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Hi, For 3 Days I Have Had Severe Muscle Pain
Question: Hi, For 3 days I have had severe muscle pain on my left side, from the neck to left shoulder and arm. There seems no injury has occurred nor any reason for such pain in a normally active person. My husband just gave me a massage—- no relief, just searing pain everywhere he massaged.?.
Brief Answer:
A pinched nerve can be the cause- details below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to Ask a Doctor service,
I carefully read your query and understand your concern.
If you have pain from the back of the neck to the shoulder and arm, this may be due to a nerve being pinched on the way from the spine to the arm.
Generally, this is not a serious condition but can be very distressing and painful. In some cases numbness or weakness in the area may happen as well.
Treatment is generally with proper dose of Aleve (600 mg after food every 6 hours) and Tylenol 500 mg with Aleve every 6 hours. You may take Omeprazole 20 mg 30 minutes before breakfast to protect your stomach while you use Aleve.
Physiotherapy is necessary if these treatments do not help. Physiotherapy helps the pinched to be relieved and pain eased quicker.
Similar treatment is indicated even if it is a simple muscular pain (Aleve, Tylenol, physiotherapy). Massage may make the pain worse as it may cause more trauma on the muscles if not done properly. Warm local compresses may be tried and are helpful is some cases.
Sometimes, a neck x-ray will be requested to rule out neck arthritis changes causing the pressure on the nerve.
If the pain is in the front of the neck, in the lower jaw or inner arm or you get any chest pains, a heart problem (ischemia) needs to be considered and ruled out. In this case. you will need to see your doctor as soon as possible.
I hope this answers your query. I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician
A pinched nerve can be the cause- details below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to Ask a Doctor service,
I carefully read your query and understand your concern.
If you have pain from the back of the neck to the shoulder and arm, this may be due to a nerve being pinched on the way from the spine to the arm.
Generally, this is not a serious condition but can be very distressing and painful. In some cases numbness or weakness in the area may happen as well.
Treatment is generally with proper dose of Aleve (600 mg after food every 6 hours) and Tylenol 500 mg with Aleve every 6 hours. You may take Omeprazole 20 mg 30 minutes before breakfast to protect your stomach while you use Aleve.
Physiotherapy is necessary if these treatments do not help. Physiotherapy helps the pinched to be relieved and pain eased quicker.
Similar treatment is indicated even if it is a simple muscular pain (Aleve, Tylenol, physiotherapy). Massage may make the pain worse as it may cause more trauma on the muscles if not done properly. Warm local compresses may be tried and are helpful is some cases.
Sometimes, a neck x-ray will be requested to rule out neck arthritis changes causing the pressure on the nerve.
If the pain is in the front of the neck, in the lower jaw or inner arm or you get any chest pains, a heart problem (ischemia) needs to be considered and ruled out. In this case. you will need to see your doctor as soon as possible.
I hope this answers your query. I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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