Upper arm pain - ?source


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Hi All,

 

I thought I would tap into the collective wisdom of this wonderful board :). I have searched the site & googled but nothing really helped.

 

I have quite a bit of pain troubling my upper arm. It started, about 2 months ago, as what the OT & I thought was a muscle injury due to overstretching, in the biceps area. On rest it improved but never fully resolved. After I had Botox about 6 weeks ago, the pain was back again (still in biceps area but not absolutely defined) & about 3 weeks ago a similar pain started to occur in the triceps area (again not absolutely defined).

 

Two weeks ago the pain started getting worse & was starting to affect my ability to get dressed. My doctor said it was nerve pain & put me on Neurontin. Things have settled down & back to the previous pain level.

 

Pain usually only occurs on certain movements, especially external rotation. It is very sharp & severe & slowly resolves when I get the arm into comfortable position.

 

Yesterday I started with a new (private) OT who thinks the pain might be referred pain from my slightly subluxated shoulder.

 

So my question is, have any of you had something similar, or have any ideas, etc.?

 

Many thanks in advance,

 

 

 

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Hi Sue..

 

I am not a physician, nor do I play one on TV. I can only give you one place that you might research and see if it is you. Many of us discovered the world of "CPS" or central pain syndrome. You might want to take a peek in an on line search engine and always ask your therepist of physician....

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I am my husband's caregiver. Yes, yes, yes he had lots of pain with his upper stroke-affected arm. In fact, that is the only pain he has really had after his stroke. He is not a complainer, so I knew it was not "imagined". For him, his muscle even seemed like it had a "ball" in it. His OT also felt it was a result of his shoulder. He was treated with warm compressed and gentle maneuvering. He also had botox which improved the pain only slightly. The pain lasted for months I guess. He never took Neurontin for it. He was treated with Skelaxin and a patch to help give him relief. Also, moist heat seemed to give him some relief. To be honest, he hasn't complained of the pain for several months now. It seemed to resolve itsellf, rather than as a result of any treatments. There is hope! He is just a little over three years post stroke that affected his arm.
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Hi All,

 

I thought I would tap into the collective wisdom of this wonderful board :) . I have searched the site & googled but nothing really helped.

 

I have quite a bit of pain troubling my upper arm. It started, about 2 months ago, as what the OT & I thought was a muscle injury due to overstretching, in the biceps area. On rest it improved but never fully resolved. After I had Botox about 6 weeks ago, the pain was back again (still in biceps area but not absolutely defined) & about 3 weeks ago a similar pain started to occur in the triceps area (again not absolutely defined).

 

Two weeks ago the pain started getting worse & was starting to affect my ability to get dressed. My doctor said it was nerve pain & put me on Neurontin. Things have settled down & back to the previous pain level.

 

Pain usually only occurs on certain movements, especially external rotation. It is very sharp & severe & slowly resolves when I get the arm into comfortable position.

 

Yesterday I started with a new (private) OT who thinks the pain might be referred pain from my slightly subluxated shoulder.

 

So my question is, have any of you had something similar, or have any ideas, etc.?

 

Many thanks in advance,

 

 

I had alot of pain in the arm until my Physio started to work on the seperated shoulder. After a month I had no more pain, it was like somebody had shut off a tap. I now only get pain if I do something stupid, like try to pickup a 5 gal jug of water with the arm.

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I too had upper arm pain, and it was attributed to my shoulder subluxation. After working with the arm and being careful how I carried it on a daily basis, the pain went away for the most part. A little heat generally helps the muscles relax, but if there is swelling, a cold pack might be a better alternative.

 

As for CPS, I'm not sure it would manifest itself that way, but anything is possible.

 

If you can get a second, third, fourth or whatever opinion, it might help. Every doctor seems to have their own ideas, and you might just have one come up with the right solution for you.

 

Best of everything to you,

Bob

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sue, i too have upper arm pain at times and when my arm is moved the wrong way, i sure know the pain well. my affected arm does not have any movement unless i do it with my good hand. my shoulder is the problem i am sure. i wish i had a private masuesse sp? my neck also is painful from the weight of my arm just hanging all of the time. i think talking to your doctor might be of some help to you. could it be a reaction to the botox you received? i hope you find some relief soon good luck.

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sue,

 

the pain could possibly be due to the weight of your arm on your shoulder. during the first 6 months after stroke, i wore a sling and any discomfort disappeared. when i sit, my affected arm is placed on my lap rather than hang to the side.

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Hi Sue,

Can you describe the pain? (I'm not an MD, but I may be able to point you in the right direction.)

 

Thanks,

Susan :Typing:

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Hi Sue

Recenty I had to have my two legs amputated just below the knee (blocked arteries)

 

Still in hospital and having pains in upper arms especially when arms are extended above the shoulders have been told it is most likely blocked artery supplying the arms the same problem i had with my legs in the middle of tests xrays etc now to determine the cause, If blockage that can be fixed as they can do the same procedure as the carotid artery, the artery is cut open and cleaned out or a by-pass in put in place with a high % sucess rate

 

Best wishes

Allan

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In my case the pain is every day some doctors say get more exercise or use that side more on my bike but nothing seems to help. I even get massage therapy every week. For meds I take vicodin and arthritis meds and use rubs for arthritis which I know is part of my problem.

 

I was taking Lyrica and it seem to aggravate the pain so my doctor said stop it slowly so I'm getting by with pain that don't want to stop.

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Hi again

 

Thanks all for your posts & advice.

 

sue,

 

the pain could possibly be due to the weight of your arm on your shoulder. during the first 6 months after stroke, i wore a sling and any discomfort disappeared. when i sit, my affected arm is placed on my lap rather than hang to the side.

