Upper arm/shoulder/neck pain

[green]

Right side, from my ankle, sciatica, lower back, center of spine, scapular region, neck, shoulder, upper right arm, elbow, forearm, is painful. Chonic type painful.

Same for left, but not to the same extent.

At the moment, upper right arm, basically a line down from the pin that connects the arm to the shoulder, is accutely painful, like a knife. This is from practicing.

Is that muscle weak, why is it a problem? I have been massaging it and found it is aggravated, should i just leave it? Massage 'around' it? Ice, heat?

[bernhard]

I cannot really say too much without actually seeing you (no one can). It could be a muscle in spasm from being tense for a long (very long time). But your description seems to me like you must have a disc in your spine (probably in one of the lower vertebras) pressing on some of the nerves that radiate from it.

You also say that massaging makes it worse. But bear in mind that usually the cause of the pain is in a completely different place from where the pain actually is, and many times not painful itself. So it is not only about rubbing the place that hurts. It is knowing about where it all originates from and working form there. Ice is only helpful to control inflammation. Avoid hot water (bottles and baths) unless you are alternating cold and hot. As you can see there are too many variables to be able to tell you what to do  and more importantly what will be safe to do through a forum,

If you are knowledgeable about these things (takes a lifetime to learn, but believe me, it is time well spent) then you can treat yourself soundly (in fact if you are knowledgeable about it you will probably not end up in this situation - you will prevent it long before happening).

If you are ignorant of it, then you must look for help.

Medical doctors are usually hopeless: they will give antiinflamatories and painkillers. Never ever take painkillers (no matter how bad the pain is) in these cases: the pain protects you from doing movements that would cause more harm while the body heals. With the pain gone (thanks to painkillers) you are lured into a false sense of security and start moving around in iappropriate ways and making the situation worse. In more extreme cases they may convince you to do an operation that not only can be easily avoided, as it may not work.

Best bets are osteopaths and chiropractors for immediate treatment. For long term treatment you will have to do a lot yourself. This means a lifelong commitment to postural alignment (you will have to learn Alexander technique, or the Feldenkrais method) and the correct sort of therapeutical exercise (I am particularly fond of Yoga, but there are other approaches out there).

Stop practising (since you say it is what caused it), see a knowledgeable therapist and go from there.

You must attend to this problem: It will not go away – even if it  eventually gets better by itself.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[janice]

Sounds like you have a disk/vertebra problem in the neck area.  Run--don't walk--to the nearest doctor (NOT A CHIROPRACTOR).  Insist upon an x-ray of the entire spine, because it sounds like you have several areas that are bad .  I had a herniated disk of the L5-S1.  Pain went down my left leg.  It sounds like you have a problem (possibly a disk problem) of your CERVICAL(sp?)spine, actually it sounds like the other areas of the spine are affected too, thats why you need to have an x-ray.  Get it checked out by a DOCTOR.  No time for home remedies.  Insist upon an x-ray.  Good luck!  Let us know what happens!

[rlefebvr]

Well, not to disagree with Janice, but if you get a very good Chiro he will be taking X-rays. I could barely walk 3 years ago and no real Doctor(you know the ones that love to shove pills down your throat) could do a thing. Chiro fixed it right up.

With that kind of pain I would keep my options open. It may not be your neck at all and may well be your lower back causing all sorts of problems.

Go to both, what have you got to loose, but I agree with Janice, an X-ray by so called real Doctor should be your first move. If he finds nothing really abnormal, then go to a Chiro that also takes X-rays. If the Chiro can help, you should see results within a week.

[green]

Xray done. Np problem with discs. Slight torsion/curve at neck from a bike accident 9 years ago, but doc said it was ok. Said there was NOTHING wrong with me. Myofacial pain. Exercise, be careful about posture, and he said it would all go away. Not that i don't believe him, but he really did nothing. I have numbness and tingling in all fingers except thumb for 3 months now. Slowly improving. But he said he didn't think it was carpel tunnel, just from muscle tightness or something like that. I have intense scapular, neck, shoulder, upper arm, forearm pain that hasn't changed for years. Despite what i have done. Exercise, keeping good posture (sitting up, back against the wall type posture).

[xvimbi]

Xray done. Np problem with discs. Slight torsion/curve at neck from a bike accident 9 years ago, but doc said it was ok. Said there was NOTHING wrong with me. Myofacial pain. Exercise, be careful about posture, and he said it would all go away. Not that i don't believe him, but he really did nothing. I have numbness and tingling in all fingers except thumb for 3 months now. Slowly improving. But he said he didn't think it was carpel tunnel, just from muscle tightness or something like that. I have intense scapular, neck, shoulder, upper arm, forearm pain that hasn't changed for years. Despite what i have done. Exercise, keeping good posture (sitting up, back against the wall type posture).

The tingling in the fingers 3, 4, and 5 could come from Lateral epicondylitis ("tennis elbow"), not so much CTS, as it affects mostly fingers 1 and 2. Your problem in the right arm sounds like Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS). TOS, does however not explain why your legs would be affected.
In any case, I believe from what you describe, that you have a neurological disorder rather than a muscular problem. You need to see someone who can diagnose neurological disorders, such as an orthopedic surgeon who specialize in upper body/arm; a chiropracter will not be of much help, unless the cause is clearly identified and can be treated through physical therapy. No offense, but your doctor doesn't seem to know too much about all this. It looks like something is severly pinching a nerve or two.

By the way, the "back against the wall type posture" is NOT the correct posture and will lead to permanent muscular tension, particularly when combined with the "chest out" type posture!

[pianochic]

Hoi everyone

  I agree with some parts that everyone said.
But I experience NECK pain and back pain, too. So, I visited many different types chiropractor so many times, and spent so much time and money on chiropractors. It didn't help me. I may have a neurological or muscular problem. I don't know. Although, the chiropractor said I have a back of a 40-year old person.

  But when I went to CHINESE ACCUPUNCTURE. I got instant neck-pain relief. I was like wow... The chiropractors did so many things, so many times for my neck to get better. But it didn't work.

  But in order for that problem to stop.... I don't know... I still experience neck pain, but swimming has helped me deal with this pain. I guess in the long term going to a specialist will make my back better. But, Chinese Accupunture is the best instant-pain reliefer.

Chinese accupunture, swimming, and yoga works best for me...