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Suggest Treatment For Sharp Pain In Arm
Question: pain in my arm about 4" down from the shoulder, off and on for about 10 years. It used to come and go depending on if I did some SERIOUS exhertion, like shoveling snow. It is mostly a sharp pain when turning my arm, eg turning the dial on a stove.
2 months ago, it started again, but hasn't stopped.Xrays show no bone damage. Dr thought it might be carpal tunnel, so he gave me an injection of cortisol in my shoulder. The pain went away for about a week, but came back with a vengeance. MRI of shoulder shows no rotator cuff injury. I have complete range of motion.
Why does it hurt/burn?
Important: could it be a delayed issue with my Implanon? I can feel it still right where it was inserted more than 2 years ago, so it hadn't migrated or moved under muscles, but its the same arm,?
2 months ago, it started again, but hasn't stopped.Xrays show no bone damage. Dr thought it might be carpal tunnel, so he gave me an injection of cortisol in my shoulder. The pain went away for about a week, but came back with a vengeance. MRI of shoulder shows no rotator cuff injury. I have complete range of motion.
Why does it hurt/burn?
Important: could it be a delayed issue with my Implanon? I can feel it still right where it was inserted more than 2 years ago, so it hadn't migrated or moved under muscles, but its the same arm,?
Brief Answer:
Can be CTS.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thank you for posting your query .
I have read your problem and in my opinion I also agree with your doctor that it could be carpal tunnel syndrome as twisting movement are giving rise to it .But an NCV or phalen test is needed to establish its diagnosis . If MRI of shoulder has been done and it is normal it very less likely that there is some pathology in the shoulder . Any kind of bursitis or tendinitis can be picked on MRI .
One other possibility may be cervical spondylosis which can give rise to shoulder pain , for this x Ray cervical spine will need to be done to see the presence of osteophytes . Shoulder pain is a kind of soft tissue rheumatism which is very difficult to diagnose .
The possibility of implanon giving rise to this pain is unlikely as it will first give rise to local reaction .Your doctor has rightly told you that physiotherapy is the most effective way to get rid of this pain . NSAIDS can be used to decrease the inflammation when pain is there .
Take care.
Dr. Shruti
Can be CTS.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thank you for posting your query .
I have read your problem and in my opinion I also agree with your doctor that it could be carpal tunnel syndrome as twisting movement are giving rise to it .But an NCV or phalen test is needed to establish its diagnosis . If MRI of shoulder has been done and it is normal it very less likely that there is some pathology in the shoulder . Any kind of bursitis or tendinitis can be picked on MRI .
One other possibility may be cervical spondylosis which can give rise to shoulder pain , for this x Ray cervical spine will need to be done to see the presence of osteophytes . Shoulder pain is a kind of soft tissue rheumatism which is very difficult to diagnose .
The possibility of implanon giving rise to this pain is unlikely as it will first give rise to local reaction .Your doctor has rightly told you that physiotherapy is the most effective way to get rid of this pain . NSAIDS can be used to decrease the inflammation when pain is there .
Take care.
Dr. Shruti
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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