So much pain...pinched nerve or something else?

[TexasProud]

59 minutes ago, Ann.without.an.e said:

Sorry I haven’t updated. Still hurting like yesterday so not as horrible as Friday. I started running a fever this evening. Could this just be viral?

Can you get a fever from shoulder pain?

 

 

Touching or moving the shoulder causes pain. Infectious (septic): In rare cases, bacterial infections like staph infections cause infectious (septic) shoulder bursitis. The shoulder may look red or purple and feel warm to the touch. In this rare case, you may have a fever and feel sick.May 7, 2021

[Scarlett]

How high is your fever? You really need to go see doc now.

[ktgrok]

11 hours ago, Ann.without.an.e said:

Sorry I haven’t updated. Still hurting like yesterday so not as horrible as Friday. I started running a fever this evening. Could this just be viral?

maybe, but you could have an infection in your joint. That can be serious. You really need to call the ortho place and explain your symptoms and see what they say to do. 

[Ann.without.an.e]

18 hours ago, Scarlett said:

How high is your fever? You really need to go see doc now.

only like 100-100.5. 

 

Thanks everyone for all of your thoughts. I found a DO who does ortho manipulation but his first available is later in August. The chiro that I know of is out of town this week. I don't feel as bad today but still not great. I may just hop over to the ortho urgent care tonight and let them take X-rays and get their thoughts. A regular appt takes months so urgent care is the best option. If they clear me and the pain continues then I think I will find a different chiro. 

[ktgrok]

4 minutes ago, Ann.without.an.e said:

only like 100-100.5. 

 

Thanks everyone for all of your thoughts. I found a DO who does ortho manipulation but his first available is later in August. The chiro that I know of is out of town this week. I don't feel as bad today but still not great. I may just hop over to the ortho urgent care tonight and let them take X-rays and get their thoughts. A regular appt takes months so urgent care is the best option. If they clear me and the pain continues then I think I will find a different chiro. 

Please do this. Some ortho stuff gets worse the longer you don't treat it, so better to find out what is going on, and then go from there. 

Also, some people spike a fever from pain. 

[Kassia]

17 minutes ago, ktgrok said:

Please do this. Some ortho stuff gets worse the longer you don't treat it, so better to find out what is going on, and then go from there. 

Also, some people spike a fever from pain. 

I agree that you should be seen.  

[TexasProud]

Yes, please see someone in case it is the infection I mentioned above. 

[ktgrok]

Also, if it is say, bursitis, a chiro won't help. Something like a sling might be needed, anti inflammatories, etc. 

[katilac]

2 hours ago, ktgrok said:

Also, if it is say, bursitis, a chiro won't help. Something like a sling might be needed, anti inflammatories, etc. 

Exactly what I was going to say; you can't make a treatment plan without at least some diagnostic info. 

I can personally assure you that hip bursitis hurts like a mother hover, and my friend in turn assures me that it's just as bad in the shoulder. 

[ktgrok]

31 minutes ago, katilac said:

Exactly what I was going to say; you can't make a treatment plan without at least some diagnostic info. 

I can personally assure you that hip bursitis hurts like a mother hover, and my friend in turn assures me that it's just as bad in the shoulder. 

Also, torn rotator cuff, joint infection, or a back problem radiating pain to the shoulder all need to be ruled out. 

[Jaybee]

@Ann.without.an.e, did you get seen today?

[Ann.without.an.e]

Thank y'all so much. I wake up in the morning in a lot of pain and by evening when I should head to urgent care it still hurts but isn't so bad. I now have an appointment for tomorrow morning with someone who will X-ray but also manipulates so if something is out of whack, they can handle that. It has just taken me some time to get in. I really don't like the idea of someone popping on me blindly. I only ran a fever for like 24 hours. Probably not related at all.

We'd totally forgotten about it but DH remembered that I was going out to walk the dogs about 2 weeks ago and they unexpectedly bolted out of the door after a rabbit. I complained about such a huge jerk to the shoulders but the pain was temp and seemed to go away after a few hours. I wonder if something got messed up but it just took time to settle in and start hurting?

Edited June 28, 2022 by Ann.without.an.e

[ktgrok]

4 hours ago, Ann.without.an.e said:

Thank y'all so much. I wake up in the morning in a lot of pain and by evening when I should head to urgent care it still hurts but isn't so bad. I now have an appointment for tomorrow morning with someone who will X-ray but also manipulates so if something is out of whack, they can handle that. It has just taken me some time to get in. I really don't like the idea of someone popping on me blindly. I only ran a fever for like 24 hours. Probably not related at all.

