Shoulder Pain and Hand numbness

[tanyabriner]

I am getting desperate. I can't seem to get anyone to help me with this problem. About a year ago, I started having severe pain and burning in my right shoulder blade. At the same time, I am having numbness and pain shooting down the back of my right arm (around near my armpit as well) and numbness in my pinky and ring finger. There is also pain under my right collar bone that seems to radiate from my shoulder. I have tried muscle relaxers, ibuprofin, physical therapy and while all of this helped somewhat for a short period of time the pain continues. It is now at around an 8 on a scale of 1-10. I am very active with two teenagers and am starting to be a real drag to them because I am always in so much pain. Does anyone have a clue what this is?

[Unregistered]

I am getting desperate. I can't seem to get anyone to help me with this problem. About a year ago, I started having severe pain and burning in my right shoulder blade. At the same time, I am having numbness and pain shooting down the back of my right arm (around near my armpit as well) and numbness in my pinky and ring finger. There is also pain under my right collar bone that seems to radiate from my shoulder. I have tried muscle relaxers, ibuprofin, physical therapy and while all of this helped somewhat for a short period of time the pain continues. It is now at around an 8 on a scale of 1-10. I am very active with two teenagers and am starting to be a real drag to them because I am always in so much pain. Does anyone have a clue what this is?

I have been having very similar issues. Esspecially at night, my right shoulder begins having a throbing burning pain, which moves down my arm and in to my last three fingers, which go numb. I have also tried everything i can think of, without result. sometimes the symtoms will leave on there own for a week or two but without fail return, and seem to be getting progressivly worse. have you had any luck since posting?

[Unregistered]

I have been having very similar issues. Esspecially at night, my right shoulder begins having a throbing burning pain, which moves down my arm and in to my last three fingers, which go numb. I have also tried everything i can think of, without result. sometimes the symtoms will leave on there own for a week or two but without fail return, and seem to be getting progressivly worse. have you had any luck since posting?

No luck. I am really at my wits end

[Unregistered]

No luck. I am really at my wits end

Have you seen a orthopedist or neurologist? They can check things out and order an MRI if necessary - your symptoms sound very similar to those involving the cervical or thoracic spine (stenosis and/or disc problems).

[Unregistered]

I've been having very similar issue and Ill share what I know so far. The unlar nerve runs along the underside of your arm, it's the one you hit when you hit your funny bone. It is specific to your ring and pinky finger. it runs through the shoulder and is commonly piched there causing pain, parathesia, and weakness. My guess is that you need to see a Doc about it and probably need shoulder surgury. If the nerve is just trapped it's fixable with physical therapy or surgury. If it gets damaged there may be no fixing it. The longer you let it go the worse the chance it cannot be fixed. Go see a Doc! If they don't help you see another. Dont take no for an answer. Because it's nerve pain, the meds you were taking would not be to helpful. Hope this helps.

[Unregistered]

I've been having very similar issue and Ill share what I know so far. The unlar nerve runs along the underside of your arm, it's the one you hit when you hit your funny bone. It is specific to your ring and pinky finger. it runs through the shoulder and is commonly piched there causing pain, parathesia, and weakness. My guess is that you need to see a Doc about it and probably need shoulder surgury. If the nerve is just trapped it's fixable with physical therapy or surgury. If it gets damaged there may be no fixing it. The longer you let it go the worse the chance it cannot be fixed. Go see a Doc! If they don't help you see another. Dont take no for an answer. Because it's nerve pain, the meds you were taking would not be to helpful. Hope this helps.

I have the same problem. I was in a car wreck two and a half years ago. After fighting shoulder and neck pain for months i finally found a doc to help me. During treatment, I started having hand numbness. Usually occuring during the night and waking me up in horrible pain and what I refer to as 'club hand.' The pain somewhat subsides when i rub the back side of my elbow and the outer muscle of my shoulder. This has recently been brought on by extreme use of my hands at work. tight grasping gives sharp knife like pains in the palm of my hand. I also find that sleeping with my shoulder falling backwardxs toward my spine helps. I recieved a corisone shot in my wrist for carpel tunnel syndrome but to no avail. I also had an EMG done on my forearm. After a while the numbness and pain subsides and is almost forgotten about. After many doc visits and drug trials I ended up having clavical decompression on my shoulder. Slight nerve damage was discovered but no treatment was administered. The sugeory help with my shoulder pain but the numbness in my hands returns quite often. As of right now I find it hard to type this message. Im to the point now where im going to have to go back to the doc and prob take some time off work untill i can use my left hand again. ive lokked at CTS, tennis elbow or cubital tunnel, and thoracic outlet syndrome. But tryn to tell a doc your diagnosis is like telln a child not to do that, they just dont listen. if anyone can help, i would greatly appreciate it. thank you --- Ian C ---castetter@hotmail.com

