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Posted 4/14/2013 5:46 AM (GMT 0)
This is really starting to get to me.

I first noticed, probably around November, that my left bicep kind of hurt when I'd twist it to turn on a light, so I quit doing that. The same thing when I reached for my shoulder strap in the car. I started turning my whole body more to accommodate that. No big deal.

Then I went through an airport at the end of the year and each way, I had to carry more than normal for me...so I was a bit sore for a few days. I also slept on a couch for 4 nights at that time, so ok, it made sense. But the soreness has never gone away, it's only gotten worse. Now when I move the wrong way or too suddenly, it's excruciating all the way up to my neck.

For a couple of months now, I haven't been able to put lotion on the right side of my back....and this is something I've been doing forever. Putting on a shirt is bad. Reaching out to the side is bad, or up, if it's at the wrong angle. I consulted my PT and she gave me 2 light stretching exercises, which have gotten harder and harder to do. I mentioned it in passing to my doctor, but he didn't say much (of course, it wasn't as bad a month ago when I saw him.)

My left shoulder/neck area has been tender and tight for almost 30 years - I haven't been able to sleep on that side, for instance - so I figured I pulled something, and ok, I'll give it time...my whole left side has tightened up for decades at the least provocation, so I'm used to that - but this is different. I don't get why it's affecting my bicep so much. It's the first thing I feel when I wake up.

And now, what's really got me worried is, my right arm is starting to hurt, too...both biceps are sore to touch, and there's a constant low-grade ache, no matter what position I'm in shakehead - SO, I'm starting to wonder if there's something more going on here, like - I don't even know what...

Does this sound like anything anybody knows about? Sudden arm pain for no reason?

Debbie
Posted 4/14/2013 6:19 AM (GMT 0)
My left arm has hurt me off and on for 2 years. Sometimes it shoots up to my shoulder and down to my wrist. I'm a lefty by the way.
I can make a tight fist and feel popping in my knuckles all the way up to my elbow.
I mentioned it to my rheumy one time and he said tennis elbow. Later I mentioned it again and he said fibromyalgia and wanted to give me a coritizone shot. I turned him down for that. I don't want to get dependent on them. I just put on a elbow compression brace and keep going until I feel better. I spend about 3 out of 7 days with it on.
Posted 4/14/2013 10:36 AM (GMT 0)
I have problems with my left arm too lately. It is very tender and I cant' extend it. My right arm is starting to bother me too. I have been this way since September when the damp weather started. I think it is all due to the weather for me. I hope that is all. I am hoping when the weather gets better I will too.

I hope that you both feel better soon. Take care Deb and Joy...

Huggles, Karen...
Posted 4/14/2013 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
Debbie, it sounds like rotor cuff problems. It's actually the shoulder that is causing problems in your bicep if this is what you have. You start to loose range of motion. The muscles in your neck, chest, and back can help cause this problem.

I've been dealing with this for about six month and I'm improving now. I was sent to physical therapy for a month and that got me started. I was massaging my upper chest muscles...pushing towards the shoulder.... and my neck plus there were shoulder and neck exercises I was given.

But the thing that really helped was finding the trigger points and massaging them. I have a book called The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook that I've mentioned many times and it has diagrams that show where the trigger points can be found. I use this for fibro pain, too.

Last month I could not reach into the drive-through window to get my bank receipt or my prescriptions. I had to unhook my seatbelt and twist so I could get them out with my other arm. But since I've been massaging the trigger points, I now can do that again. I still can't reach behind my back any higher than my waist but I can live with that.

The pain can be intense and it would wake me up and I couldn't get comfortable. I couldn't reach up or raise my arm to even shave. Now I can. Lifting my arm to the sides was impossible but now I can do that too. It's not perfect but I'm getting better. I can even put dishes up in the cupboard again without a lot of pain. I am working on my other arm now also because I can feel a little tenderness starting there and don't want that arm to get bad.

I put a lot of descriptions here to help you see if this is what is going on with you. Of course there is surgery but I'm not going there. I'll take care of this more naturally if possible and this is working for me.

Sherrine
Posted 4/14/2013 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Debbie, I agree that it does sound like rotator cuff problems, or frozen shoulder problems. I had frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) and recieved a prednisone shot and had intense therapy to help. Before the therapy I could only raise my arm level with my chin. My arm works great now. It gets worse if you don't get treatment...I waited thinking it would get better on it's own. It only got stiffer, more painful and I lost so much mobility before therapy.

Get it checked out Debbie...you don't want the added pain!
I'm sorry you have to deal with yet another thing.

Hugs, Robin

PS...  oops...Brain fog...I had a cortisone injection...not prednisone turn

 

Posted 4/15/2013 5:04 AM (GMT 0)
Well, it sounds like I'm not at all alone here.

Joy, from what I read online (not much, really) if the pain goes all the way to your wrist, it could be a nerve problem. That kind of pain sucks! I'm glad the brace helps, anyway.

Sherrine, your description sounds exactly what I'm going through. I didn't know you were, too...glad you're doing better. I like the idea of trigger point massage, especially if I can do it myself. Hopefully, my Theracane will come in handy there.

Karen, I hope that your pain is just from the weather too....that would be nice!

Robin, I'm going to be seeing my PT Wednesday for a quick consult. I never suspected my shoulder as the primary problem, because that's not primarily where it hurts....but it does make sense. I'm glad you got yours moving again.

Thanks, everybody. Sweet dreams!

Debbie
Posted 4/15/2013 6:36 AM (GMT 0)
I was surprised that it was coming from my shoulder, too, since my shoulder didn't hurt. I thought I had pulled a muscle but didn't know how.

The Theracaine should help when it's really bothering you but does not help get rid of the problem...just covers the pain somewhat for a while. I used my Sombra and it helped so I could get back to sleep at night when my arm woke me up. But shoulder and neck exercises along with massage is what is improving the problem. It no longer hurts me at night and my range of motion is continuing to get better all of the time.

If you google the name of the book along with "Amazon" at the end, it will pop up and you can check it out. Hope this helps you.

Sherrine
Posted 5/18/2013 6:00 AM (GMT 0)
Well, a month later, my shoulder seems to be going all the way to frozen, despite my best efforts. The pain has also spread to my chest, just tonight...great.

I've decided to stop pushing my muscles to the point where they really hurt when I'm doing my stretches. It's been agonizing....and hasn't helped!! Still doing the exercises my physical therapist gave me, but reasonably. (Well, not the one where you reach up your back with a towel and pull it up and down with both arms, like you're drying your back - O U C H !!!! The heck with that.)

I've never believed in the "no pain, no gain" philosophy, even before Fibro. But I was so desperate to thwart this freezing that I was doing that. No more. What will be will be. I'm stretching and massaging and using ice and heat...and that's all I can do. I guess a cortisone shot if it gets bad enough :(

Debbie
Posted 5/18/2013 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with the rotator cuff thought. I've had a couple tears in mine for a while now and my right shoulder and arm stay in pain. Some cases can be mended through pt but not all. Mine didn't, the pt just made the pain worse. I have been sent to an ortho. He started with a cortisone shot that did nothing now I go back in 2 weeks for reevaluation.
Posted 5/18/2013 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hmmm, sounds like we're in the same boat. Not a nice boat.

I'll be interested to hear how your appt. goes.

Debbie
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