We'd totally forgotten about it but DH remembered that I was going out to walk the dogs about 2 weeks ago and they unexpectedly bolted out of the door after a rabbit. I complained about such a huge jerk to the shoulders but the pain was temp and seemed to go away after a few hours. I wonder if something got messed up but it just took time to settle in and start hurting?

is this person an ortho, or DO, or chiro? A chiro can't diagnose everything...

[cintinative]

4 hours ago, Ann.without.an.e said:

 

We'd totally forgotten about it but DH remembered that I was going out to walk the dogs about 2 weeks ago and they unexpectedly bolted out of the door after a rabbit. I complained about such a huge jerk to the shoulders but the pain was temp and seemed to go away after a few hours. I wonder if something got messed up but it just took time to settle in and start hurting?

it could be a rotator cuff injury that has become frozen shoulder. Do you have limited range of movement without pain on that shoulder?  An ortho should be able to diagnose it if that is what it is.  

[ktgrok]

Hoping you are okay. 

[Ann.without.an.e]

I saw the chiropractor today and he thinks he can help to relieve what we think is a pinched nerve. But idk y’all. I need advice. 

He took x-rays. The x-rays show a curve in my spine. I’ve never been known to have a curve in my spine? Also he says I have some arthritis in the vertebrates in the same area (middle of my upper back). The rest of my vertebrates look great. I’m a little concerned that there is something more that can’t be helped with chiropractic going on? Could arthritis cause scoliosis?  Could scoliosis cause arthritis? He did say that arthritis in those specific vertebrates isn’t uncommon for women who are top heavy because of the pressure to the joints. I have been blessed with far more in the breast department than I’ve ever wanted. He didn’t seem concerned, he said chiropractic would help but he can’t change those things.

I’ve always had elevated RA antibodies, how do I know this isn’t the RA symptoms we’ve been keeping an eye on?

Would y’all chalk it up to the cleavage or explore it further?

 

Edited June 29, 2022 by Ann.without.an.e

[cintinative]

@Ann.without.an.e I don't know how old you are, but when you say scoliosis I am reminded of my mom's situation with undiagnosed osteoporosis. So I am wondering if you have ever had a bone density scan (dexascan). I was told they don't start screening for osteoporosis until menopause and I'm not there yet, but I am concerned about it. 

I will ask--you sound hesitant in his advice (I could be wrong?). Would you like to see an orthopedic for a second opinion?  They can reuse your x-rays.  

Did he do any manipulation and did that provide any relief from the pain? 

It's hard to read your original post and not think of my struggles with frozen shoulder. It sounds like he has ruled that out?  I am glad for you if so. It's a hard, long road. 

[Ann.without.an.e]

3 minutes ago, cintinative said:

@Ann.without.an.e I don't know how old you are, but when you say scoliosis I am reminded of my mom's situation with undiagnosed osteoporosis. So I am wondering if you have ever had a bone density scan (dexascan). I was told they don't start screening for osteoporosis until menopause and I'm not there yet, but I am concerned about it. 

I will ask--you sound hesitant in his advice (I could be wrong?). Would you like to see an orthopedic for a second opinion?  They can reuse your x-rays.  

Did he do any manipulation and did that provide any relief from the pain? 

It's hard to read your original post and not think of my struggles with frozen shoulder. It sounds like he has ruled that out?  I am glad for you if so. It's a hard, long road. 

I’m 44. It’s not that I’m hesitant of his advice. I’m hopeful he can fix whatever is going on to pinch this nerve. I just worry a little about the unexpected scoliosis and the arthritis? If that makes sense 

I don’t think it is frozen shoulder. I’m sorry that you had such a long hard road dealing with that. It sounds awful 

[cintinative]

1 minute ago, Ann.without.an.e said:

I’m 44. It’s not that I’m hesitant of his advice. I’m hopeful he can fix whatever is going on to pinch this nerve. I just worry a little about the unexpected scoliosis and the arthritis? If that makes sense 

I would probably want another set of eyes on the scoliosis.  My mom's progressed very quickly. Mind you, I am older than you and she was in her late 70s.  But I still would want to know that it was being addressed properly and that there were no nutritional absorption issues, thyroid issues, etc. contributing.  

