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Can A Rotator Cuff Syndrome Or Shoulder Impingement Affect A
Question: Can a rotator cuff syndrome or shoulder impingement affect a bulging disc c6-c7 injury
Brief Answer:
No, a cervical nerve injury would not affect these
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor. A bulging disc c6-c7 injury may put pressure on the nerves at that level, especially the c7 nerve, which often causes pain along the back side of the arm to the index and middle fingers, and which may be in the neck and shoulder as well. You might have numbness in the index and middle fingers, and you may have weakness with extending your elbow, or extending and flexing your wrist.
A rotator cuff syndrome, on the other hand, is an inflammation or damage to the tendons around the shoulder joint, which causes pain when using those muscles, especially when raising your arm above your head. Shoulder impingement happens when tendons and other structures get squeezed by the shoulder joint, which can happen with rotator cuff syndrome, and can further exacerbate rotator cuff syndrome. Shoulder impingement often has similar symptoms as rotator cuff syndrome, with pain especially with overhead activities.
It should be noted that many patients with shoulder problems such as rotator cuff syndrome and shoulder impingement also have signs of nerve compression as well, so a careful neurological examination needs to be done and possible nerve conduction studies to determine whether that is contributing.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any questions about any of that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
No, a cervical nerve injury would not affect these
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor. A bulging disc c6-c7 injury may put pressure on the nerves at that level, especially the c7 nerve, which often causes pain along the back side of the arm to the index and middle fingers, and which may be in the neck and shoulder as well. You might have numbness in the index and middle fingers, and you may have weakness with extending your elbow, or extending and flexing your wrist.
A rotator cuff syndrome, on the other hand, is an inflammation or damage to the tendons around the shoulder joint, which causes pain when using those muscles, especially when raising your arm above your head. Shoulder impingement happens when tendons and other structures get squeezed by the shoulder joint, which can happen with rotator cuff syndrome, and can further exacerbate rotator cuff syndrome. Shoulder impingement often has similar symptoms as rotator cuff syndrome, with pain especially with overhead activities.
It should be noted that many patients with shoulder problems such as rotator cuff syndrome and shoulder impingement also have signs of nerve compression as well, so a careful neurological examination needs to be done and possible nerve conduction studies to determine whether that is contributing.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any questions about any of that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Answered by
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