shoulder and arm pain

[Kookie1]

I have had increasing pain on the right side of my neck, right shoulder, radiating down my right arm (forearm). It started quite mildly about a month ago, but is now often a constant deep ache. It can be worse at night or when I wake up in the morning, until I actually get up at which point it subsides a bit - then keeps coming and going. Has anyone experienced anything like this? I haven't found that it's related to activity. It can hurt just as much when I'm resting than when I'm using that arm or lifting something. Possibly the reverse correlation is true. Any experiences or advice would be appreicated. Thanks.

[AmeliaMum]

It sounds similar to what I have got which is a rotator cuff impingement. The tendons or ligaments, not sure which, coming over the shoulder get pinched and wear, sometimes cause tears or even ripping.

The worsening at night is a key sympton as is the pain when resting. I found doctors useless a dealing with it, just advising use of painkillers.

I see an osteopath and he has made great strides with it and it is almost cured. Mine is all related to bad posture after two pregnancies and the constant care for a baby.

I would get some help soon. I left mine for ages thinking I had just pulled something and it would get better on its own. It just got worse.

HTH Good luck

[FluffySaysTheDailyMailsShite]

Take yourself to a chiropractor.

[CloudDragon]

try acupuncture, really helped me.

Also dont carry heavy bags

hope it feels better soon

[Joolsiam]

I'm being treated for something similar - went to an osteopath as I had severe lower back pain and he discovered and has started treating this aswell as it is all related apparently - I'd been referred to a physio by my GP and she had no idea and more or less gave up on me.

The osteopath really seems to be making a difference.

[Kookie1]

Thanks for the replies! I suppose I should get it checked out. Could repetitive strain be a cause? I do have two small children, one of whom wants to be carried all the time (She is 2 and 1/2). What puzzles me though is that I always carry her on my left hip, holding her up with my left arm. My left arm or shoulder is fine though. It is my right shoulder and arm that is killing me. Does this make sense to anyone?

[Kookie1]

One more question. What do chiropractors do exactly? Or osteopaths? Can one get a referral from a GP?

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I'm not sure what my osteopath does - its magic. I have to pay though.

Probably worth seeing your gp. I saw mine yesterday for pain and weakness in my shoulder. Was sure that I'd just be given exercises but he said that I need a steroid injection. Best to get an 'official' diagnosis before you go down alternative routes.

[AmeliaMum]

I was advised by my GP that if the exercises he gave me did not work I would need a steriod injection.

I get the impression these are quite unpleasant and just reduce the painful swelling rather than deal with the underlying cause, which an osteopath will.

You don't need a referral from your GP, although he may be able to give a name of one. Osteopaths are governed by an official body and they probably tell you who is practising in your area.

Osteos realign your body by manipulating your joints and muscles. Tis v good (and no, I don't work for one!)

[ABetaDad]

Kookie1 - do you sit at a computer a lot or perhaps carry a child or a heay bag around a lot?

I had the same pain as you starting in shoulder then getting worse spreading down my arm and up into my neck and finally into my cheek and across my chest. At the same time, I started to lose the skin and nails off my fingers as my fingers swelled up and bled. I also coincidentally had lower back pain.

The cause was tension from sitting incorrectly at a computer for 8 hours a day. The tension in my shoulder was stopping the blood flowing back out of my arm. Hence my fingers swelled up and the pain.

I had deep muscle massage to force blood ino the sholder to relax the muscle. I also got some excercises to do and adjusted my seating - I still do the excercises as I still sit at a computer all day.