 

I do wear a sling when up & about, the arm is supported in bed & when lying on exercise mat & seated.

 

Hi Sue,

Can you describe the pain? (I'm not an MD, but I may be able to point you in the right direction.)

 

Thanks,

Susan :Typing:

 

The pain is very sharp but dulls down when it is resolving. Does this help, not sure what kind of answer you are thinking of?

 

I do shoulder exercises & will try new one from OT - just a bit nervous as I don't want to make things worse :unsure:

 

Thanks again,

 

 

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I find that when I over do it. I have serious pain in my right arm. I did that this past Thursday. It is Sat and and I am still in pain.It wakes me up at night. I am considering having some deep tissue work done on that arm. I am at bit nervous about that. For me it is everything from my neck to my fingers on the right side. It feels all 'tight' in the neck and shoulder and the rest of my arm almost burns the pain is constant. Moist heat helps, while the heat is on. But you cannot live with a hot pack on your arm, nor is that good for you.

I am wondering also, have any of you tried accupuncture for your pain issues?

Kelly

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Hi Kelly!

 

I, too , have shoulder pain that actually starts from my neck and goes down to my elbow on both sides most days - leftover from subluxation and frozen shoulder which compressed a nerve(Yay! LOL).

 

I do physical therapy on my own everyday, take Lyrica for nerve pain and Klonipin for the muscle cramping - my doc also has me on Magnesium Oxide to help with the cramping...I use a heating pad at night and a cold pack during the day.

 

Aleve helps too at times - better option than oxycodone or Vicodin - it can upset the stomach so I use generic Protonix for that (I know - pills and then more pills to deal with the other pills - LOL) Massage therapy helps me too.

 

When it's really tight I use a tennis ball or one of thhose massage thingies you can get to do a little pressure point therapy...and sometimes just having someone lightly rub a hand up and down my shoulder helps to relax the muscles.

 

Hope this helps a little - after a while you do just get used to living with it and consciously relaxxing the muscles when the pain gets your attention.

 

Peace, Calmness and good luck

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hi Sue

right after my stroke, they made sure i did shoulder exercises so i would keep my range of motion, but then i had heart surgery and was on my left side for 4 hours and didn't do much with it for 2 weeks and it "froze" up..i couldn't raise it at all and it was very painful...ortho gave me a cortisone shot -- which hurt bad, but the pain has goner away and after 8 weeks of pt i'm getting more range of motion back, but unfortunately, the pain seems to be coming back, too..shot wearing off. pain seems to be in the joint of the shoulder. i've also been seeing a chiropractor who has been doing pressure therapy on it. and icing it every night for 20 mins helps.

 

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Hi All

 

Just a bit of an update.

 

I've been doing the exercise the new OT gave me - lying on my bad (left) side & prop my self up on my elbow. I also use my right arm to help keep my balance. I need help to get top this position but once I'm there, I can stay there without any pain. I stay up for 5 mins (as much as I can handle at moment due to muscle fatigue all down my left side).

 

I was told that this would help get my shoulder in position & also strengthen the muscles.

 

So far so good, I am finding I get less pain in my upper arm, I get a little muscle ache around the shoulder (?getting a work out) & now can hold myself up for ~10 sec at a time (no right arm support) - was 0 last week :big_grin: .

 

I know it sounds a horrible exercise & I get scared every time we do it :unsure: but it really does seem to be helping - so maybe she is right - that it is referred pain from my shoulder.

 

Thanks for all your replies. :D

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi All

 

Here's the latest. And guess what - yet another idea on what's causing the pain :lol:

 

Yesterday I visited my rehab physician who specialises in spacicity. While he's pleased wih my lower arm & hand, he says he's pretty sure that my pain is coming from a couple of muscles that aren't usually botoxed as they mainly do the big ones. He has had similar cases before. But because he can't see what my range of movement is without extreme pain, he's going to anaethetise me & check it out, then botox the required muscles.

 

I was amazed when he told me that the shoulder has 27 muscles that contol/effect it!

 

He is also getting me checked to rule out any rotator cuff injury - just in case.

 

Bad news he can't do the botox until August as he is having sugery himself (physician heal thyself :o ). Last time he tried to get his patients treaed by others - they were all referred backed to him as too hard :Argh:

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Hi Sue..

 

I am not a physician, nor do I play one on TV.

 

Thank goodness he cleared that up or we might have confused him with Mcdreamy.

 

Sue,

I had pain in what sounds like the same area of my effected area when I began therapy. I was put on neuontin also which lessened the pain, but as with you the pain continued. i was then sent for an an MRI to eliminate that it was nothing more than muscle pain which would eventually go away with therapy which it did. He also had me wear my arm in a sling for a short time until I had worked the muscles in my shoulder enough to bear the weight of carrying my arm without straining them further.

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  • 3 months later...

Hi All,

 

Yet another update!!!!

 

Well, I had the next round of BOTOX yesterday, to target the muscles that hasve been giving me all the trrouble over the past 6 months.

 

The latissdimus dorsi & coracobrachialis were done as well as the pec minor & major with phenol (not BOTOX). Also topped up my forearm pronators & finger flexors, to give me some more time to strengthen my supinataion & finger extension.

 

Well - so far so good :) Although it takes up to 2 weeks really take effect, I can already tell the difference. The pain is pretty much gone, my OT could stretch my arm out further today than it has been for a long time & I only feel a little sore still from the injections :).

 

So now for a busy 3-4 months working on my arm to get those antagonist muscles going.

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