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Suggest Treatment For Neck Pain And Tingling Sensation In Shoulders And Back

Posted on Tue, 21 Jul 2015

Question: I have neck pain and pain in arms along with tingling in shoulder and back. It was worse today so I went to doctor who told it might be cervical and asked me not to use pillow and gave pain killer. However I did not take painkillers since it was not so bad. Yesterday I bumped my head into glass wall accidentally while walking, did not had any nausea or vomiting. Over the day I have got stiff neck. I am confused if this is concussion related or cervical. Should I visit ER or is it find to wait till morning.

Answered by Dr. Swarnava Dattagupta (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Might be traumatic or muscle spasm; follow as advised

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query in healthcaremagic.com
This is Dr. Swarnava dattagupta answering your query.

I have gone through your query and understand your concern.
It might be some muscle spasm of the cervical area due to the trauma or due to some other cause like neuropathic pain. Stiffness is quite common in such cases. It might not be concussion related. Do not worry.
If such a patient comes to me, I generally suggest rest, avoiding frequent mobility of cervical region and general physiotherapy like cervical range of motion exercises. Plus as you are having radiating pain to arms, a course of mecobalamin-pregabalin for a month might be very helpful. Alongwith, painkillers like aceclofenac-thiocolchicoside combinations are effective. Take an antacid or PPIs like pantoprazole alongwith.
As you did not have any nausea or vomiting and I assume you did not have history of unconsciousness or convulsions, hence a CT scan brain is not mandatory. But an Xray cervical spine should be done to rule out any cervical injuries.

You can consult your family or treating doctor about this and for prescription of the above.

Hope i have answered your question.
If you have any further questions i will be happy to help.
Regards.

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

Follow up: Dr. Swarnava Dattagupta (2 days later)

Thank you doctor for your reply.

I have been having left arm and shoulder pain for few days on and off, along with tingling in my shoulder blade and back. Sometimes the pain is felt in my palm and fingers. I went to a doctor and was diagnosed as cervical related and advised not to use pillows.

My arm pain comes and goes, sometimes lasting few minutes. One month ago my EKG, TMT and 2D echo was done as part of regular checkup and it was all normal. Recently ( two days back) I had severe arm pain and went to the nearest clinic where they did an EKG again, which was normal. They also did Troponin I test and it was normal too.

I tend to worry a lot if my arm pain is cardiac related almost to the point of being hypochondriac. Every small sensation in my chest will make go look up symptoms on the net and make me worry more.

What is the chance of this pain being cardiac related after all these tests being negative. Does cervical pain comes and goes lasting few minutes? Could it be my anxiety.

I would appreciate your response.

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Swarnava Dattagupta (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
chances of cardiac pain is unlikely

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Sorry for late reply.
With all the tests for cardiac abnormalities coming as negative, chances of the pain being of cardiac etiology is quite unlikely.
And yes, cervical pain can present intermittently as you have described it.

So dont worry.
Follow as advised. Get an Xray done and do exercises regularly.

Regards.

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

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