What Causes Pain On Back Of Shoulder And Armpit?

Posted on Tue, 28 Oct 2014

Question: Im having pain in my back of shoulder an sometimes it feels like its under my arm pit. I got an mri an it looked good but im still in pain ? What could it be

Answered by Dr. Mukesh Chugh (29 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please tell me more to help you better

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for posting
It's good to see you again. To help you better lease tell me-
1. Range of motion at shoulder as compare to normal site?
2. Do you have pain more at night with difficulty in combing of hair and dressing up?
Looking forward to your reply.
Meanwhile you may have hot water fomentation,gentle exercises along with Ibuprofen and muscle relaxant like thiocolchicoside.
Take care

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

Follow up: Dr. Mukesh Chugh (7 minutes later)

It hurts me when i move my arm up. It hurts when i do the Obrien test. An now i get pain in thr back of my shoulder an it hurts when i try to sleep an sometimes it feels like the pain is under my arm pit but i dont know. I had an mri but the doctor said it looked ok but i still have pain . The doctor said if i was in pain for another month that they will consider surgery an i see him tomorrow cause its been a month an im still in pain im just wondering what could be wrong if they cant see anything on my mri

Answered by Dr. Mukesh Chugh (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Subarcomial bursitis may be the cause

Detailed Answer:
Hello
I have gone through your reply and I would like to examine you by "drop arm sign" test to look for subacromial bursitis/Impingement syndrome. Although with due respect to treating doctor, you may discuss about these possibilities while visiting your doctor tomorrow.
If nothing works then shoulder arthroscopy may help in a diagnostic/therapeutic way.
Hope this helps.
Take care

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

Follow up: Dr. Mukesh Chugh (9 minutes later)

Will they be able to see where the pain is with the scope of the shoulder. Cause my shoulder is hurting but im worried they do surgery an dont find nothing which they should cause its been hurting awhile

Answered by Dr. Mukesh Chugh (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Arthroscopy is heplful

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Yes, while doing arthroscopy we visualise whole of shoulder to look for any tear, Inflammation, new growth to loose body. Every information is helpful whether you find something abnormal to everything normal.Hence, be positive.
In my view a fair trial of Injection cortisone inside the shoulder (Intra articular) can be given, If not given earlier.
Hope you have found something useful.
Take care.

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

Follow up: Dr. Mukesh Chugh (4 minutes later)

Ok thanks an just wondering could a doctor do surgery even if he dont see anything in the scope but just to see if it makes my pain go away?

Answered by Dr. Mukesh Chugh (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
As follows

Detailed Answer:
Hello
You are welcome.
While doing arthroscopy if everything (geniod labrum, rotator cuff etc.) is normal then a surgeon just do a joint wash out and that may alone help in relieving the pain in a number of cases.
As a surgeon we know what healthy tissue is and when to touch a diseased tissue to make it a healthy tissue.
So, be at ease.
Wishing you good health.

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

Follow up: Dr. Mukesh Chugh (1 hour later)

Could you have a something wrong with your shoulder an not see it in a mri with XXXXXXX an only see it with a scope

Answered by Dr. Mukesh Chugh (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
MRI is studies of shadow

Detailed Answer:
Hello
I have gone through your reply carefully.Though MRI is a sensitive investigation and is noninvasive is nature and has it's own limitations as compare to invasive Arthroscopy procedure.
In MRI we study the shadow of shoulder and in Arthroscopy we see the tissue with our naked eye and can touch and assess their function. Hence,Arthroscopy is definitely a better investigation tool.
Hope this suffice.
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. Chakravarthy Mazumdar