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Suggest Treatment For Pain And Rashes Under The Right Arm
Question: Hi mu name is XXXX, for 3 days now i have pain under my right arms closer to the breast area, my skin on my back is sensitive to touch, no rash except under left breast but that was due to being at work an sweating. along my back it does hurt on skin, but if i take 1 tylenol it goes away for at least 3 hours. What do you think , I probably am not explaining it very well. I m 67 yrs old and do a lot of lifting at my job was blaming it on a pulled muscle.
e-mail YYYY@YYYY also I had a bad cold for 3 weeks and coughed a lot on that side could it be i bruised that area?
e-mail YYYY@YYYY also I had a bad cold for 3 weeks and coughed a lot on that side could it be i bruised that area?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX,
It is possible to have inflammation in the connective tissue of the chest wall from lifting (costochondritis) or from excessive coughing. The pain is usually deeper rather than feeling like sensitive skin. When I hear sensitive skin that hurts to touch, is one sided (doesn't cross the midline of the body) and is in a particular region, I think about Shingles that hasn't erupted yet.
If the area hurts more with use of the underlying muscles/connective tissues then it probably is a strain or inflammation.
But if it hurts more to touch it and it feels a bit like electric shocks, that is more likely to be Shingles coming.
For Shingles, an antiviral should be started as soon as it is confirmed which is when the blisters start to come out. Taking an antiviral early decreases the risk of post herpetic neuralgia and other complications.
If you aren't sure what is going on, best to go in to the urgent care to be seen, but be sure to request that you be seen by a doctor and not a PA or NP.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX,
It is possible to have inflammation in the connective tissue of the chest wall from lifting (costochondritis) or from excessive coughing. The pain is usually deeper rather than feeling like sensitive skin. When I hear sensitive skin that hurts to touch, is one sided (doesn't cross the midline of the body) and is in a particular region, I think about Shingles that hasn't erupted yet.
If the area hurts more with use of the underlying muscles/connective tissues then it probably is a strain or inflammation.
But if it hurts more to touch it and it feels a bit like electric shocks, that is more likely to be Shingles coming.
For Shingles, an antiviral should be started as soon as it is confirmed which is when the blisters start to come out. Taking an antiviral early decreases the risk of post herpetic neuralgia and other complications.
If you aren't sure what is going on, best to go in to the urgent care to be seen, but be sure to request that you be seen by a doctor and not a PA or NP.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
It doesn't seen to hurt as bad as it did 2 days ago, but it is like a electric shock as you said. today it seems better could that be possible.? I guess i will give it till tomorrow cause i'm off from work, if not better go to urgent care. Think that sound like a plan. I have been under a lot of stress lately. Don't need anymore. thank you Dr. XXXX
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this:
Detailed Answer:
Usually the pain does not get better until some time after the eruptions start to heal. But the virus that causes Shingles is weird, and if your body is fighting it well, I suppose it's possible to get it in check without going through the whole process.
For people who had Chicken Pox as kids, we always have the virus that can later come out as Shingles living in a part of our nervous system called the dorsal root ganglia. We have antibodies from having had Chicken Pox that keep the virus from coming out and causing Shingles, but when our immunity wanes, for a variety of speculated reasons, the virus can come out and cause problems on one side of the body in a particular region. Eventually we make enough antibodies to it to get it to go dormant again.
I can't say whether it is some connective tissue inflammation from lifting or coughing vs a virus you are fighting back down, but I highly recommend taking excellent care of yourself right now. Eat well, and get extra sleep/rest if you can. Avoid things that might stress you. Because if it is Shingles, having a healthy immune system right now will help.
Thoughts on this:
Detailed Answer:
Usually the pain does not get better until some time after the eruptions start to heal. But the virus that causes Shingles is weird, and if your body is fighting it well, I suppose it's possible to get it in check without going through the whole process.
For people who had Chicken Pox as kids, we always have the virus that can later come out as Shingles living in a part of our nervous system called the dorsal root ganglia. We have antibodies from having had Chicken Pox that keep the virus from coming out and causing Shingles, but when our immunity wanes, for a variety of speculated reasons, the virus can come out and cause problems on one side of the body in a particular region. Eventually we make enough antibodies to it to get it to go dormant again.
I can't say whether it is some connective tissue inflammation from lifting or coughing vs a virus you are fighting back down, but I highly recommend taking excellent care of yourself right now. Eat well, and get extra sleep/rest if you can. Avoid things that might stress you. Because if it is Shingles, having a healthy immune system right now will help.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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