BS: Why does my arm hurt?

Subject: RE: BS: Why does my arm hurt?
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 May 07 - 09:38 AM

I used to have incredible shoulder pain. It has improved with exercise. I used to freeze up with the pain and be afraid to move it. It is much better now that I know to ice it at first, MOVE it as much as possible, and have Rog push as hard as possible on the sorest spots (pressure points) while I deep breathe to relax the muscles.

One thing, though, my doc, an osteo, had me swing my arm behind me, whilst sitting, and sit on my hand. He said if I couldn't do that, it could be my rotator cuff. Fortunately it was not. Hope this is also the case for you, but it may be worth checking out.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Why does my arm hurt?
From: Amos
Date: 18 May 07 - 09:38 AM

It is possible that a bone spur is causing abrasion of a ligament.

If that is the case, exercising will occasionally move the spur in such a way that it makes the abrasion worse.

This is why doctors use MRIs, x-rays and such devices. To find out.

Adopting remedies before you know what is causing the pain would be much less fruitful than finding out what you are dealing with first.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Why does my arm hurt?
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 May 07 - 09:30 AM

Get a piece of surgical tubing about a half inch or inch through the middle and about 3 feet or a meter long. Hold one end in your left hand and the other in your right. Now, keeping your upper right arm close to the body, swing your right arm, from the elbow down, outward like a hinge. This strengthens the shoulder muscles.

This will force the shoulder muscles to hurt, but it's a good hurt. Do this several times a day: queuing for the bus, in church during the sermon, during sex, while performing, etc. When it doesn't hurt, hold the tubing a bit closer to the other end.

Subject: RE: BS: Why does my arm hurt?
From: BuckMulligan
Date: 18 May 07 - 09:18 AM

Sounds a lot like what I've had in my right shoulder, and now in my left arm - Dr. hasn't done a lot of looking but agrees with me that it's most likely tendonitis. NSAIDs help a little, but Naproxen sodium (Aleve by brand) helps most. Exercise - moving the limb through as many quadrants as possible, not necessarily putting a load on it - helps enormously.

Subject: RE: BS: Why does my arm hurt?
From: Toobusybee
Date: 18 May 07 - 08:36 AM

Hi I have a similar problem mainly from my elbows down to my arms, but also sometime my left shoulder. Anti-inflammatories did help, but you can't take these long term, they can have a bad effect on your stomach and liver. I got a referral to a physio quite quickly. I first saw the doctor last spring and had my first hospital appointment in September after I had been using the anti-inflammatories. A steroid injection was tried, which didn't work and then arm splints which were uncomfortable, I then saw the physio for the first time in January, I had regular fornightly appointments, and saw the same physio every time. I've been given a set of exercises to do plus a resistance band - I do forget to do these. The pain is not always bad. I do agree that it may be something to do with the onset of the menopause, a friend of mine had lots of problems with her back whilst she was in her fifties and went from being an extremely active person who loved walking - she lives near Hampstead Heath to only being able to go on short walks, now she also has a problem with her feet. They don't tell you about these things!

Toobusy - but not for lunch

Subject: RE: BS: Why does my arm hurt?
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 18 May 07 - 08:08 AM

What about TENs? Both Geoff and I have similar problems with elbows and the machine does help except I keep forgetting to use it.

Subject: RE: BS: Why does my arm hurt?
From: Bee
Date: 18 May 07 - 07:27 AM

Shot in the dark: I don't know how old you are, but a few years ago an aquaintance had a very similar sounding problem. Consultation with a regular ol' family doctor revealed she had a problem associated sometimes with onset of menopause - a not very common side effect, which I'd never heard of. Time cured it, along with your standard anti-inflammatories.

Subject: RE: BS: Why does my arm hurt?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 18 May 07 - 05:50 AM

Moll - The pain is not associated with my typing skills, and I frequently use the numbers on the main keyboard, having trained as a typist. Trouble is, it takes two hands and usually my left hand is engaged with the mouse at work, it being the nature of the way our computer programmes accept information (type in number, click mouse box, type in another number, click mouse box... get the idea? Designed for right-handed people). I'd use the arrow keys to move my mouse but guess what... they're on the right hand side of the keyboard! It can't be my working practices, I haven't done any for weeks! (Joke!)

I have not changed my footwear - indeed, 75% of the time I'm barefoot, winter and summer. I don't recall any other injuries in the last 2 months.

Micca does do massage but frankly, I'd prefer the 22yr old, just so long as the six-pack is Tanglefoot.

To get a referral to an osteo or physioterrorist takes time when you can't pay, unless I can prove it happened as a result of my working practice - and even then I have to be risk assessed and a whole heap of other H&S stuff to make sure I'm following the rules. Trouble is, they keep changing the rules and not telling us. It's now no longer acceptable to have your thighs parallel to the desk and your hips at 90degrees. No-one told me I'd been sitting wrongly for 8 years!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Why does my arm hurt?
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 18 May 07 - 05:13 AM

I thought it was a firkin barrel!
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: Why does my arm hurt?
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 18 May 07 - 05:12 AM

Hello,

Have you tried a physiotherapist or osteopath Liz?

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: BS: Why does my arm hurt?
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 18 May 07 - 05:02 AM

Micca does massage but he's only got a Party 7!

Subject: RE: BS: Why does my arm hurt?
From: GUEST,Paraceta Moll
Date: 18 May 07 - 04:10 AM

Why bother with the number pad? Teach yourself to use the top row of the keyboard, using both hands. That way, neither gets overused (and you just go down with RSI in both arms at once...)

Muscular pains are often all lumped under "fibrositis" or "fibromyalgia" which gives it a name but doesn't cure it. There are many possible causes, and it's not helped by the fact that the cause might not be in the area that hurts. Chiropractors are specialists in tracking down pains in your back to the type of shoes you wear, or aching feet to the wrong kind of toothbrush. I think a massage by a bronzed 22 year old man with a sixpack might help.

Subject: BS: Why does my arm hurt?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 18 May 07 - 03:58 AM

I'm having trouble with my right arm.

I am naturally left handed. I have been diagnosed as having RSI in my right hand, causing it to ache and swell when I do too much number pad work (all right hand operations). I am presently attempting to get a left handed keyboard or a separate number pad at work.

For the last couple of months, I've had a pain in my right arm, just below the shoulder joint. It means I cannot put my arm behind me or lift my elbow higher than my shoulder. I can lift things, pull and push with no trouble, there's no pain when bending the elbow or putting my arm out in front. Sometimes the pain is such that it wakes me at night. I have always slept on my right side, but the initial act of lying on it is no trouble at all.

I noticed this pain about 2 months ago, not long after we put a firmer matress pad on our bed. I thought that this might be the cause of my pain, so we removed it a week or so ago. I know that's not long but the pain is still persisting. My pillow arrangement has not changed. I haven't been carrying anything heavier than normal, I've not pulled it excercising or hanging from the chandelier, I can't think of any injury I've had to it. Resting my arm for a week hasn't made a great deal of difference.

The doctor says it's arthritis and the anti-inflammatories I'm taking should help. They do for my hand, but not for my arm.

The pain feels muscular, rather than joint - I can move my shoulder joint perfectly freely and the hurty bit is rather more towards that fleshy bit the nurse sticks the needle into when you get your shots.

Consequently, I'm sleep deprived, cranky and totally P.O'd... so now's the time to open the can of worms... does anyone out there have any ideas, suggestions (other than change my doctor) or experiences they'd care to share?

Thanks.

LTS