Neck, shoulder, arm and hand pain and numbness

[Tamilav]

Since being assaulted by a resident in a care home that I work at I have experienced onging and increasing pain in my shoulder, stiffness in my neck, pain in my arm and numbness with occasional shooting pain into my hand. I often have problems holding onto things with this hand, or I lose strength in it very suddenly.  It is my left and dominant side.  The MRI I just had done indicates a small amount of arthritis and  bursitis but nothing that could, according to my GP, explain the the issues I am having.  I do not think it is in my shoulder but in my neck.  I am beginning to feel that everybody thinks I am crazy but the pain etc is real. What could cause this?  What else should I do to gain help?  I want to go back to work as a social trainer but I am having difficulty with the physical side of the job.  But I love working with my residents!!  Some advice would be appreciated.

[Tamilav]

Thank you.  I am going back to my orthopediac specialist tomorrow and will mention your ideas to him.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Understand your predicament. The numbness and the shooting pain could be due to problems in the cervical spine. You may be having a nerve compression at the cervical (neck) level. The nerve compression could be due to an osteophyte, growth or a disc. This could be causing your symptoms. An MRI of the cervical spine may help to arrive at a diagnosis.  

The treatment is to remove the compression. You have to discuss the best treatment option with a neurologist, which can range from medication to physiotherapy to traction, cervical collars or even surgery.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.