Pink Fairy Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 My 11yodd came to me last night complaining that the skin on her arm hurts. Not the muscle or bone, just the skin. :confused: There is no visible sign of a rash or bruising, and she doesn't remember falling or banging it. She said it's worse today, and the area that's painful is larger. It's very tender to the touch. Any clues as to what this might be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Any swelling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kebo Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Has she previously had chicken pox? Pain from shingles can show up days to weeks before the rash appears. Quote from webmd: "Prodromal stage (before the rash appears): Pain, burning, tickling, tingling, and/or numbness occurs in the area around the affected nerves several days or weeks before a rash appears. The discomfort usually occurs on the chest or back, but it may occur on the belly, head, face, neck, or one arm or leg. Flu-like symptoms (usually without a fever), such as chills, stomachache, or diarrhea, may develop just before or along with the start of the rash. Swelling and tenderness of the lymph nodes may occur." I hope that is not it :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Fairy Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 She's never had the chicken pox (she's vaccinated, although I know that's not a guarantee). No visible swelling. She's starting to feel like she's coming down with something though (stuffy nose, sore throat). I gave her Tylenol with breakfast a couple of hours ago, but she said it didn't help. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormy weather Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Fairy Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 Bump. It's still really bothering her, but no further symptoms. So weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabella Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 (edited) I don't have an answer for you....but when you say sensitive on the skin, is it really the skin or under it. You can test this by stroking very lightly with your fingers on the sore place. Is it painful or tender then? Then try a little more pressure, then again with more pressure still. This will give you more idea if it is under the skin or on it. Also get her to stretch her arm out straight. Does it feel like it is pulling anything tight? It's very funny that I came across this today, as my left arm is feeling the same way - skin feels tender, but it's not skin - it's under the skin. It feels like there is a spring that's wound too tight when I stretch my arm straight. I am wondering (for myself) if it is a blood clot. I went to the Dr last week & he said it could be, but it also may be a pulled muscle. He would send me for an ultrasound for a clot if it didn't go away. I have another appointment for 2 days time, as I'm pretty sure it's not a muscle. It's totally different than that, and also I can't remember doing anything to pull it. I have had a staph infection/cellulitis, and a clot in my other arm where I had a PICC line for chemo. It kind of feels the same way except there is no swelling. I'm not a panicky person, so I'm not rushing into the ER, and I don't want to panic you by suggesting a clot (good chance it's not!)but I think you should make a Dr appointment. ETA: The tender places shift around on my arm, but mostly on the inside of the elbow, upper arm, inside forearm, and then mildly wrist & hand & underarm this morning. Edited September 13, 2011 by Isabella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Maybe a nerve is pinched? I've had similar feelings once in a rare while & a pinched nerve is my best guess. In my case, it has resolved on its own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JessicaLady Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I had Shingles once and it started in a similar way. For several days it felt like there should be a rash but there wasn't. It was irritated and burned a bit. Was slightly painful to touch. It was 3 days later that I developed painful bumps, went to my Derm. and he dx. shingles. It became extremely painful. For now I'd do nothing at all to the area. If it's bothering her and she's unable to focus and have class, then I'd take her to the Ped. just to rule out something. J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakblossoms Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I was going to suggest shingles, too. Although, your doctor will say no that isn't possible:tongue_smilie: But, I might put a call into your doctor. I might be concerned enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I don't know what this is but I have had it before. It is a burning sensation. The skin feels raw. It starts out feeling like very dry, winter skin and then gets progressively worse to the point that even clothing or sheets touching the skin hurts. I usually rub my skin down with oil when this happens and take Benedryl and then patiently wait for it to go away. It usually last for a week to ten days. It has ony happened about three times. Like I said, I have no idea what causes it because I didn't feel like going to the dr. and saying, "You see this perfectly normal looking patch of skin here? It feels like it is on fire. Any idea what causes that?" Anyhow, I asked here and found other people who said they had the same thing and none of them had answers either and that eventually it goes away so I just waited it out. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I'll just add that I occasionally have patches of skin that become really sensitive and if someone brushes them it's painful. I have no idea what it is. It doesn't seem to be related to anything else and generally goes away in a day. It's never lead to anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jplain Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I'll just add that I occasionally have patches of skin that become really sensitive and if someone brushes them it's painful. I have no idea what it is. It doesn't seem to be related to anything else and generally goes away in a day. It's never lead to anything else. Me too. It happens once in a while on the inside of my lower left arm. It feels like the skin is sunburned, and then it goes away after a couple hours. I figure it's just a nervous system glitch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I'll just add that I occasionally have patches of skin that become really sensitive and if someone brushes them it's painful. I have no idea what it is. It doesn't seem to be related to anything else and generally goes away in a day. It's never lead to anything else. Me too. It happens once in a while on the inside of my lower left arm. It feels like the skin is sunburned, and then it goes away after a couple hours. I figure it's just a nervous system glitch. Same here. Mine will last for a couple days, but usually feels quite a bit better by the third day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXMomof4 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Does she have any fever? My skin will hurt when I'm getting sick and about to come down with something - usually a fever starts up shortly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i.love.lucy Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I think it's a form of neuropathy. My dh has inherited this type of thing from his dad. He will get random patches of skin that get quite painful to the touch but to look at them there is nothing. He also is prone to nerve twitches and has a painful nerve in his earlobe that bothers him. He thinks that one is triggered by the arm of his glasses. He has talked to his doctor about it and she said neuropathy and that there's nothing to do but wait for it to go away. It always does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Me too. It happens once in a while on the inside of my lower left arm. It feels like the skin is sunburned, and then it goes away after a couple hours. I figure it's just a nervous system glitch. I get the same thing with the same symptoms and duration. It's happened since as far back as I remember, and my kids have described the same thing happening to them. I assumed it happened to everbody as one time or another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaners Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 It sounded like shingles to me too, but I've never had it on an arm. I've had it just below my bra line and in different spots on my waist and hips. I thought it mostly showed up on the trunk? I hope she feels better soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Jumping in to say that I get that too. I wouldn't worry about it unless a rash develops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Fairy Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 Thanks, all. She said her arm feels better today. I'm going with the oldie but goodie, "The body does weird stuff sometimes." :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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