[Unregistered]

Have you considered going to see a chiropractor? After getting the run around from three different MDs I finally found a chiropractor who has been a God-send. I had very similar symptoms, and only through chiropractic adjustments can I get any lasting relief. Took a few treatments in the beginning, but I hardly ever need treatment now. The numbness is completely gone, and pain is rare, and at a very tolerable level.

[Unregistered]

I have been having very similar issues. Esspecially at night, my right shoulder begins having a throbing burning pain, which moves down my arm and in to my last three fingers, which go numb. I have also tried everything i can think of, without result. sometimes the symtoms will leave on there own for a week or two but without fail return, and seem to be getting progressivly worse. have you had any luck since posting?

I have been having a very similar problem but in my left arm. There is a burning pain in my shoulder and left side of my lower neck that is a shooting/burning pain down to my elbow and numbness/weakness in my left hand manily index middle and ring finger. The focus of the pain in my case seems to be slightly above the left elbow, middle of my tricep and lower left side of my neck. Occasionally I will have a warming sensation throughout my arm. Ibuprofen, aspirin, and daypro do absolutely nothing for the pain. when I am sitting in a chair at my desk it is horribly painful and sleeping is a similar endeavor. I have not been able to get any answers either and have been Googling trying to find some answers because it seems to be getting worse.

[Unregistered]

I have been having a very similar problem but in my left arm. There is a burning pain in my shoulder and left side of my lower neck that is a shooting/burning pain down to my elbow and numbness/weakness in my left hand manily index middle and ring finger. The focus of the pain in my case seems to be slightly above the left elbow, middle of my tricep and lower left side of my neck. Occasionally I will have a warming sensation throughout my arm. Ibuprofen, aspirin, and daypro do absolutely nothing for the pain. when I am sitting in a chair at my desk it is horribly painful and sleeping is a similar endeavor. I have not been able to get any answers either and have been Googling trying to find some answers because it seems to be getting worse.

I am going through the samething 8/10 shoulder surgery on right shoulder do to work now numbness in hand as of 9/10 and now neck and left hand 10/10 and not getting anwser from my dr. I don't know if it was from the nerve block they did or hit a nerve when I had the surgery because I have never had my hands or neck do this. I'm getting worried. Now the dr. gave me MELOXICAM plus PT 3 days a week and said lets see what this does but still nothing. Does anybody have answers to the numbness happening? All I am finding for answers is Brachial Plexopathy. If so many people are having this problem after the nerve block and shoulder surgery you would think they would have answers to the numbness questions

[Unregistered]

I am going through the samething 8/10 shoulder surgery on right shoulder do to work now numbness in hand as of 9/10 and now neck and left hand 10/10 and not getting anwser from my dr. I don't know if it was from the nerve block they did or hit a nerve when I had the surgery because I have never had my hands or neck do this. I'm getting worried. Now the dr. gave me MELOXICAM plus PT 3 days a week and said lets see what this does but still nothing. Does anybody have answers to the numbness happening? All I am finding for answers is Brachial Plexopathy. If so many people are having this problem after the nerve block and shoulder surgery you would think they would have answers to the numbness questions

From Marty:
I had a torn rotator cuff repair on 10/11/10. The doctor said I should now 10/20 start pendulum excercises. When I take my arm out of the sling and Let It Hang straight down I get a very sharp pain in the back of my hand and wrist. If I try to extend my hand and arm down, the pain gets even worse. It feels like an electric shock and lasts for almost 10 secondsso I lift my arm. I called the Dr. and he said it should go away before too ling and if it doesn't he will prescribe muscle relaxants.
Marty