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Suggest Treatment For Pain On The Shoulders And Tingling Sensation In Fingers

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Posted on Mon, 10 Aug 2015
Question: hi, I have a pain on the top of my left shoulder (the tip not the blade) that is worse when I inhale - stabbing type feeling - and a dull ache the rest of the time. I also have an intermittent pain in my left ring finger that only seems to come on at night, but I have tingling sensation in that finger and my little finger sporadically throughout the day. I smoke about 8 cigarettes a day and I have been doing a lot of decorating the last few days (painting (low fume paint and wallpapering) so I am wondering whether this is likely lung related or musculoskeletal? thanks
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (41 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Better to get done chest x ray first.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Possibility of musculoskeletal pain is more.
But better to get done chest x ray to rule out lung causes because of your smoking habit.
Diaphragm irritation causes referred pain in shoulder tip. Both are having same nerve supply. Right sided pleural effusion, right lower lobe pneumonia cause diaphragm irritation and referred pain to shoulder tip.
And both these conditions are common in smokers. So we should rule out these in your case.
And hence, chest x ray is needed.
If chest x ray is normal than no need to worry for lung causes.
Possibility of musculoskeletal pain is more.
So you can take simple painkiller.
But first get done chest x ray to rule out lung pathology. And quit smoking as soon as possible as it is not good habit.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (28 minutes later)
my GP listened to my chest last week with a stethoscope - would that have picked up any lung disorders?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Yes, this will definitely pick up lung disease if present.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your situation and problem.
Yes, clinical examination of respiratory system by stethoscope is very important in detection of lung pathology.
So if your chest examination through stethoscope is normal than no need to worry for lung diseases.
So, possibility of musculoskeletal pain is more.
And in any case quitting smoking will definitely good and helpful for you.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly onbit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (28 minutes later)
Thanks, the pain started after the stethoscope though so not sure if its still unrelated?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
What was gp's findings?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
What was gp's findings? Means after listening to your lungs, did gp commented something like lungs are clear or not.
Please reply me answer of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 minutes later)
I visited the GP about a rash on my back and she did blood pressure and stethoscope on my chest and back and asked me to breathe in and out, and then said 'everything is fine' im not sure if she was listening to lungs or heart? or both?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (20 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Did he listened to only one side of chest?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Stethoscope can be used to hear both lungs and heart.
So please let me know
1. Did the gp listen only one side of the chest?
2. Did the gp listen only front or back side of the chest?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)
Both sides, back and front
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (28 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No need to worry for lung pathology.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
No need to worry as your clinical examination of respiratory system by stethoscope is normal.
He checked on both sides and in front as well as back. So he checked for both lungs and heart.
So no need to worry for lungs and heart as they are normal on stethoscope.
Start painkiller drug. If you are not improving than get done chest x ray to rule out lung pathology.
And quit smoking as soon as possible.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Drkaushal85

Pulmonologist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 15005 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Pain On The Shoulders And Tingling Sensation In Fingers

Brief Answer: Better to get done chest x ray first. Detailed Answer: Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic. I can understand your concern. Possibility of musculoskeletal pain is more. But better to get done chest x ray to rule out lung causes because of your smoking habit. Diaphragm irritation causes referred pain in shoulder tip. Both are having same nerve supply. Right sided pleural effusion, right lower lobe pneumonia cause diaphragm irritation and referred pain to shoulder tip. And both these conditions are common in smokers. So we should rule out these in your case. And hence, chest x ray is needed. If chest x ray is normal than no need to worry for lung causes. Possibility of musculoskeletal pain is more. So you can take simple painkiller. But first get done chest x ray to rule out lung pathology. And quit smoking as soon as possible as it is not good habit. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.