Constant left arm ache

[branny]

I am 25 and have constant left arm ache, it started when I was about 7mo. pregnant and has lasted for over a year. I just went to see a orthopedic dr. she took x-rays and didn't see anything. She refered me to a nerve specialist, a EMG/NCS test showed  there is no nerve damage. I have exhausted myself trying to look up anything that sounds like what I have. The ache never goes away, it seems like it's getting worse, and it now keeps me up at night. When I sleep I have to lay on top of my arm becuase the pressure helps the alleviate some of the ache.I still nurse my 10mo. old, I weighed 140 before I got pregnant and I now weigh 120 and I keep losing weight everyday, I don't know if that is just from nurseing or something else. My arm is never in pain, I can move it in any direction. There is no swelling or rashes or anything just aching non-stop. I walk about 2miles daily and strech my arm a lot because the streching makes it feel better for a couple of seconds. I am a stay-at-home mom and I am right handed so there is no repetative movements. I would really love any help. Thanks

[Guitar03]

Have you gone to the chiropractor by any chance?? bc it could be ur back or neck producing the pain, i used to work for one and beleive me i had people who couldnt move there arm, there arms would have pins and needle feelings, sharp pains, try puting ice on your arm, not heat....it could be ur muscles giving u the pain. Oh ive never been pregnant but when u nurse ur child women always lose weight, its normal. the reason y u lose weight is bc ur losing calories by feeding ur baby so therefore u lose weight......of btw(by the way) what types of symptons do u have?

[branny]

Thanks- I thought about going to a chiroprator but I wasn't for sure what they would be able to do. I thought mabey a osteopathic Dr. would be able to help more, but I will see what she says the next appt. I know you lose weight when you nurse but I'm not sure what is a reasonable amount.

[Demiguise]

Do you carry the little one w/ the arm that aches? Did this
ache start before the baby? You didn't say what part of arm
but tendon inflammation, even though suttle, can cause that
ache & laying down may straighten arm to rest tendons. A D.O.
might look at neck alignment to shoulder to dx. Their pretty
good in the skeletal dept. Maybe carry your lil' bundle w/
other arm for awhile. D.O. is a great idea. Chiro's often don't
look at the 'whole' picture. Gd-luck.

[branny]

Thanks-I'm right handed so I carry my baby with my right arm. It's the whole left arm that aches from my fingers to my shoulder.

[Demiguise]

Well, we know it's not baby directly but it's possible that the
lifting/carrying has caused a disc shift or a bulge & may be
compressing to the left nerves of spine. Nerves are on both
sides. Talk to D.O. to ck. so it doesn't get worse if it is
compression. Gd-luck.

[hoponpop]

hi Branny - take a look at the Triggerpoint Therapy Workbook by Clair Davies - I was having serious problems with my right arm/thumb and it turned out they were being caused by triggerpoints in my neck.  maybe your pain is being caused by some similar problem.  

http://www.triggerpointbook.com/travell.htm#symptomindex

[branny]

Thanks- That looks like it will be a great book-I'll have to go to the store and see if they have a copy.

[fseminario]

Hello Branny,
I have the exact same symptoms you are experiencing and let me tell no one can honestly tell what is going on. I find myself trying to diagnose the symptoms myself instead of my doctor because it aches so much. The pain is on my left arm and resonates from my elbow. I use the computer every day and have been since i was 10 years old. I am almost certain all the improper sitting positions and keyboard shortcuts graphic designers, such as myself, have to use have something to do with the everyday discomfort. It doesnt hurt at all it which is strange and during the mornings its feels at peace until i sit in the same position for too long or go to lunch and come back to my desk.

Coincidently, I just came back from getting a cortisone shot from my doctor. I was against it since day one but nothing has seemed to help. Oh and I forgot to mention. The first doctor I went to visit about my elbow had a MRI taken and diagnosed it as tendonitis. But Im left to wonder if its tendonitis howcome there is no pain! Im excited to hear anything you have found to help alleviate your discomfort.

[branny]

I'm so glad there is someone who also has the same problem! Actually yesterday I started taking Naprelan (naproxen sodium) I cant tell any change yet but I go back to the dr. in a week. The dr. also wanted me to also go to physical therapy while I am taking the Naprelan but I decided not to go- I was going to see if the meds. helped before I went to the therapy- My insurance will not cover it all. I wonder how the physical therapy would help?
I've looked up tendonitis too but like you said my arm does not hurt so I kind-of ruled it out.

