Mystery achy arm

[chemenger]

I will be going to the doctor about this if it doesn’t improve but I thought I’d see if anyone has any idea what’s going on with my arm. For about four days I’ve had an ache in my arm, usually in my elbow but sometimes it seems to move to my wrist or shoulder. From time to time there is a sharp pain when I bend my middle finger. I assumed at first that I had somehow slept of it wrongly. For a day or so there was a tender area on my upper arm in the muscle with a slight lump (don’t ever google lump in arm by the way, according to google I’m as good as dead). Now my shoulder feels tender. I am utterly exhausted but that’s not unusual at this time of the year (university lecturer in freshers week!).
Additional info- My DD has just come out of hospital having had pneumonia.

[doodlejump1980]

Achy arms were my first symptom of pregnancy. #helpful

[chemenger]

Definitely not pregnant, post-menopausal and living on a different continent from DH!

[stayingaliveisawayoflife]

I had similar and it was bursitis in my shoulder. Went to physio and now it is all better! I just do my exercises as often as possible.

[Seaweed42]

Sounds like repetitive strain syndrome. The tendon runs from shoulder down to middle finger. Were you typing a lot, or clutching something in that hand. Or even holding a phone to your ear for long periods could trigger it. Rest it and see GP they can prescribe anti inflammatories to help resolve it.

[chemenger]

It could be typing, I’ve been using a different laptop at work and a new desk setup. Hopefully if might get better over the weekend.

[ToLiveInPeace]

Yes, sounds like it could be RSI. Please check your desk setup... If you're using a laptop for any length of time, use a separate keyboard and a separate monitor, or raise the laptop in books to eye level. I used to have such bad RSI that I had to use voice recognition software for several years, all because of poor ergonomics.

[chemenger]

It’s definitely the laptop. It got better over the weekend and as soon as I went back on Monday I felt it. I have moved offices and got a new laptop which wouldn’t speak to the monitor on my lovely standing/sitting desk so I couldn’t easily use the proper keyboard. Now it’s finally connected properly (after many conversations with IT) and all should be well. Much better advice than Dr Google, who was confident it was bone cancer. I’ve had similar, but worse, problems because of using a mouse, cured that with an ergonomic one which was a total revelation so I should have suspected the computer from the start.