What Causes Pain In Right Shoulder That Spreads Down Right Arm?

Posted on Wed, 29 Jul 2015

Question: I have had severe pain in my right shoulder now it has traveled down my arm and I have pain,numbness and tingling in my right arm and my right hand. It has been three weeks now, and I still feel pain and numbness.

Answered by Dr. Albana Sejdini (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Time to get further examinations to determine right cause to your pain...

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I am sorry for the situation you are going through.

The severe pain in your right shoulder traveling down your arm associated with numbness, tingling in your right arm and hand are suggestive for possible compression of the nerves going nearby.

This might be due to arthritis of the shoulder joint or spondyloarthrosis.

As this has been going for 3 weeks now and you are not reporting to have any improvement at all, then, to my opinion, it is time to get further investigations to determine why you are having such pain:
- X-ray of the shoulder joint and vertebral spine (neck and chest areas)
- neurological examination
- complete blood count together with measuring CRP and fibrinogen levels

For the moment, you can continue take ketoprofen or tylenol w/codeine orally and apply analgesic cream locally. Massage is also helpful with slight exercising of shoulder, arm and hand area.

Hope it was of help! Wish fast recovery!
Dr.Albana

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