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Have Swelling Near Upper Trapezius Between Neck And Shoulder And Swelling Goes Into Shoulder Blades. Suggest?

Posted on Fri, 31 May 2013

Question: Hello i have a question. I have swelling near my upper trapezius between neck and shoulder and swelling goes into shoulder blades and causes my shoulder to be sore and sometimes feel it in my arms

Answered by Dr. Polash Sannigrahi (47 minutes later)

Hello XXXXXX

Thanks for your query.

The presence of swelling between neck & shoulder can be due to:
1. Injury to bone or soft tissue in that region
2. Infected cyst
3. Tumor

The sensation of soreness felt in the arms can be due to the compression of the nerves supplying the arm.

Investigation like X XXXXXXX will be helpful in clinching the diagnosis.

Management involves:
1. Analgesics to take care of the pain
2. Muscle relaxants
3. Multivitamins like Vit B complex & Folic acid, which help in nerve conduction.

Though symptomatic relief can be obtained by intake of the above mentioned medications, it will be better to consult your General Physician once & get a proper examination done to find out the exact cause.
Based on that, appropriate management steps could be taken.

Wishing you a good health.
Please let me know if I need to clarify further.
Thanks & take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Polash Sannigrahi (5 minutes later)

Thank you...now I did have a fall 3 weeks ago and I tripped up my steps and slammed my upper arm into the edge of the step with the force of all my weight it never bruised on the outsulide but. I can still feel it in my arm sometimes and a about a week after that is when I noticed the swelling. The tension is in my shoulder and shoulder blade and now the other shoulder is getting the same thing but not as bad and I can feel it alll along my trap muscle especially when i wake up. I put Biofreeze on it and put heating pad and it seems to help some

Answered by Dr. Polash Sannigrahi (49 minutes later)

Hello XXXXXX

Thanks for your follow up query.

The history of fall 3 weeks ago suggests injury to bone or soft tissue in your shoulder region & subsequent nerve compression to be the cause of your symptoms.

Bio-freeze being a pain relieving preparation as well as application of heating pad will only provide temporary relief from the symptoms.
But unless the underlying cause is treated, the symptoms will persist.

Since it has already been 3 weeks since you had the trauma, there are possibilities of bone or soft tissue injury (though there are no significant external signs visible)
So, kindly get the preliminary investigation like X XXXXXXX of the shoulder region done.
It will be helpful in identifying the degree of XXXXXXX injury (if any) & formulate an appropriate management plan.

Till then, symptomatic relief can be obtained with pain killers, muscle relaxants & heat compress.
Also make sure that you do not lift heavy objects or put any kind of stress over your shoulders.

There is no need to worry, you will be fine.

Wishing you a good health.
Please let me know if I need to clarify further.
Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Polash Sannigrahi (40 minutes later)

Thank you so much and what type of muscle relaxant or pain killers can I take OTC until I can get to the doctor to get and X-Ray

Answered by Dr. Polash Sannigrahi (20 hours later)

HelloXXXXXX

Thanks for your follow up query.

You can have any one the following pain killers:
1. Tablet Paracetamol 500 mg to be taken 3 times in a day after meals.

OR

2. Tablet Ibuprofen 400 mg to be taken 3 times in a day after meals.

Muscle relaxants are not available OTC & a prescription will be needed for that.

So, kindly consult your General Physician and get a prescription.

Wishing you a good health.
Please let me know if I need to clarify further.
Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Mohammed Kappan

Follow up: Dr. Polash Sannigrahi (5 hours later)

Thank you so much....i have an appt to see my doctor..the biofreeze and i have been taking ibuprofen for about a week now and it helps some but it hurts morr in the morning when i wake up probably sleeping wrong and the pain in my shoulders and arm comes and since i have been using biofreeze and ibuprofen as well as using my heating pad

Answered by Dr. Polash Sannigrahi (16 hours later)

Hello XXXXXX

Thanks for your follow up query.

As I have already mentioned, pain killers can only provide temporary relief from the symptoms.
Moreover, it is not advisable to take pain killers for a prolonged time as it can cause side effects like gastric ulcer.
What is basically needed is, to find out the actual reason of the pain & initiate treatment accordingly.

And you are right, worsening of pain in morning can be attributed to compression of nerve & soft tissue due to wrong sleeping posture.

So, a physical examination by your Doctor & the preliminary investigation will be helpful regarding this matter.

Hope I have been able to answer your query.
Please let me know if you have any further queries.
Take care.

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Mohammed Kappan