its a bit late and a very uninteresting problem but if your around i'd appreciate your thoughts

[Tortington]

i have severe - what i think is- muscle strain i my right arm. it is in my upper arm and my shoulder - i mean the back shoulder bit - on the back.

i cannot put much weight on it - i cant do things like put my arm on an escalator hand hold - becuase without realising it you wait for your hand to rach your body and that causes excrusiating pain.

i cant pull a top over my head - which is the major problem every evening.

i cant reach back for my seatbelt.

and crucially - its very difficult to play pool!

the worrying thing is - its been going on for absolutley months and months.

now, i havent gone to the doctors becuase i dont want to lose half a day off work for a 2 min consultation where they are going to tell me what i think i already know and say - it will heal in 4-6 weeks.

it doesnt seem to be getting better.

what do you think?

if has been going on months and months, it isnt healing in 4 - 6 weeks

you should go and get it checked

i think you should go and ask to be referred, you might need some physio. if its been going on for months then you can agrue with gp that you have given it plenty of time to heal!

have you tried deep heat and all that stuff?

If it has been going on for months I really think you should go to the doctors. Muscle strain should NOT last that long.

You have my sympathies as I know how awful neck/arm/back pain can be:(

Otherwise maybe phone a chiropractor if you can afford it?
I go to one, and she is wonderful. well worth the money:)

HTH, but first.....doctors

I had something similar after a fall. I was referred for physio, and although took a while it did heal. All in all though took about 6-7 months to be completely back to normal. How did you do it (dare I ask!)?

It depends on the doctor, but your GP will probably recommend Ibuprofen and maybe a physio referral.

TBH, I'd spend £30 (London prices) and see a chiropractor. Much more direct, IME, although he/she will need to take a full mediacl history before they treat you (allow an hour for the first appointment)

Wishing you well, anyway.

Go to the doctor.

Take ibuprofen in the meantime.

And don't play pool for a week and see if resting it helps.

Hope it's better soon. I've slept awkwardly on my arm for two nights running and I keep going "ow!" as I reach for something - for it to go on for months must be horrible. Actually, is your bed comfy? What are your pillows like?

i have absolutely no idea. i can't remember at all!

thanks all - it was a stupid question - my dh has been saying for ages " go to the bleedin' doctors"

so i will

ta

yes i won't change my bed and have v. comfy pillows. v important to me

but i cant help but roll over onto it in sleep and wake up in pain

and can only shave one armpit pmsl! kinda half spray with deoderant cos i cant lift my arm.

yes writing it down makes me see - i really should go

am off tomorrow - will go tomorrw

You probably need some industrial strength Voltaren (which I believe you can only get on prescription in the UK) so you need to go to the doctor. I don't think Ibuprofen will cut it if it is so bad you can't shave your armpit.

You also need some gentle exercises, but no way could you do those without the drugs.

I would second the idea of a chiropractor, if you made both appointments for the same morning it would allow you the best of both worlds with the same morning off work.