Upper Arm Pain

[voulezvous]

Have had pain for 2 months now. Put myself on a course of ibuprofen, but it hasn't helped.

Any ideas what the pain could be? I can stretch my arm behind my back and lift it, no problem (although lowering it back down hurts). The pain comes sometimes with small hand movements and also when bringing my arm across my body. If I pull my arm in close to my body it's at it's most painful.

These days I hate to bother a doctor, so just keep hoping it will go away, but now it's feeling worse and I'm waking up in the night with pain.

[bednobs]

sounds like tendonitis

[boxtops]

voulezvous, are you on statins?

[voulezvous]

Thanks, both. No, not on statins, boxtops.

[boxtops]

That's one possible reason eliminated then, good - I suffered dreadful arm muscle pains on one brand of statin.

[voulezvous]

bednobs, if it's tendonitis maybe I'll just keep plugging on with over the counter antiinflamatories. Seems like a plan!

[voulezvous]

I've managed to avoid the statins thus far, boxtops......................long may that continue!

[237SJ]

Funnily enough, I have exactly the same problem as you. I woke up with a pain in my neck in February which hasn`t gone away so I had an MRI scan about a month ago which didn`t show up anything. Around the time of the MRI, my pain went into my upper arm and I am convinced it is caused by a problem with my shoulder (possibly to do with the ligaments) I can put my arm above my head and around my back. I can`t put any downward pressure on it though, as it hurts like hell. It really hurts in bed at night. I tried hitting it with a course of ipruprofen which helped until the drug wore off and then I was back where I started. Your only course is to go to the doctor for a proper diagnosis. I might try the physio at work (faster than waiting on the NHS) and then I will probably do the same.

[voulezvous]

A better way to describe the pain onset is..................like when you go to brush your hair out of your eyes left hand to right.........excruciating.

Can't explain it here, so goodness knows how I'd explain it to a doc!

[voulezvous]

That all sounds very similar 237SJ. My doctor always makes me feel like I'm wasting his time...........best bite the bullet though and go see him.

[237SJ]

My arm hurts the worst when I press down on something. For example, pressing on a lid to close it or pressing on a cork screw to open a bottle of wine on a fairly high work surface. Go to your GP voulezvous, that is what they are there for. He or she will probably just refer you for further tests

[jamesnan]

Could it be RSI - I had that in my arm and nothing helped till I had 3 steroid injections

[voulezvous]

Resting on my elbow also brings on the pain..........I'll take your advice and see the doc 237SJ, but have a feeling they wont know what to do either............right now I'd just settle for better pain relief!

[voulezvous]

I suppose it could be jamesnan.............not sure what I've done to bring it on. I'd be happy to have anything that would stop the pain!

[237SJ]

You can get bone spurs in the shoulder and rotator cuff problems. It really isn`t something you can speculate about - you need a proper diagnosis. Referred pain can confuse the issue as well. Good luck with the GP - I`m sure you will get some answers with the proper tests.

[voulezvous]

Thanks methyl.......must try to be more assertive with the doc. Not easy, but I think I must go see him about this.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

It sounds a little like Bursitis:

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/bursitis/Pages/Introduction.aspx

[voulezvous]

Thanks 237SJ and everyone else that has helped.

[voulezvous]

Could be mojo. I've already tried icing and ibuprofen (as per the article). Resting is not an option for me, as I care for my elderly parents.

[Sqad]

Couple of questions.

Does it affect both arms, one arm and if so which one, right or left?
Are you a smoker?

Thanks.