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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Shoulder Pain

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Posted on Mon, 24 Jul 2017
Question: What are the side effects of Statin meds? I have shoulder pain which is fairly sudden. I started statins in December but would like to rule that out if this is not a symptom of statin side effects.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (17 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
if the pain is clearly localized then I doubt its the statin

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

if you've developed pain in your whole body then statin is a potential cause. If the pain is clearly confined to a limited area (like the shoulder) and particularly if it's elicited with certain movements then this is probably an injury. The shoulder is a commonly affected joint that may cause chronic pain and disability (depending on the severity).

If the symptoms started with the statin then this is another clue for the diagnosis. Checking your CPK levels may help to diagnose some cases. A high CPK level may indicate muscular damage.

If the CPK is low, muscular pain due to the statin cannot be excluded. Stopping the drug may cause relief but in some patients the pain may persist for many weeks, so this is not a useful clue for the diagnosis.

Sudden onset of pain is usually caused by injuries.

The orthopedics specialist should evaluate all the clues I've mentioned and the data from clinical examination and decide whether further investigation is required (with an X-ray and MRI) or the drug has to be blamed...

I hope you find my comments helpful!
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (3 minutes later)
Thank you. I am athletic and swim, lift weights, run, etc. I think I probably injured it. I will follow up with my MD and see what he says. Meanwhile, I am moving int a new home and using it. We'll see how that goes....
Thanks again!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (1 minute later)
Brief Answer:
an injury is more likely...

Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!

The injury scenario is more likely. I agree with your decision to follow up with your MD.

Best wishes!
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3809 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Shoulder Pain

Brief Answer: if the pain is clearly localized then I doubt its the statin Detailed Answer: Hello, if you've developed pain in your whole body then statin is a potential cause. If the pain is clearly confined to a limited area (like the shoulder) and particularly if it's elicited with certain movements then this is probably an injury. The shoulder is a commonly affected joint that may cause chronic pain and disability (depending on the severity). If the symptoms started with the statin then this is another clue for the diagnosis. Checking your CPK levels may help to diagnose some cases. A high CPK level may indicate muscular damage. If the CPK is low, muscular pain due to the statin cannot be excluded. Stopping the drug may cause relief but in some patients the pain may persist for many weeks, so this is not a useful clue for the diagnosis. Sudden onset of pain is usually caused by injuries. The orthopedics specialist should evaluate all the clues I've mentioned and the data from clinical examination and decide whether further investigation is required (with an X-ray and MRI) or the drug has to be blamed... I hope you find my comments helpful! Kind Regards!