[BrendaDM]

I don't know if you'll still be checking on this post since it's almost a year old, but I wanted to try anyway. I am 5 months pregnant and for about a week now I've had the exact same ache in my arm that you have. I actually found your post when I finally googled my symptoms. I wasn't thrilled to read that yours was ongoing a year later and I'm hoping that you've since discovered a cure of some kind?? Did you go to the chiropractor? Please update me with your progress if you see this post as I will definitely want to know how you overcame it if mine continues as yours did. Hope you're feeling better!

Brenda

[Lopi]

I have had this constant itching on both of my arms now for sometimes:  Is really bad and often awakes me at night.  Can you tell me what may be causing it, and what I may be able to use.  I ve tried all kinds of creams and nothing have help.  I am desperate. If you can write to my e.mail at ***@**** I will apreciate, I am in Spain thank you.

[jessi25567]

Help!!!! I always have a funny feeling in my fingers and sometimes a pain in my arm that comes and  goes it feels very uncomfortable I dont know what this may be, can you help

[yissgood]

Did anyone see the website on Google that claims this results from a lack of Potassium and can be cured with tomato based products which apparently contain Potassium? If so, please post the results.

[Vitki]

Hello... I found this forum when I was google searching for 'constant aching arm'. As per Branny's initial post I also have a constant aching left arm. It isn't exactly painful, just a constant ache. I am well into my 50's and it is a very long time since I had my babies, so nothing to do with pregnancy.  The ache is like having toothache in the arm.

I find it most annoying and distressing at night time and also lay on the arm to ease the ache.  But it also aches during the day.

The other symptom I have which may or may not be connected is the pains in both my hands when I wake up.  It is the bones that feel like they have been hit with a hammer, they are rather stiff for a while too.  I also get a numbness occassionally in half of my hand which can hang around for weeks.

Also like 'fseminario' I spend many many daily hours at a computer.  However I have also done this for almost 40yrs, so can't really see how this could be the problem.

I am hoping someone has found a reason or solution - please !!!!!

[callipyge]

Hi there,
Has anyone found a cure for this?  I have just started to have this problem, I am 22 and have not been pregnant.  Just one day it started (about 3 days ago) and for no reason.  I hadn't done anything to strain my left arm and I am left handed.  I have had problems with my wrists and fingers for about1.5 years now and no docs can diagnos the problem.  I fear it is spreading throughout my body.  It is a constant ach.  I have to apply pressure and ice constantly.  I cant sleep.  I have to wear arm braces for my hands and wrists becuz they started to go numb at night.  I can deal with the pain for them, but my arm is becoming unbearable.  I cant function.  If anyone has any advice I would greatly apprecaite it!

[babygurl4]

Hello:  I am a 24 year old female that has had a severe pain and numbness constant in my left arm/hand and left foot, leg since the age of 20.  I have gone to my family doctor several times and have gone through different tests and all tests come up with nothing wrong.  I am at the point where i am taking tylenol 3 like it's going out of style and using deep cold ice and rub a535 throughout the day. My doctor is at the point where he doesn't believe what i am saying anymore because the tests come out good.  i can't sleep at night because it keeps me awake.  The constant pain is killing me and i don't know what to do anymore.  i am at the end of my ropes.  I have never been pregnant and been tested for almost everything possible.  the doctor recently told me to start taking 10mg of amytriptoline before going to bed.  i haven't started it yet because i read up on it and it was used as an anti-depresant.  i was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis at the age of 13 years old, and it took them a year to find out what was wrong.  They kept thinking i was anarexic or bilemic.  By them taking all that time my condition got worse.  It has been almost 5 years since i have this pain that is constant and wakes me up at night that i am affraid that its something bad that the docs just can't find ... i waited 9  hours in a hospital about this problem and they bassicaly told me i was lying ... i don't know where else to turn to ... could you please help me.  Thanks.

[Liecyp]

im 16 years old and have these same symptoms
i carry a verry heavy bag at school and sit at the computer every day for at least 4 hours. i used to crack my knuckles and have only resently started again.
I only started getting these symptoms last nigth while sitting on the computer.
i have other problems to do with my chest and back.
i crack my back constantly and my ribcage and the muscles surrounding arch sometimes.  
I have had teh back and chest problems for almost 2 years and used to have panic attacks and want to sleep with my parents at age 16! because i was so worried that i was going to have a heart attack of some sort.
We have only now put it down to back pain, the way i sit and how i carry my bag.
Last night i put deep heat on my arm and it seemed to help me sleep. When i woke up it was fine. I had a shower and it has now started aching again. Its just liek the others have said. No pain but intense aching.
Hope this helps anyone, or any one has feedback on what to do.
Thanks

[ElleDee7]

Get a massager with two heads and heat, with a long handle, and find that tight spot on your shoulder blade and massage the heck out of that knot--also massage the upper arm--I use the HoMedics percussive massager, from Walmart...or walgreens, one of those places. Give it a shot--when I dig into that know, then do my arm, I am pain free for a day or so...

