Go to A&E?

[Justcarrymehome]

For the past month I've been getting severe shooting pains in my neck and shoulder. I've started getting a burning pain in my bicep and pins & needles in my hand as well as under my shoulder blade. Co-codamol and ibuprofen were helping but not anymore. I am struggling to sleep and my hand trembles when I try to grip something.

I have been to my doctors who told me it's nothing to worry about, it's just because I am sitting at a desk all day, I had two weeks of not sitting at a desk and it's just got worse. I also phoned 111 who weren't really that concerned either, just told me to continue with the painkillers.

I am in Scotland so no minor injuries and have to be referred by 111 to out of hours doctors. I have a doctors appointment on Tuesday but I am starting to struggle with the pain.

Sorry it's so long but to finally get to my question, should I go to A&E or am I just wasting their time? OH thinks I should go but I'm worried they're going to think I'm overreacting and someone else could have been treated.

That doesn’t sound like a problem a and E would be suitable for.

A different GP would be a better place to go for help.

I think you need to ask your GP for a referral to a specialist. It does sound horribly painful but not an accident or emergency.

Yeah I didn’t think it would be right to go. Will just to persevere until Tuesday.

Not as extreme, but I had this a few months ago. It took ages to recover, affected my sleep as no position was comfy. Took over a month to resolve. I realised how I did the injury, a few months later I lifted a heavy bag and I had a twinge and painful night in the same place. It’s the downward drag on the arm that trapped a nerve/ pulled something. It bloody hurt! I couldn’t imagine it resolving but it did suddenly

Can you see a physio?

Sounds a bit like you might have a frozen shoulder. GP can refer you for physio or to see an orthopaedic specialist. Sometimes steroid injections are recommended. It takes ages to resolve so don't expect a quick fix if that's what it is.

Another possibility might be a cervical spine injury which often manifests itself in arm and shoulder pain.

Either way, A&E not the answer! Do some googling and go to GP with clear thoughts about how you want to proceed. for you and the pain

From googling it keeps coming up with a pinched nerve. Going to see my GP on Tuesday and I will hopefully get something sorted.

I can think of two possibilities that have caused it, I had a massive fall and I have to manually open and shut a shutter four days a week.

It sounds like Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. I had this a few years ago and it sounds like what you are describing. I went for PT and stopped doing the yoga moves that were exacerbating it and it got better quickly. You can google exercises on the internet if your gp doesn't refer you promptly.

Second the advice about seeing a physio.Hope you get it sorted soon.

Will ask for a physio referral. It’s my bicep muscle that’s the sorest part and causing the loss of sleep. All the other pain is bearable except this burning sensation.