shoulder/arm pain

Hey everyone, sorry I have been gone for so long. My internet is still out then my computer and laptop both broke and I got a g-tab for my birthday and I have been spending the last few weeks learning how to use it and my neighbor is letting me use her internet, but I don't get the best signal.

Anyhow,about six weeks ago I did something to my left shoulder that I have no idea what happened, but my upper back, my left shoulder, back of my upper left arm, hurts like crazy. And the lower arm and my hand is always numb and tingling. My shoulder and back has aching and sometimes stabbing pain and the back of my upper arm feels like the skin is burning. I went to the emergencyroom about a month ago, my doctor can't see me (which is a whole other issue that makes me angry) and he said the muscles where messed up and their was alot of swelling. He gave me an arm sling to wear for a few days, but that just made it worse having my arm in that position.....I can't sleep,I can't get comfortable, and it isn't getting any better. I do ice and heat, soft stretches, take ibuprofen and cylebrex and methacarbanol which I got from the er, but I'm almost out. They didn't do any xrays but the doctor said it seems to be muscle related and not bones....

And my favorite gp doctor left last September and the doctor that took over has no idea what he's doing and I can never get an appointment with him, they keep saying to call back In two weeks, for six weeks straight. They supposedly don't scheadule more then so many weeks out. And because of my stupid medical government insurance wont let me find anyone else, and even if they did, theirs only two clinics that take Medicaid and the other one I was with for years and they where even worse, and now this clinic I'm going to is turning into the other Clinic that I left. So no where else to go for now.

Also my doctor that I see for my subutex scripts has a me on cymbalta for over three years and he upped it to 120 mg at our last appt. But my insurace wont pay for it. So he called in the generic for effexor er 150mgs. And he expected me to just switch, he assured me that this was fine, but I don't see how....has anyone here ever jumped from one high dose
antidepressant to another?? I took the cymbalta in hopes that it would help my pain, and it has controlled my severe migraines, I'm scared of cymbalta withdrawals even if taking the effexor....

Sorry for all my whinnying, nobody I know wants to listen, they think my shoulder issue should be gone by now, so they think I'm lying. Most of my chronic issues are in my lower back and legs, so this is a whole new problem for me. I'm more worried about the numbness in my hands, like they're always alseep, but its 24/7. Does anyone here have problems that sound like this and have a diagnosis, so I can research it, and IF I ever get in to see my doctor I can have him check for it or send me to a specialist that can test it nd diagnose it?? I don't know where to start, I'm new to this shoulder issue. Could it be coming from my upper back???

Thanks,
kittyy

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DX-Pancreatic Divisum, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Syndrome, Migraines, Allergies W/Asthma, Depression W/Anxiety/Panic disorder, Lower back Disc issues

Hi, It could be TOS ( Thoracic Output Syndrome). I have it.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=24&order=desc

Kitty, have they done MRI's and x-rays to confirm muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones are all still normal? If that's the case you might want to see a pain specialist and let them begin the process of elemination.

Another option is a chiropractor, provided x-rays and MRI's are clean. Let him/her know of any pre-exsisting spinal conditions -- bulging discs, spine issues, neck injuries, etc. Frequently they will do an x-ray as well to check the area before working there. Sometimes numbness and tingling in one or both hands can be pinched nerves, and it also explains a measure of the arm pain.

However I had something similar. I had hurt my arm at work, my wrist. They thought it was just tendonitis, put me in a splint, gave me drugs, and eventually sent me to physical therapy. But the physical therapy made the pain worse. All tests came up clean, yet my arm was in intense pain, and I was having bouts of numbness in my hands. I know one doctor was concerned which fingers were experiencing the issues more as sometimes it can signal heart issues. However in my case, and it took several different doctors and two years, before I finally found someone who could figure out what I had/have.

I have CRPS, formerly known as RSD. It's a nerve disorder that you can look up easily on the internet. Mine started in my hand and wrist and over the years has spread to include my entire right arm and parts of my neck now. I would be more then happy to tell more, but lately my hand has gotten worse and typing is starting to become an issue for me.

Typical disclaimer: I am in no way shape or form a medical doctor or nurse. I do not claim to be such. I do not make diagnosis', I am merely pointing out a similarity in symptoms. Only a trained professional has the ability to make an honest diagnosis.

 

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Originally injured 10/26/2007 - Initial diagnosis; Tendonitis
Spent next year seeing specialist after specialist; Bone, Muscle, Hand, Neurologist, Chriopractor, Physical Therapist...
Went through a battery of tests, multiple MRI's
11/16/09 I was finally diagnosed CRPS - Stage 2
Permanently disabled, on Percoset.
February 2011 successful SCSU trial
No surgeon willing to do my SCSU Implant

Thank you so much for the replies and ideas!!!! Its always so wonderful to know that I'm not the only one who suffers with things like this, that I'm not alone. I'm going to look into everything you guys mentioned. The tennis balls thing sounds interesting, I'll have to buy me some tennis balls next time I go to the store. I find the burning feeling on the back of my upper arm very weird, could this be some type of nerve issue also like the hand numbness??

I was hoping at first that this issue would be something simple, and would go away fast, like maybe I slept wrong or something, but after more then six weeks with the pain not getting any better, if not worse, this maybe a chronic issue, like I needed another chronic health issue. I guess my body decided the other million of issues wasn't enough....

I don't know how to get my GP's office to make me an appointment, I really wish my old doctor was still there. But my friend just told me today that my old doctor has a new office and takes Medicaid, so I'm gonna call tomorrow to her new office and my insurance and see
if she can see me

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DX-Pancreatic Divisum, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Syndrome, Migraines, Allergies W/Asthma, Depression W/Anxiety/Panic disorder, Lower back Disc issues