All these questions about medical conditions I always say to go see a doctor, but I don’t even know who I would see. When this started over a month ago, I thought it was a muscle strain in the trapezius area. It really was in one specific spot. My wife was massaging in a pain relief cream and at first it seemed to be getting better and I stopped swimming except for two races that I had in September. At some point it started radiating out through the shoulder and then down my arm when I ran. I spent the past three days nailing down oak flooring with a manual nailer, swinging that heavy mallet and it felt absolutely fine. Then yesterday I ran a couple miles and the hot pain was running down my arm. I’m thinking of going to the chiropractor but I don’t know if this is his territory. I went back to the pool a three days ago but stopped when the pain started. I’m going back today. What do you think? Anybody have any idea what’s going on?
I should also add that I swam more in July and August in the Guppy Challenge than I did in the previous 12 months. Then my pool shut down and I swam outdoors for three weeks and when I went back to the pool I hit it hard right off the bat. That’s when the pain started.
Possibly a herniated disc. Guessing reduced strength in the shoulder/arm/fingers? Feels like a burn in that trap area, and/or a muscle pull you just cant stretch out? I personally saw an MD, got an MRI to confirm diagnosis, talked to pain doc and neurosurgeon about my options, etc. Glad I didnt mess around with it - Your own guidance of “Go see a doc” is sound - I would suggest a Pain/PM&R doc is a good place to start if looking for a specialist.
Is the shooting pain your only symptom? No numbness, tingling, or weakness in the involved arm, or neck pain?
Agree, sounds like a cervical radiculipathy from a herniated disc. I’d recommend to see a spine doc (neurosurgeon or Ortho spine) or see PMD and likely start with MRI and go from there. I wouldn’t mess around with a chiropractor for this.
Thanks guys, I just came back from an unsuccessful trip to the pool. I could feel it swimming but when I stopped at the wall, it was bad, then faded. I stopped after a few sets. No good.
No numbness, or weakness. I’ve been pounding the flooring mallet all day and it felt fine. After trying to swim today, it doesn’t feel so good.
I see this day in and day out. I’d wager it’s what we call a “hot disc”. Just like when you roll your ankle and it gets all hot, swollen, stiff, etc…so do discs. And many times that’s viewable on a simple plain film x-ray. While you do randomly exhibit firm signs of discal involvement… one with a herniated or prolapsed cervical disc is NOT going to be found down on the ground laying flooring! lol
There’s lots of by-products of the inflammatory process that chemically irritate the nerves, which cause the symptoms you’re experiencing. Discs themselves are not well endowed with vascular supply. They get their nourishment through motion. Ask around for some referrals of a DC in your area and let them check it out. It’s a no-brainer first option for this case. What we do is so ridiculously safe, contrary to the sentiment of some posters here. Good luck!
CC
Four years of Yoga got me to the point I can now manage my sciatica with a couple daily simple stretches.
Please get it checked out!
There are lots of potential causes but a good friend of mine had a similar experience, she described it exactly as a comparison to sciatic pain, and it turned out to be Guillain Barre Syndrome. It’s more common in women but it’s best to be safe.
Agree, sounds like a cervical radiculipathy from a herniated disc. I’d recommend to see a spine doc (neurosurgeon or Ortho spine) or see PMD and likely start with MRI and go from there. I wouldn’t mess around with a chiropractor for this.
Bingo… I am a neurosurgeon up in Long Island, NY. Excellent advice…
To the OP… feel free to shoot me a PM if you like.
I see this day in and day out. I’d wager it’s what we call a “hot disc”. Just like when you roll your ankle and it gets all hot, swollen, stiff, etc…so do discs. And many times that’s viewable on a simple plain film x-ray. While you do randomly exhibit firm signs of discal involvement… one with a herniated or prolapsed cervical disc is NOT going to be found down on the ground laying flooring! lol
There’s lots of by-products of the inflammatory process that chemically irritate the nerves, which cause the symptoms you’re experiencing. Discs themselves are not well endowed with vascular supply. They get their nourishment through motion. Ask around for some referrals of a DC in your area and let them check it out. It’s a no-brainer first option for this case. What we do is so ridiculously safe, contrary to the sentiment of some posters here. Good luck!
CC
Really?? What are you talking about?? In what world can you see disc hernation (or hot disc) on plain Xray?
I have several friends who are excellent chiropractors… and we cross refer all the time. Ther OP poster needs an MRI first… plain and simple. He certainly may respond to one of many non surgical treatments, but the place to start is by making an actual diagnosis.
Sounds a lot like what I have going on in both legs (one worse than other) due to L4/L5 disc problems. Would think that you would want to start with a doctor and then have an MRI and develop a plan based on results. I don’t want to advocate for or against chiros (I’ve seen two of them this year for treatment of my lower leg issues - the first was before the disc issue was discovered) but I was told by multiple practitioners NOT to see a chiro after the severity of my disc issue was discovered. I have been dealing with this issue since the week after the 100run/100day challenge ended in March and didn’t have a handle on what was actually going on until mid-Sept. PM me if you want any insight into what I went through and what I’d do differently if I had to do over to avoid months of PT, visits to chiros, acupuncture, massage, multiple doctors and MRIs and a full deductible on a high deductible health plan.
