with me.. Then he told me to make appt to neuro and P.T. P.T.are going to try something different than the other mil bases did.I already. i know it not going to work because they dont know what I have just maybe a nerve problem. I did neuro yesterday and thats when I fiound out it was negitive

[Tuckamore]

Hello Realist,

Weclome to MedHelp's Pain Mangement Forum. I am so sorry to hear about your on going pain. We all know how destructive chronic pain can be in our daily lives.

You've asked a very good question. I can't tell you what's wrong with your right side but I can tell you that tests don't always reveal the entire story.

You had an MRI, was it done with contrast? Contrast provides a much better enhanced imagining. No test, even a contrast MRI's is 100% in detecting an abnormality. I understand there are some new high-resolution MRIs which provide greater enhancement and imagining of many tissues and structures including nerves.

Bottom line is just because nothing shows on imaging does not mean that there is nothing wrong. Your pain does sound nerve related. If I were you I would seek out second, even third opinions. Large teaching hospitals usually have the most recent technology available. These institutions seem more geared to diagnosing difficult symptoms presenting situations. So locating a physician associated with these institutions may be beneficial.

A few years ago my father had extreme debilitating buttock, hip and leg pain. He could not sit or walk. An MRI revealed an abnormal disc, probably a bulging disc. His astute orthopedic surgeon decided to "take a look" so surgery was scheduled.  Much to the surgeon's surprise the disc was shattered, entrapping a nerve and tiny fragments were every where. The extreme condition of the disc was not revealed on the MRI. His surgeon stated that this was not as uncommon as one would imagine.  

So my suggestion is to keep searching for someone that can diagnosis your pain. In the mean time I hope your pain is being managed. If not be assertive and request something to manage your pain. Fluid build up is usually indicative of inflammation and injury to bone or tissue. It is never there for no reason.

Please let us know how you are doing. We will look forward to your updates. Remember that you are your own best health care advocate.

Take Care,
Tuck