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Original poster

I am in total agony

187 replies

TheOriginalFAB · 13/11/2011 07:47

Yesterday I woke up with pain in my right arm at the top. Saw a pharmacist to ask about pain relief and she felt I had pulled a muscle. Went to bed last night with it covered in deep heat and still in pain and I couldn't lie on it. This morning it is fine but the whole of my left arm round to my breast and back is absolute agony and there is no way I can lift anything with it. Could it be my FM or something else? I am hoping to see an osteopath on Tuesday but I feel like crying it hurts so much. I have so much to do today, I can't be out of action.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 13/11/2011 08:41

Have spoken to a nurse at ooh doctors. Said she hasn't got a magic wand when I said I wanted the pain to go and told me to take paracetomol and ibruprofen. Actually made me feel shit as she has seen me before "and you have a lot of aches and pains."

It takes a lot for me to phone the docs but I can't use my left arm and feel like crying it hurts so much. I have had pain in my back, shoulders, neck and chest for a while now, I just want to be well.

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justonemorethread · 13/11/2011 08:45

Sorry, can't help... bumping you along though.

RandomMess · 13/11/2011 08:46

Well it could be a trapped nerve (s) in your upper back, been there had that - absolutely agony and did move about, took months to get rid of 100% - osteopath would treat it, it would go away/improve and then come back due to my underlying back conditions. I know do several exercise classes which really helps.

But yes it could also be something neurological. I would make a gp appointment after your osteopath one. Your osteopath will tell you if they find something that would be causing the pain IYSWIM. Have you got tingling at all down your arms?

Sometimes it hurts to breath just because of one little vertabrae in my back has got "stuck" again!

Sparklingbrook · 13/11/2011 08:48

Oh Fab what a horrible nurse-you are in pain and she makes you feel shit too. Nice.

Would NHS Direct be any more help?

I am sorry I haven't got a better suggestion. If it was a weekday it would all be different and you could go to the doctors. How dare you be in pain at the weekend!

Ben10WasTheSpawnNowWeLoveLego · 13/11/2011 08:52

Fab have you any tingling, numbness, burning pain in the arm. Any problem with your fingers or hand?

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 13/11/2011 09:03

My hands/fingers ache. I feel like my arm has been hit by a hammer. I did nhsdirect and it said I needed a call back but DH said to ring the ooh docs instead. I feel crap as DD wants me to take her to look around the shops and there is no way I would feel safe driving.

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Ben10WasTheSpawnNowWeLoveLego · 13/11/2011 09:16

It really sounds like something nerve related to me as it is all the way across your chest, back, shoulder and arm. There are lots of nerves that go from your neck across your shoulder and down into your fingers.

Does your arm feel heavy?

Ben10WasTheSpawnNowWeLoveLego · 13/11/2011 09:18

Any discoloration in your hands?

Are your hands cold?

Did you do anything the day before yesterday to cause the symptoms to increase? Could it be that you slept badly and trapped a nerve?

I am asking you these questions as I have similar pain with other symptoms as well so I know the questions that they ask.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 13/11/2011 09:21

Hands look fine. Paracetomol has done nothing. A week or so ago I felt my neck do something weird but that passed. I just feel like the nurse thinks I am a hypochondriac. As soon as they hear I have a lot on they just seem to assume it is emotional rather than anything physical. I am not into taking pain relief that masks the pain, I want the cause fixed, not masked. I will have to take something as I can't feel like this all day. I need to spend some time with my daughter.

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peanutbear · 13/11/2011 09:25

I have frozen shoulder which sounds a lot like the pain your in I have pains in my shoulder elbow down my arm and in 3 fingers it aches all the time and is more painful at night or if I move or lift something. It's very painful enough to stop me sleeping and to make tears roll down my face.
I think your dr is being very unsympathetic they gave me stronger painkillers and I use ibroprophen gel which does help.
I do hope you feel in less pain soon

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 13/11/2011 09:30

Would deep heat help on such a big area?

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Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 13/11/2011 09:42

Just taken ibruprofen and dh has put deep freeze all over the painful area.

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peanutbear · 13/11/2011 09:54

Only ibroprophen gel helped I put it on where the pain radiates from. I do hope you can get some sleep. The dr mentioned steroid injections but apparently they can be very painful and may not always work

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 13/11/2011 10:12

Nothing is working as yet. Seriously fed up. How many pain killers do I have to take before I can expect them to work?

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peanutbear · 13/11/2011 10:55

Could you go to a walk in centre for stronger pain killers? Or a proper diagnosis It seems unfair that you didn't get taken seriously the first time x

HannahHack · 13/11/2011 11:02

When I dislocated my shoulder it felt like that. Dull ache that got worse and couldn't lift my arm properly. Go to A+E and get an xray done. They will ahve done them for less serious symtoms!

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 13/11/2011 11:15

DH massaged me and then said to go on the rowing machine as action is better than inaction. Didn't make it worse or better. Dull ache in breast now. Really need a shower but scared of the pain it will bring. Feel frustrated as one thing after another. Wonder whether to ring nhsdirect. Took pain killer at 7.50 and within the last 2 hours and still no relief.

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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 13/11/2011 11:16

i think going on the rowing machine will make it a lot worse in the long run

Sparklingbrook · 13/11/2011 11:20

Would a hot bath help? Or would you be in too much pain to get in and out?

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 13/11/2011 11:25

I am getting in the hot bath in a minute. Not sure I can mn from there Confused. Was debating about ringing nhs direct to ask when I can next take pain killers. I have taken 4 with no improvement, are they accumulative so I have to take so many more before they will ease the pain?

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Sparklingbrook · 13/11/2011 11:27

Will everyone flame me if I dare to suggest A&E. I am starting to get concerned for you FAB.

Becaroooo · 13/11/2011 11:28

I was going to suggest hot bath too fab

I have fibromyalgia and have woken up barely able to move Sad and I am off for one in a mo.

They just keep throwing ADs at me which isnt helping tbh. Sorry the nurse you spoke to wasnt very helpful/pleasant.

GP offered me tramadol last week but dont want that...sent me a bit funny last time I had it!!! Smile

I tend to stagger nurofen and co codamol when its bad.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 13/11/2011 11:30

Getting in bath now. Bit daft saying this but thank you, I fee like I have friends.Blush

OP posts:
exexpat · 13/11/2011 11:36

Are you diabetic? My father had something similar - agonising, inexplicable pain (in his case across chest and legs) that painkillers had no impact on. Went through all sorts of misdiagnoses before they came up with focal neuropathy. I think it is most common in diabetics but can happen to other people. He ended up taking drugs intended for epilepsy to help deal with it, but it does normally go away by itself eventually.

Ben10WasTheSpawnNowWeLoveLego · 13/11/2011 11:38

A hot water bottle may help