Burning Shoulder Pain - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

KeithEugeneW · 05-08-2003, 06:14 PM

I've had pain in my right shoulder for a while now, but more of an aching pain, with a specific spot on the top of my shoulder near the socket that was more painful than the general pain of that whole area which includes my neck. In the past week or so it's turned into more of a hot burning pain at that same spot, almost like there's a hot metal rod inside of it. It's not too far under the surface and is on the top of my shoulder, out to about 2 inches before it reaches the edge of the shoulder socket, where it seems to be the worst. My arm feels quite heavy as it has for some time. My fingers used to tingle and be numb most of the time, but since being on neurontin they don't seem to bother me as much, but the shoulder pain has gotten considerably worse. Kind of a tradeoff I suppose. I know that many of you who share the same problems at C5-6-7 also have shoulder pain and the numbness in the arm and fingers. Is the pain you have the dull ache, sharp stabbing pain or is it a burning pain like I have? It's burning so much that now I'm second guessing myself as to whether I have had some kind of shoulder problem all this time masked by the neck problem and that maybe it was not considered due to assumptions about my neck. Maybe I'm just thinking too much...

Catherine with a C · 05-08-2003, 06:29 PM

Hi Keith,
Sorry to hear that you are finding new symptoms.
I hate when that happens......
I started out with dull pains; almost arthritic in a sense. Eventually, my arm simply (not so simply),
went numb often avec the electrical feelings. Most days, I wished I was a Barbie doll, so that I could pop my arm off & rest it on a table top for a time.
My burning's started a couple of months before I even knew I had a problem........well, I knew there was certainly something wrong!!! I just did not know what.
I understand your thought process...what's this?
what's that? Please remember that over-analysis~~~`
lead's to paralysis. I know that sounds awful where we are concerned.. I do not mean that statement figuratively; merely metaphorically!!
Listen to your body. Jot your findings down on paper. My symptoms changed often & frequently.
Keep the faith.
Until later, Catherine

Memer · 05-08-2003, 06:48 PM

Hi Keith,

Since the beginning, my upper arm has had a deep ache, like the bone is rotten. Since right before surgery, the same area has burned, along with my neck area. I still have the deep ache. These are two different pains. NS says the burning means longstanding nerve pain. I hope you get a lot of responses because the burning is relatively new for me, and I would like to hear other stories and what their NS says about the burning.

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[This message has been edited by Memer (edited 08-04-2003).]

joprud · 05-08-2003, 08:00 PM

got it all...as we speak...not so dull,ache... stabbing...burning...neck...shoulders... then there's the lumbar pain thing (includes hips and legs) happening too...so basically everywhere....woo hoo

Me

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Sept‘63,fall on back on stairs,compression fractures of T6 and T8
1993 X-ray Diagnosed DDD
Nov,2002 MRI C4-C5 posterior osteophytic bar effacing ventral thecal sac, stenosis of neural foramina.C5-C6 posterior disc protrusion effacing VTS. Stenosis of neural foramina.C6-C7 posterior disc herniation effacing VTS.stenosis of neural foramina.C7-T1perineural cysts in both neural foramina.left convex scoliosis mid thoracic spine.wedging of T7. wedging of T5.degen.end plate changes at T8-T9. L4-L5 diffuse disc bulge effacing VTS.hypertrophy of facet joints,central spinal stenosis.L5-S1 posterior disc protrusion with associated tear of annulus fibrosis. hypertrophy of facet joints.S1-S2 Perineural cysts involving S1-S2 nerve roots.
So far have tried: meds,physio,acupuncture all to no avail.

[This message has been edited by joprud (edited 05-08-2003).]

[This message has been edited by joprud (edited 05-08-2003).]

SherryElaine · 05-09-2003, 04:26 PM

Yep I had the burning shoulder pain and before I found out it was my neck I was told I had a dislocated shoulder and then was sent to Ortho doc and he said shoulder was ok it was my neck and I could not believe it was my neck cause my shoulder hurt and burned like it was just my shoulder, that was another reason I got 2 more opinions, and it really was my neck at C5/6 with pinched nerves that was causing the burning pain then it changed to arm pain then arm with thumb pain with the heavy arm feeling. I had forgotten I use to have that shoulder burning pain until I read your post.

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Sher
Anterior Cervical Fusion w/donor bone & w/plating C5/6 Done March 6-2003