It doesn’t sound like a classic case of spinal nerve impingement. But as others have suggested, it would be wise to rule out cervical (C5-6 nerve root) radiculopathy with a clinical examination, which might further indicate MRI. Avoid swimming for now.
No numbness, or weakness. I’ve been pounding the flooring mallet all day and it felt fine. After trying to swim today, it doesn’t feel so good.
It doesn’t sound like a classic case of spinal nerve impingement. But as others have suggested, it would be wise to rule out cervical (C5-6 nerve root) radiculopathy with a clinical examination, which might further indicate MRI. Avoid swimming for now.
No numbness, or weakness. I’ve been pounding the flooring mallet all day and it felt fine. After trying to swim today, it doesn’t feel so good.
Most cases of cervical disc disease that I see daily involve predictable pain patterns down the shoulder/arm… numbness and weakness are not as common as you would think. Many of my patients are working as well… and some in some pretty crazy jobs (iron workers). Some people just can’t take off work because their arm hurts.
The OP has cervical disc disease until proven otherwise… and that certainly does not mean he would need surgery (although it might). Physical exam, imaging and response to conservative management all have a role in determining the future plan.
Don’t laugh, about an hour ago I took a large Skelaxin muscle relaxer and right now it feels pretty good. I feel like I’m about to fall asleep but I’m feeling pretty good. I know it’s not the answer and besides I only have a few from a previous injury.
I’ve had something similar but not a medical professional. First had sharp pain in shoulder and I had not fallen or strained it. It was so painful it was hard to sleep more than a hour at a time. Then my triceps muscle on that side started firing randomly. My GP misdiagnosed this and gave me a muscle relaxant. Then a couple of my fingers went numb. Then I got to see a orthopedic specialist and got diagnosed with a compressed disc in my neck after an MRI. Then I got PT and it took about six months but finally symptoms went away. YMMV.
Please get it checked out!
There are lots of potential causes but a good friend of mine had a similar experience, she described it exactly as a comparison to sciatic pain, and it turned out to be Guillain Barre Syndrome. It’s more common in women but it’s best to be safe.
… and kids, this is why you don’t seek for medical advice on the internet. (you get to believe that you have cancer/some terrifying autoimmune disorder in just a few minutes).
/flame.
The Physical Therapy Doctor (not the therapist; the MD one, whatever you name them there) would be the best source to get a good answer from in this case.
Can’t state the diagnosis, but you’ll most likely get on a treatment regimen of NSAIDs+Muscle Relaxants, with a topical analgesic gel, backed up by physical therapy movements.
Please get it checked out!
There are lots of potential causes but a good friend of mine had a similar experience, she described it exactly as a comparison to sciatic pain, and it turned out to be Guillain Barre Syndrome. It’s more common in women but it’s best to be safe.
… and kids, this is why you don’t seek for medical advice on the internet. (you get to believe that you have cancer/some terrifying autoimmune disorder in just a few minutes).
/flame.
Flame away!
Last time someone posted on this forum about symptoms like the above I opted not to say anything and it turned out to be GBS (someone was asking for advice on mysterious symptoms his wife was having). Not likely my response would have made a difference in that case, and no one should medical advice from anonymous posters on the internet anyway.
Did you actually pass Radiology 101 sir?? You visualize an acutely inflammed/hot disc on x-ray just as you picture DDD. By a change in size. Plain and simple.
Remember this…when you hear hoofbeats…think horses, not zebras.
Best of luck Sweeney! If you have any specific questions that I can answer, please dm me here.
CC
I see this day in and day out. I’d wager it’s what we call a “hot disc”. Just like when you roll your ankle and it gets all hot, swollen, stiff, etc…so do discs. And many times that’s viewable on a simple plain film x-ray. While you do randomly exhibit firm signs of discal involvement… one with a herniated or prolapsed cervical disc is NOT going to be found down on the ground laying flooring! lol
There’s lots of by-products of the inflammatory process that chemically irritate the nerves, which cause the symptoms you’re experiencing. Discs themselves are not well endowed with vascular supply. They get their nourishment through motion. Ask around for some referrals of a DC in your area and let them check it out. It’s a no-brainer first option for this case. What we do is so ridiculously safe, contrary to the sentiment of some posters here. Good luck!
CC
Really?? What are you talking about?? In what world can you see disc hernation (or hot disc) on plain Xray?
I have several friends who are excellent chiropractors… and we cross refer all the time. Ther OP poster needs an MRI first… plain and simple. He certainly may respond to one of many non surgical treatments, but the place to start is by making an actual diagnosis.