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What Causes Pain In The Arms And Shoulders?

Posted on Fri, 27 Mar 2015

Question: Yes, Thank you. For the past few weeks I have experienced acute pain from the left shoulder down the length of my arm. It occurs when I lay down, so especially at night. I have to use my right arm to lift my left arm because it feels so weak yet heavy, when this pain comes. It seems fine during the day and when I am not trying to sleep. I feel very fatigued by the afternoon, to the point of having to stop what I am doing. What do you think?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (48 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It can be rotator cuff tear

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your case and I think you might be having rotator cuff tear. In this condition there is torn tendon in the shoulder and patient is not able to lift his arm, though she can do it with the help of opposite shoulder. Also there is severe pain in the night. But before I advised you any thing I want to know little detail about your illness.
1. Did you fall over your shoulder or any other injury recently?
2.Do you having Diabetes or thyroid problem?
3.Are you taking any medication like blood pressure?
4. Please tell me in detail about your fatigue, like is it pain in body or breathless ness?
Please send me answers of these questions. I will try my best to help you.
thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (2 hours later)

Thank you, Dr. Sharma:

I have not fallen recently.
I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic in April 2014.
I do not have a thryroid problem to my knowledge.
I am taking high blood pressure medicine. (hydrochlorothiazide 25mg)
I do have pain in the body at night when I am laying down.
I experience some breathlessness after coming up a flight of stairs, but it is not a constant.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It can be Rotator cuff tear

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for replying my questions so fast. Diabetics can have shoulder cuff tear without any trauma or fall. I would recommend you to get a ultrasound of the shoulder to see if there is any cuff tear.
If there is a cuff tear than you might need a surgery to repair that torn tendon.You also need to maintain your sugar level normal.
For breathlessness and weakness I would recommend you to meet your physcian and get ECG test. As it can be a sign of heart disease specially in high blood pressure patients.
Let me know if there is any other followup questions.
thanks

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