[cher2277]

I have got so much pain in my left arm that i really do not know what to do with myself. i went to the doctor in sept 2008 and was more or less told it was in my head after keeping going back and back they thought that it might be a clot and sent me for tests and xrays and to my horror they found a large cancerous growth on my left lung which lead me to have the lower left lobe removed for a few weeks i was in so much pain everywhere from my op i just thought that the sothe surgeon said that the pain had nothing to do with the operation or reness in my arm would go but no such luck in fact it was worse and when i went for my post op appointment the surgeon said that the soreness in my arm was nothing to do with the operation or the cancer and that he wanted me to go and see a nuerologist in the meantime while i was waiting for the appointment i went to my doctor and she said that it is tennis elbow and gave me a steriod injection which helped a little for a very short time. Anyway when i finally went to the neuroligist he says that he does not think that it is tennis elbow and he has ordered bone scans my pain is really intense and keeps me awake it is all through my arm and in the elbow and down the bottom of my arm and it is a really deep pain and so so sore can any one tell me if they have had this of kind of pain and what was the diagnoses
cher

[ElleDee7]

I am in another forum like this, same site but different 'room', and yesterday, Wendy40 left a post about Vitamin D--I read the article and it makes sense!  Here's the blog link:  http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/203187 ; and here's the Vitamin D info:

People with undetermined muscle/bone pain tend to be severely vitamin D deficient
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (Dec. 8, 2003) -- People with persistent, non-specific musculoskeletal pain should be screened regularly for vitamin D deficiency, the leading study in tomorrow's Mayo Clinic Proceedings reports. Research conducted at the University of Minnesota found that 93 percent of all subjects with non-specific musculoskeletal pain were vitamin D deficient.
A study of 150 children and adults at the University of Minnesota found that 100 percent of African-American, East African, Hispanic, and Native American subjects were vitamin D deficient. In addition, all study patients under age  vitamin D deficient. Of these, 55 percent were severely deficient. Five patients unexpectedly had no vitamin D at all.

Wendy40 also posted this:  Wow! You have got to read this article about pain...I really think I'm on the right track with Vitamin D3!
http://pain-topics.org/pdf/vitamind-brochure.pdf

Hope this helps...

[Cratylus]

I have the same exact pain and have had it before. Last time I had my back adjusted and haven't had that pain forever. I is usually caused by the 4th and 5th vertebrae. It happens when you slip a disk or have been sleeping wrong or have changed sleeping habits. It is like a throbbing ache that starts in your upper arm/elbow and then after a day or two your whole arm aches. Along with your wrist and forearm after any length of time. Seeing a chiropractor is usually the best bet, have them adjust you and then go back every month or so to keep the pain from coming back. Problem is usually sleeping habits, sleeping on your side tends to cause them from happening especially if your a restless sleeper. I usually adjust my own back on a regular basis but for this I will most likely go get it adjusted.

Vitki, yours might be the same problem, but I know from what you told me about your hands that you have arthritis and carpal tunnel in both of your wrist. For the arthritis dexterity exercises help, but will most likely need meds for more relief. As for the carpal tunnel I suggest either surgery or wrist support for while you sleep. My carpal tunnel was brought on by me sleeping on my wrists, so with the brace on at night, my pain has almost gone completely away. I don't have the stiffness in my hands when I wake up anymore.

callipyge, yours sounds like the other one except for how it spreads to the rest of your body. I suggest that you get the adjustments from a chiropractor, but also look into some holistic medicines. Should try some medicated teas with antioxidants. You probably should check into your Vitamin D. Your issue sounds like I originally explained, but also with something else that makes it worse in your case.

For all of you I suggest 1 to 2 hours a week of Yoga or Tai Chi. Both are excellent for self realignment of your bodies.

Hope that helps if anyone has any questions feel free to ask. ***@**** put subject as Aches and Pains.

[mary912]

Has anyone tried acupuncture?  My upper arm pain is on the inside of my left arm, and I have arthritis.  Cortisone was a wonderful relief but only temporary.  Physical thereapy made it worse.  Chiropractic adjustments helped, but weekly massage was better.  I was skeptical about acupuncture but found it to be the best treatment.  Unfortunately, not all acupuncturists have the same skills.  If you go, find an acupuncturist that has been taught the Chinese methods (by a Chinese teacher, if possible).  Don't give up - if one doesn't help you, try another.
Mary