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Suggest Treatment For Numbness In The Chest
Question: I am female 59 years old, basic good health, not on any meds but have been feeling numbness in my upper right chest area radiating into my breast and down my my right arm with a little numbness in pinky and ring finger. For a couple of weeks. I had been excersising and picked up my grand daughter who weighs about 35 pounds with my right arm so I thought that might be the cause. Its been bother on and off for 2 wks and last night it bothered enough that I took some aspirin. But I also picked her up last night before I put her to bed.
Brief Answer:
Nerve compression.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Judging from that description of sensation abnormalities including the pinky and ring fingers there is an issue of nerve compression. Nerve compression may be in the spine due to arthritis changes like bulging discs or may be further on in the nerve bundles path like in thoracic outlet syndrome where there is compression of the nerves as it passes from the lower neck into the armpit.
Such compression may be due to trauma and repeated strain, from born abnormalities like a cervical rib etc. In some rare cases it may be due to a tumor as well.
So generally speaking I would say not to worry much as it is most probably due to a strain, advise some rest, over the counter painkillers like Ibuprofen and if symptoms persist consider physical therapy. That spot in the lung does cause a little concern though for the possibility of a tumor not seen by x-ray, so it is good that you're having a CT to put your mind at rest on that regard.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Nerve compression.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Judging from that description of sensation abnormalities including the pinky and ring fingers there is an issue of nerve compression. Nerve compression may be in the spine due to arthritis changes like bulging discs or may be further on in the nerve bundles path like in thoracic outlet syndrome where there is compression of the nerves as it passes from the lower neck into the armpit.
Such compression may be due to trauma and repeated strain, from born abnormalities like a cervical rib etc. In some rare cases it may be due to a tumor as well.
So generally speaking I would say not to worry much as it is most probably due to a strain, advise some rest, over the counter painkillers like Ibuprofen and if symptoms persist consider physical therapy. That spot in the lung does cause a little concern though for the possibility of a tumor not seen by x-ray, so it is good that you're having a CT to put your mind at rest on that regard.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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