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Suggest Remedies For Persistent Shoulder And Neck Pain

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Posted on Fri, 20 Jan 2017
Question: Hi, I do have shoulder and neck problems. Lately I have episodes of arrhythmia in my left neck artery and then my heart decides to join in. My left side of face and shoulder which are often in pain become even more so. Lasts about 20/30 minutes and is quite scary. Breathlessness but not many other symptoms.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Rishu Saxena (49 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Cervical spondylosis!

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Firstly thanks for choosing health care magic for your query!
THe pain in your shoulder and neck can be because of cervical spondylosis.
Neck pain with radiation to your shoulders can be most likely muscular in origin ,or cervical origin of pain ,it can be cervical spondylosis.

I would advice you to go for X ray chest PA view and LATERAL view ,to rule out diagnosis of cervical spondylosis.
Once cervical stenosis is ruled out
you could ask your gp to prescribe you with -
Nonsteroidal anti inflammatory medicines
low dose corticosteroid like prednisolone
and diclofenac ointment for few days !
Try to avoid using cushions on bed ,Dont use pillows for sleeping,Use hard bed to sleep for few days.

Breatlessness and palpitations can be because of involvement of your heart , you have not mentioned you age ,blood pressure, smoking and alcoholic habits.

Palpitation may be associated with electrolyte imbalances of magnesium, potassium and other salts in serum.
An abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)- Arrhythmias may include very fast heart rates (tachycardia), unusually slow heart rates (bradycardia) or an irregular heart rhythm.
Common abnormal heart rhythms are-
ectopic beat, premature atrial contraction, junctional escape beat, premature ventricular contraction, atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, heart block.

Association of breathlessness with palpitation is strongly suggestive of cardiac pathology.

I would prescibe you following tests
1) Thyroid profile- to rule out hyperthyroidism.
2)24 hour holter monitoring- will record the ECG continuously during a 24-hour or 48-hour period. If palpitation occurs during this period it will be recorded in ECG recording and we can rule out the cardiac rhythm at the time. For this type of monitoring to be helpful, palpitation must be occurring at least once a day. If they are less frequent(you have not mentioned frequency of palpitations) the chances of detecting anything with continuous 24, or even 48-hour monitoring, are substantially lowered. More recent technology such as the LOOP recorder allows continuous recording for up to 7 days.This is a very important and basic test for someone who presents with palpitation as main symptom.It will rule out the possibility of arrhythmia's which are the most dangerous cause of palpitations and can be some times fatal also.

3) Serum electrolytes - a disturbance in serum electrolytes can cause palpitations , they can be corrected easily.

4) 2D echo - to rule out ischemia to heart.

If you are a smoker give up smoking.
Don't take alcohol in excess.
Try to do 45 minutes of exercise daily.
If you are anxious person with elevated anxiety levels cardiologist will prescribe you with benzodiazepene to lower your anxiety.
Don't eat oily ,fatty and spicy food for some days.
Add fibres to your diet.


In case you have any other query feel free to ask!
Thank you,

Follow up with reports
Dr Rishu Saxena
Cardiologist
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Rishu Saxena

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 696 Questions

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Suggest Remedies For Persistent Shoulder And Neck Pain

Brief Answer: Cervical spondylosis! Detailed Answer: Hi Firstly thanks for choosing health care magic for your query! THe pain in your shoulder and neck can be because of cervical spondylosis. Neck pain with radiation to your shoulders can be most likely muscular in origin ,or cervical origin of pain ,it can be cervical spondylosis. I would advice you to go for X ray chest PA view and LATERAL view ,to rule out diagnosis of cervical spondylosis. Once cervical stenosis is ruled out you could ask your gp to prescribe you with - Nonsteroidal anti inflammatory medicines low dose corticosteroid like prednisolone and diclofenac ointment for few days ! Try to avoid using cushions on bed ,Dont use pillows for sleeping,Use hard bed to sleep for few days. Breatlessness and palpitations can be because of involvement of your heart , you have not mentioned you age ,blood pressure, smoking and alcoholic habits. Palpitation may be associated with electrolyte imbalances of magnesium, potassium and other salts in serum. An abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)- Arrhythmias may include very fast heart rates (tachycardia), unusually slow heart rates (bradycardia) or an irregular heart rhythm. Common abnormal heart rhythms are- ectopic beat, premature atrial contraction, junctional escape beat, premature ventricular contraction, atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, heart block. Association of breathlessness with palpitation is strongly suggestive of cardiac pathology. I would prescibe you following tests 1) Thyroid profile- to rule out hyperthyroidism. 2)24 hour holter monitoring- will record the ECG continuously during a 24-hour or 48-hour period. If palpitation occurs during this period it will be recorded in ECG recording and we can rule out the cardiac rhythm at the time. For this type of monitoring to be helpful, palpitation must be occurring at least once a day. If they are less frequent(you have not mentioned frequency of palpitations) the chances of detecting anything with continuous 24, or even 48-hour monitoring, are substantially lowered. More recent technology such as the LOOP recorder allows continuous recording for up to 7 days.This is a very important and basic test for someone who presents with palpitation as main symptom.It will rule out the possibility of arrhythmia's which are the most dangerous cause of palpitations and can be some times fatal also. 3) Serum electrolytes - a disturbance in serum electrolytes can cause palpitations , they can be corrected easily. 4) 2D echo - to rule out ischemia to heart. If you are a smoker give up smoking. Don't take alcohol in excess. Try to do 45 minutes of exercise daily. If you are anxious person with elevated anxiety levels cardiologist will prescribe you with benzodiazepene to lower your anxiety. Don't eat oily ,fatty and spicy food for some days. Add fibres to your diet. In case you have any other query feel free to ask! Thank you, Follow up with reports Dr Rishu Saxena Cardiologist