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Suggest Treatment For Severe Pain In The Shoulders
Question: For about two weeks I feel like I have a wave of some sort traveling under my skin, from my left upper shoulder back area, over my front collar, up my neck and into my jaw. Sometimes it tingles and a couple times it has felt like a little stabbing discomfort in my left chest. It doesn't always go up into my jaw. This is quite strange to me and has awakened me when I'm sleeping on my left side.
I started taking baby asprin. Usually this weirdness lasts less than a minute, maybe 4-10 times n 24 hours. I have contemplated going to a Med center, in case it's heart related, but being n FLA for the winter, my doctor is not here. I am 69. I did have a heart work up in NOv-Dec and the specialist said everything looked normal but caveated that with saying tests are generally 85-90% correct. THis included a nuclear stress and ultrasound. Any thoughts ?
I started taking baby asprin. Usually this weirdness lasts less than a minute, maybe 4-10 times n 24 hours. I have contemplated going to a Med center, in case it's heart related, but being n FLA for the winter, my doctor is not here. I am 69. I did have a heart work up in NOv-Dec and the specialist said everything looked normal but caveated that with saying tests are generally 85-90% correct. THis included a nuclear stress and ultrasound. Any thoughts ?
Brief Answer:
Nothing to be worried about; not heart related
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern. Thank you for your question.
This does not look like a heart-related problem. You see, pain deriving from the blockages in the coronary arteries of the heart is more felt like a heaviness or tenderness in the mid-chest area, radiating to the left shoulder, left arm and the jaw. It is almost inherently started during physical activity, not during rest or sleep, is of moderate-severe intensity and is not tingling or stabbing in character. Adding to this, you have a normal cardiac check-up done only recently. Therefore, my opinion is that it is not necessary to go to a medical center.
On the other hand, this kind of pain looks as it is derived from some sort of chronic or acute inflammatory process of muscles or bones of the area. In this regard, I would recommend you to take a short, 5-day course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen, indomethacin etc). I think that this will resolve this kind of pain.
I hope I was helpful with my answer. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions.
Kind regards,
Dr. Meriton
Nothing to be worried about; not heart related
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern. Thank you for your question.
This does not look like a heart-related problem. You see, pain deriving from the blockages in the coronary arteries of the heart is more felt like a heaviness or tenderness in the mid-chest area, radiating to the left shoulder, left arm and the jaw. It is almost inherently started during physical activity, not during rest or sleep, is of moderate-severe intensity and is not tingling or stabbing in character. Adding to this, you have a normal cardiac check-up done only recently. Therefore, my opinion is that it is not necessary to go to a medical center.
On the other hand, this kind of pain looks as it is derived from some sort of chronic or acute inflammatory process of muscles or bones of the area. In this regard, I would recommend you to take a short, 5-day course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen, indomethacin etc). I think that this will resolve this kind of pain.
I hope I was helpful with my answer. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions.
Kind regards,
Dr. Meriton
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
If this isn't heart related, the only other health issue I have is spinal stenosis; could it be related to that? What I'm having is so unique and I'm concerned. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
It could be because of that
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Yes, the spinal stenosis could also explain the symptom you are having, although it may be new to you. In this case, also, the treatment is as mentioned in the original question.
Not at all. I hope to hae been of help. If you do not have further questions, close the discussion and rate the answer.
Best regards,
Dr. Meriton
It could be because of that
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Yes, the spinal stenosis could also explain the symptom you are having, although it may be new to you. In this case, also, the treatment is as mentioned in the original question.
Not at all. I hope to hae been of help. If you do not have further questions, close the discussion and rate the answer.
Best regards,
Dr. Meriton
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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