Pain from shoulder all the way down arm?

Question

My boyfriend thinks its the "rotator cuff". He's been to the Nurse at work, she gave him exercises to do and said don't sleep on it. It hurts a lot more now, down his whole arm. He has trouble lifting it.
He finally called his Dr. but the Dr. is moving to Nebraska.
I suggessted a Chiropracter on Accupuncture.
Which would be better?

Answer 1

This sounds like a potentially serious problem (e.g. a cervical disc herniation, peripheral nerve entrapment syndrome {e.g. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome}, even a vascular problem such as a clot). A good Chiropractor or Neurologist should be consulted ASAP.

Best wishes and good luck.

Answer 2

I would start with finding out what the real problem is. He could have bursitis or tendonitis or a pinched nerve in his neck. An xray would help determine what he should be doing. I recently had this problem and had to stop doing any activity entirely for about a week and a half. If there's pain then you stop doing what you're doing otherwise your recovery time becomes longer. There's inflammation somewhere and it needs to calm down before he does anything. He also needs to right diagnosis before he chooses a path of treatment. Guessing on a shoulder injury is never a good thing and resting the shoulder for a bit is going to help a lot. I had to give up my regular yoga routine for almost 3 weeks (I did other exercise that didn't involve my upper body) and I'm great now. There's a lot to be said for rest.

Answer 3

Dr. J is on the right track. I don't think it is a clot or thoracic outlet syndrome. I would be inclined, based on your symptoms, that it may be a cervical disc problem. It is possible for a rotator cuff but it does not sound like it. And for sure exercises will not help this, an MRI would show either the cuff tear or the disk problem.

Answer 4

First he has to find out exactly what it is, maybe its not his rotator cuff, if his Dr is moving just have him refer him to another Dr.