Suggest Treatment For Intermittent Numbness And Pain In Arms

Posted on Mon, 2 Nov 2015

Question: I tried lifting a 40 lb box of cat litter on 10/8. I felt a grind, a pop and then a searing pain in my shoulder. I am till having an issue with movement in the arm, although the joint itself feels fine, all of the muscles around it are painful. My movement is limited in my arm and I am getting intermittent numbness since then. The pain is also radiating up my neck and into my jaw. All of this is in my right arm, good thing, I am left handed. Do you think I did something really awful or maybe just pulled something.

Answered by Dr. Ahmad Nazzal (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Cervical disc prolapse (slipped disc)

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,

Thank you for trusting us in HCM with your question. I will do my best to guide you into your treatment plan.

Well I am sorry to tell you but I do think you need to seek a neurologist consultation. Symptoms you described are typical of cervical disc prolapse(slipped disc) which is pressing on nerves from your neck to the arm causing pain and movement limitations and numbness. Its important to do magnetic resonance imaging of the neck to make sure if there is a disc prolapse or not and if there to which degree.

Meanwhile If you come to my clinic I would prescribe you anti inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) (similar to naproxen you are taking already) 1*3 daily for a week after eating but you need to make sure you do not have any stomach problems or ulcers. It can help relief the pain and the muscle tension building. You can use cream of the same drug family to lightly massage the area but not strong massage it.

Nevertheless please make sure to get in contact with your doctor for proper physical examination.

Feel free to contact me with further questions or any tests you. wish you full and fast recovery.

Best regards,
Dr. Nazzal

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T