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Can A Pinched Nerve In The Neck Cause Severe Shoulder Pain?

Posted on Thu, 27 Aug 2015

Question: Can a pinched nerve in the neck cause severe shoulder pain and shortness of breathe? The pain also radiates down my right leg. I have trouble getting up. Laying flat on my back causes intense shoulder pain in both shoulders. At one point, both shoulders would "freeze". I been hurting since May 27. I tried to ride a bike yesterday and it totally took my breathe away. I also get shortness of breathe during non activity. Doctors have ruled out arthritis, MS, parsonage XXXXXXX syndrome and blood clot in lung. My O2 stat runs around 94% with no wheezing. The pain and difficulty breathing SEEMS to be worse at night. I have recently seen a chrioractor with some relief for a few hours after the adjustment. I had a nerve conduction study of both shoulder with negative results. Also had a sonar gram with no signs of clots. Finally, I had a nuclear stress test that was unremarkable. No one but chrioractor has suggested pinched nerve. Insaids don't help much but had prednisone and a few steroid shots that did give some relief

Answered by Dr. Neeraj Kumar (34 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Detailed answer below

Detailed Answer:
Hello Dear,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Neck and shoulder pain may be caused by cervical radiculopathy(pinched nerves in spinal column), arthritis(rheumatoid), frozen shoulder( parsonage XXXXXXX syndrome), any abscess of spine.
Breathlessness needs evaluation regarding lung or heart related cause or hemoglobinopathies.
Is MRI of cervical spine normal.
You can take physiotherapy with muscle relaxant and pain reliever.
Also pregabalin, gabapentin or amitrypylline may help.
Consult a neurologist for proper evaluation and diagnosis.
Do you have any back pain, urinary complains, weakness or wasting of any limbs, sensory loss.
any other chronic illness like diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorder.
Do get back with details.
Regards
Dr Neeraj Kumar
neurologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Neeraj Kumar (20 minutes later)

I am a diabetic. Type 2. My O2 stat is ok and CT ruled out PE. If I raise either arm, the shortness of breath really comes on. I have some pain right at the bottom of my back where the back connects to the hips.I have been temporarily using a blowup mattress in my den so I don't keep my wife awake. Whenever I get on my hands and knees to try to get up, I feel a surge of like electricity down my back into my hips. I have a lot of trouble simply getting up or getting up from a sitting position off iCal from I

Answered by Dr. Neeraj Kumar (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Detailed answer below

Detailed Answer:
hello dear,
One possibility in diabetes is brachial neuritis or frozen shoulder with restriction of lifting upper limb above shoulder.
Severe pain with shoulder lifting may be associated with breathlessness.
Low back pain may be due to lumbar disc and compression of exiting root.
You need to consult a neurologist for evaluation and advise.
Avoid lifting heavy objects, stooping forward, sitting in squatting position.
Arise from supine position in lateral decubitus and then put lower limb down first followed by sitting and then standing.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Get MRI of cervical and lumbosacral spine done if not done earlier.
Regards
Dr Neeraj Kumar

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar