Anyone know much about arms?

[addler]

I'm having a spot of trouble with my left arm. I'm going to try and get to the doctor later today but I'm abroad and a bit concerned there'll be a bit of a language barrier so thought I'd try and garner any opinions on here, as hard as it is over the internet.

I'm having a bit of pain in my shoulder, elbow, and extending down in to my hand and fingers. It feels quite stiff and feels like there's resistance trying to grip things, but I can still do it. It's just slower/harder/painful.

My arm and hand don't feel completely numb, but if I scratch them I can't feel it as much as I can on the right side.

I've had a similar problem on and off for a little while, it normally lasts a day or two then eases up. I know that when I rotate my shoulders the left one grinds and I can feel/hear things moving that isn't happening in the right one.

Today it's much worse though and seems to be getting worse by the hour, it feels like everything is slowly seizing.

Extra information that could probably be linked, is that I know I've got a bit of a problem with the nerves on the left side of my body.
A few years ago I was seeing a neurologist for nerve issues in my head and one of the other things that came up in the diagnostic tests was mild hemiparesis on the left side, with slight muscle weakness and reduced sensation.

I also have carpal tunnel in both hands, and sometimes when I wake up in the night my left arm is very stiff and won't move at all without a lot of pain. It's eased by the morning though.

So I know there's previous issues there, but I don't know what caused the initial pain (this started after I was discharged from my neuro) or what's causing it to be so bad today.

Any similar experience or opinions would be welcome, just so I can feel a little prepared in speaking to the doctor and asking for tests.

Trapped nerve?

Are their tests they can do for that? It certainly sounds like it could be, would it cause the shoulder pain or just the elbow/hand pain?

Ok. I am not a medical professional but I think you need to be seen urgently. It could be something to do with nerves as you have suggested, but both my parents have had some similar symptoms and they have turned out to be small brain bleeds/ mini stroke. Can you lift your arm above your head?
I'd phone doctors, explain to receptionist you are very worried and ask if you can have advice from a nurse. I think these symptoms sound urgent.

They can test your reflexes, grip strength and a few other things, test for any numbness etc that you might not have noticed,.

There's nerve conduction tests that might be appropriate as well.

Have you injured yourself? Hurt your neck maybe? Do anti-inflammatories help at all?

They can test your reflexes, grip strength and a few other things, test for any numbness etc that you might not have noticed,.

There's nerve conduction tests that might be appropriate as well.

Have you injured yourself? Hurt your neck maybe? Do anti-inflammatories help at all?

I can raise my arm above my head but it's hard to, and my shoulder clicks and moves as I do it.

I haven't had any injuries that I'm aware of, to my arm or neck.

Ibuprofen helped yesterday when it first started getting sore, but isn't doing much today. Or maybe it would much worse without it, I don't know!

I'm worried there's a bunch of red herrings due to my existing nerve problems, carpal tunnel, is my clicky shoulder something separate etc.

It sounds like you've possibly done something to your neck or shoulder and this is affecting the nerves. Is it getting much worse?

Id try and get a GP appointment, it needs checking. If it gets significantly worse and normal painkillers aren't touching it, you might need something like amitriptyline.

It's much worse than it was a few hours ago, both pain wise and stiffness. I don't know whether to keep moving it so it doesn't seize or rest it.

I've actually got amitriptyline at home, as well as oxcarbazepine, topiramate and naproxen which I take when the nerves in my head are bad. They haven't been too bad lately so I'm not taking them at the moment.

Is it searing pain across the top of your shoulder, by any chance?

There are a few nerves that go right through the shoulder joint, and with the crunching I'd guess that there's inflammation which is getting worse. Can you switch to Naproxen and see if that helps.

Hopefully it's nothing too worrying, it might be that an urgent physio appointment will help a lot, or it might need something that needs further investigation.

Any numbness anywhere else? Feeling in pelvis and legs all ok?

I'd try and keep moving it, but very gently.

It's more like a dull ache in the shoulder and the elbow, unless my elbow bumps something then it's sharp. And pain down two 'lines' on my fore arm, one on other side, down into my hand and pain in my thumb and last two fingers. So it's sort of all over which is the strange thing!

It's like I want to stretch it and put pressure on it, the stiffness is really uncomfortable.

I get intermittent numb patches in my left leg and foot normally, but nothing else that's new anywhere.

I'm trying to find out if I can finish work early and go to the clinic before it closes. I've never been before as I've only lived here for 3 months so it could be an experience!

Thanks for all your help. I feel like I have some ideas to check with the doctor now if I need to.

Hmm, that links in with your carpal tunnel. The nerve that goes down to your thumb/forefingers is the one that goes through the carpal tunnel.

The nerve is being compressed somewhere, whether it's linked to your other nerve problems, no idea.

I assume disc problems have been ruled out?

Obviously there's lots of other possibilities, and the nerve structure is a bit more complicated than that, but it's likely it's all tied in I think.

Just realised half of that last post didn't make any sense.

I meant in my forearm there's pain in two distinct 'lines', one that runs from my elbow down into my last two fingers, and one that runs on the inside from my elbow down to my thumb. I know that one is carpal tunnel but I don't know if the last two fingers is carpal or another problem. I know that sometimes my last two fingers and part of my hand go numb if I'm sleeping or have my arm resting in a strange position.

Maybe it's a compressed nerve in my elbow that's making my existing problems worse? And the clicking, grinding shoulder is a red herring?

I haven't had any investigations for slipped discs or anything to do with my arm since I was discharged two years ago. I had nerve conduction tests on my hand and that picked up the carpal tunnel, and my neurologist found the hemiparesis in the tests she would do at every appointment.

Sorry, I misread as first two fingers.

The two lines down your arm is very familiar sounding, I know that feeling.

A colleague just recommended another hospital than the one I was going to go to tonight, as apparently it's not very good!

So I've got an appointment with the German Orthopaedic hospital tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed for German efficiency!

Good luck!