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Chronic pain in upper arms

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 3/10/2013 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
I have had chronic pain in my upper arms for quite awhile now. They tell me it is arthritis, but I have had  steroid injections with no relief.

Can someone tell me of an effective treatment or natural treatment for this. I don't like taking pain killers that are strong because they make me feel too drugged. I have tried Celebrex, but it doesn't work.

Thank you

Posted 3/11/2013 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome, Cheryl, to the forum.

Who is "they?" Are you seeing a pain management doctor or a family doctor or a rheumatologist? It makes a lot of difference who does the diagnosing. Did "they" say if it is just osteoarthritis?

What tests have you had? Is the pain in both arms?

Pain in both arms could be coming from your spine. Where were your injections? If they were in the bursae in the shoulders it may be treating the wrong place. If they were in the spine, then what type of injections did you have?

For my legs and feet pain I used to get epidural injections in the spine. Now they aren't working, so I recently had facet joint injections which are diagnostic, not treatment. I got just a few days of relief, so that means getting those nerves "burned" with radio frequency ablation should stop the pain for at least a few months. Before that though, I'll be getting EMG to test whether the nerves are damaged.

I get some relief from pain from inflammation with Celebrex, but I didn't get much help from aspirin, or other NSAIDS. I tried loads of them and mostly got side effects. I would think one of them should help at least a little if your problem is arthritis. Of course I'm not a doctor!
Posted 3/12/2013 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your post. I was seeing a pain management doctor. He gave me steroid injections in my neck because they said the arthritis was in my neck and c-5 vertabrae. I was seeing an orthopedist who referred me to the pain management doctor. I had in MRI which diagnosed the athritis.

I am going to another pain management specialist on Monday. He is also a neurologist. I hope that he can help me. So far it has cost me $700 for the injections and I don't want to waist my money, but I would like relief.

I have taken Celebrex, but it really doesn't work. Maybe another anti-inflamatory would work. Just hope they can get to he bottom of this. It affects my sleep.

Posted 3/13/2013 8:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Cheryl and I just wanted to say that there are many other non-narcotic meds they can use then celebrated.

Have you tried the tramadol? It seems to have a lot of success in helping with pain in many people.

The injections are always a hit or miss kind of thing. They help some of the people some of the time. Not always.

Have you tried hydrotherapy? It's absolutely wonderful for arthritis pain. Ask your new Dr if this is an option.

Good luck to you.

Vickie
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