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Suffer From Arthritis. Pinched Nerve On The Shoulders, Tingling In The Arm. Have High Cholesterol. Itchy Rash On The Elbow. Reason?
I am a 50 year old white male in generally good health, active, normal blood pressure, slightly overweight with slightly elevated cholesterol . I have light arthritis in the neck and shoulders. For the past 2-3 months I ve had what feels like a pinched nerve from my left shoulder blade, left shoulder and neck accompanied by tingling down the back of my left arm into the inside of my elbow . I ve been talking 3-4 ibuprophen with meals 3-4 times a day. It helps but the problem has not gone away. Two weeks ago I developed an itchy red rash inside the elbow. It is fairly flat and light. No big welts or bumps. I cleaned it with technu ivy cleaner and applied various anti itch creams 3 times a day. Over the past few days it has spread 6 inches up and down from the elbow and the creams are not helping for very long.
Wed, 3 Apr 2013
General & Family Physician, Dr. Nirmala P's Response
Hi, thanks for asking in Healthcare Magic.
You are having Brachial neuralgia ie., pain radiating down the arm. It is common among middle aged persons. The pain usually starts as a pain in the neck or shoulder and spreads down the arm. The shooting pain to the tips of the fingers is due to the irritation of the nerve roots.
But first you have to rule out Diabetes. Your high cholesterol, improper wound healing (un controlled spread of rash) and increased body weight are suggestive of Diabetes.
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Suffer From Arthritis. Pinched Nerve On The Shoulders, Tingling In The Arm. Have High Cholesterol. Itchy Rash On The Elbow. Reason?
Hi, thanks for asking in Healthcare Magic. You are having Brachial neuralgia ie., pain radiating down the arm. It is common among middle aged persons. The pain usually starts as a pain in the neck or shoulder and spreads down the arm. The shooting pain to the tips of the fingers is due to the irritation of the nerve roots. But first you have to rule out Diabetes. Your high cholesterol, improper wound healing (un controlled spread of rash) and increased body weight are suggestive of Diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy or Periarthritis due to Diabetes can result in severe shoulder pain. It could also be due to Cervical rib or Cervical spondylosis . Radiological investigation like X-Ray spine will help in diagnosis Clindamycin and steroid creams will help in controlling the rash. I hope this answer is helpful.