Suggest Treatment For Pain In The Upper Arm

Posted on Mon, 8 Aug 2016

Question: My husband is 62 years old and woke up Saturday morning with left shoulder pain/upper arm pain (like a muscle strain) and he thought he slept on his side and caused the pain. He plays a lot of tennis but had no twinges of pain while playing the day before. He took Ibruprofen to ease any swelling. He could shrug his shoulders to increase movement. He avoided all physical activity except for a long walk with me. He had difficulty sleeping from the pain until an increased dosage of ibruprofen kicked in at 1:30am. This morning (Sunday), he was worse and couldn't move his arm without pain. He took no meds and his fever is climbing - most recent temperature was 101.5 - after a 2 hour nap -- and he is very foggy and in pain. No longer sounds like something muscular. Perhaps a reaction from an insect bite - though I looked for any signs of a bite by the arm. He does have bites on his legs from walks he takes previously. I am very concerned. He did eat a bit of food, My husband rarely gets ill but he is in considerable pain and movement in the arm is decreasing while his temperature is rising. No vomiting but he feels dizzy.

Answered by Dr. Ashwini Kolur (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
likely to muscle spasm, analgesic, if persists need to be evaluated

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome.
Based on the information, I feel he might be having muscle spasm while playing tennis. Fever might be due to pain.
You should take NSAID like Aceclofenac with muscle relaxants like Chlorzoxazone/ Tizanidine twice daily for 3-5 days based on the response. You can ask your local doctor for prescription of this agent. Along with this cold compression with ice packs and analgesic gel or spray will be beneficial. Also give rest and avoid any activities that aggravates the pain. This will help you.
If it persists or intensity increases I would suggest you to see local doctor immediately.
If in case it is associated with chest discomfort, difficulty in breathing we have to rule out CVS issue, so I would suggest you to get him examined by the physician, and on examination if required they may ask for ECG.
Hope this helps
Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Ashwini Kolur (33 minutes later)

Dear Dr. Kolur,
Thank you for your reply. We are relieved that the diagnosis may still be muscular -- my husband is right-handed and rarely uses his left hand in tennis -- but he is resting comfortably and his temperature lowered to 99.2. Our doctor's office was closed when his condition/pain/fever escalated.
One question -- would your diagnosis also explain my husband's fatigue -- would pain and muscle spasm in his non-dominant side along with fever make him very sleepy throughout the day and evening?
I appreciate your writing and easing my worries. He is not one to go to the doctor but I read your response to him and he will schedule an appointment with our family doctor in the morning and now I can rest as well.

Answered by Dr. Ashwini Kolur (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Fatigue is usually associated with pain and fever

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome
Fatigue is usually associated with pain and fever, it will reduce as fever & pain subsides.
Do not worry, see your family physician.
Hope this helps
Take care

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng