This is topic My stupid shoulder-I am so depressed!! in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.


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Posted by Nal (Member # 6801) on :
 
Im very depressed. My right shoulder and arm are acting up really bad. The shoulder hurts a lot and is causing numbness, tingling, tremors and such in my arm.

I have seen my chiropractor 4 times this week. He's doing his best but its not helping much. He says its fromt he nerves and muscles in the arm. My shoulder feels like it has lead in it!!

Im seeing my massage therapist on Monday-that should help. The acupuncturist isn't helping much either. My arm tires out easily too.

Oh brother! Im tired of all this. I keep breaking into tears and then I just get plain mad!! Oh well, hope I don't lose the use of it!

Nancy
 

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Posted by Jill E. (Member # 9121) on :
 
Nancy,

The only thing that has helped me with the upper arm muscle pain/weakness from Lyme, and from carpal-tunnel symptoms from Lyme, is a topical lotion called Topricin.

You can get it at www.topricin.com. It is not cheap, but it has helped with those particular symptoms. I have no financial interest or involvement in the company.

I had originally purchased it, based on a recommendation of someone with arthritis, for my full-body nerve burning from Lyme. But it didn't help.

But it has really helped with smaller areas that flare up such as the upper arm, wrists, hands, etc.

My sister-in-law, who has fibromyalgia, is now hooked on it for neck pain that triggers headaches.

If you try it, I hope it helps. I think I've tried just about everything else.

Jill
 

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Posted by pattilynn (Member # 8065) on :
 
Nancy,

Are you sure this is your shoulder? I had a cervical disk problem causing nerve root compression. I had/have all the same symptoms you are talking about. My shoulder hurts in back and goes down the outer side of my arm. My hand and arm feel numb and weak. My fingers move on their own. Mine is definitely neck nerve problems. I've had spinal fusion as well.

Neck problems can feel like a shoulder problem.

Carpal tunnel only involves the forearm, not shoulder area.

Lyme can cause degeneration of disks.

Does your neck hurt?
 

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Posted by snowboarder (Member # 6346) on :
 
Hello Nancy,

My husband had the same thing and it turned out to be a cervical disc. Yes he has lyme too. I'd go to the doc and see if you can get an MRI which should show you if it's disc related.

Hope you feel better soon!
 

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Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
 
Nancy,

Careful with the massage. If it is your muscles, a massage can make it much worse. The chiropractor could be making it worse too.

The only way I was able to reduce that pain was Flexeril. It took a month, starting at 5mg and slowly ramping up to 20mg, before it helped. I ended up taking 30mg a night for over year.

It worked miracles. I had lost the use of both hands and constantly felt like my muscles were being torn from my should blades before I started. Then muscle work helped, but before that any massage type worked caused my muscles to inflame.
 

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Posted by Nukegirl (Member # 6809) on :
 
I have trap muscle problems in my right scapula that I get massages for. I wonder if the Lyme attacks the weak muscles in your body. I know I have two bulging discs in my neck but I do think the Lyme plays a role in that.

My Massage therapist said she has never felt someone whose muscles were as hard as bone. She said it feels like knots all over.
 

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Posted by Nal (Member # 6801) on :
 
Thanks guys!

I am actually seeing my regular dr this Monday. My neck hurts all the time. My whole back does actually. Some of it is from Lyme, but some is from a horse riding accident I had a few years ago. It may be time for next x-rays and MRI's

I have had massages for this before. They really help me a lot!! I too have horrible knots in my shoulders!! I just started back on the flexeril tonight at only 5mg instead of 10 like I was taking before.

Ill look into the topical stuff too. I use a product called Sombra. It usually helps me out quite a bit too with the pain. It just gets depressing sometimes ya know? Living with pain all the time for years-can totally wear you down!!

Nancy
 

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Posted by surg (Member # 6937) on :
 
It sounds like a brachial plexus problem or nerve impingement in the neck. Sometimes if a rotator cuff is badly torn then it can cause problems like that but not very often. A chiro or massage therapist isn't going to help with this problem. Go to an orthopedic doctor or a physiatrist and try physical therapy. You need X-rays and maybe an MRI of the cervical spine. Alot of the time cervical traction will help a problem like this but get X-rays first. Try a good pillow with support for the curvature in the neck like one of those foam memory pillows. Don't despair, you are just barking up the wrong tree. Go get the right help.
 

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Posted by Foggy (Member # 1584) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by surg:
Go to an orthopedic doctor or a physiatrist and try physical therapy. You need X-rays and maybe an MRI of the cervical spine.Go get the right help.

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