Someone told me that most people have some amount of arthritis. But that's different from RA. Do you have a doctor for the potential RA (rheumatologist) that you could send the x-rays to and ask?

 

[Ann.without.an.e]

44 minutes ago, cintinative said:

I would probably want another set of eyes on the scoliosis.  My mom's progressed very quickly. Mind you, I am older than you and she was in her late 70s.  But I still would want to know that it was being addressed properly and that there were no nutritional absorption issues, thyroid issues, etc. contributing.  

Someone told me that most people have some amount of arthritis. But that's different from RA. Do you have a doctor for the potential RA (rheumatologist) that you could send the x-rays to and ask?

 

I don’t really have a doctor like that ? My primary doctor doesn’t think I need a rheumatologist at this point. I have hashimotos and we keep my tsh super suppressed, technically according to labs I’m hyper but I have no symptoms of being hyperthyroid and I have hypo symptoms no where near the level most people do 

Edited June 29, 2022 by Ann.without.an.e

[cintinative]

1 minute ago, Ann.without.an.e said:

I don’t really have a doctor like that ? My primary doctor doesn’t think I need a rheumatologist at this point. I have hashimotos and we keep my tsh super suppressed, technically according to labs I’m hyper but I have no symptoms of being hyperthyroid and I have hypo symptoms no where near the level most people do 

Problems with the parathyroid can cause your blood calcium to be high (parathyroid messed up and pulls the calcium from your bones). It is something to keep an eye on if you already have thyroid issues.  YMMV of course.  

[Ann.without.an.e]

2 minutes ago, cintinative said:

Problems with the parathyroid can cause your blood calcium to be high (parathyroid messed up and pulls the calcium from your bones). It is something to keep an eye on if you already have thyroid issues.  YMMV of course.  

You’ve given me a lot to think about and just a simple google search connects a lot of spinal issues with hashimotos and I had never heard that. I need to do some research and maybe run it all by my doctor. Thank you ❤️

[Pawz4me]

1 hour ago, Ann.without.an.e said:

I saw the chiropractor today and he thinks he can help to relieve what we think is a pinched nerve. But idk y’all. I need advice. 

He took x-rays. The x-rays show a curve in my spine. I’ve never been known to have a curve in my spine? Also he says I have some arthritis in the vertebrates in the same area (middle of my upper back). The rest of my vertebrates look great. I’m a little concerned that there is something more that can’t be helped with chiropractic going on? Could arthritis cause scoliosis?  Could scoliosis cause arthritis? He did say that arthritis in those specific vertebrates isn’t uncommon for women who are top heavy because of the pressure to the joints. I have been blessed with far more in the breast department than I’ve ever wanted. He didn’t seem concerned, he said chiropractic would help but he can’t change those things.

I’ve always had elevated RA antibodies, how do I know this isn’t the RA symptoms we’ve been keeping an eye on?

Would y’all chalk it up to the cleavage or explore it further?

 

You can develop age related scoliosis (I have).

Almost everyone over a certain age has some amount of osteoarthritis/degenerative disc disease in their spine. Even when it shows up on xrays some people will have symptoms and others won't. I have RA and I also have OA that affects various joints, including my spine. My understanding is that if the spine is affected by RA it's typically the cervical spine, not lower down. But keep "typically" in mind. My rheumy attributes my spinal issues to OA because it's in the lumbar region. Also, to complicate matters further--RA can cause OA. The inflammation from RA damages joints so that the cartilage breaks down, etc.

[Forget-Me-Not]

I’d see an orthopedic doc. Chiropractors have their place, but they don’t have nearly the same level of expertise. 

[Ann.without.an.e]

3 minutes ago, Forget-Me-Not said:

I’d see an orthopedic doc. Chiropractors have their place, but they don’t have nearly the same level of expertise. 

I’m thinking a second opinion from ortho would be wise. Rather than urgent care, I think I’d rather make an appointment with someone with this area of specialty. I find that better in the long run. 

6 minutes ago, Pawz4me said:

You can develop age related scoliosis (I have).

Almost everyone over a certain age has some amount of osteoarthritis/degenerative disc disease in their spine. Even when it shows up on xrays some people will have symptoms and others won't. I have RA and I also have OA that affects various joints, including my spine. My understanding is that if the spine is affected by RA it's typically the cervical spine, not lower down. But keep "typically" in mind. My rheumy attributes my spinal issues to OA because it's in the lumbar region. Also, to complicate matters further--RA can cause OA. The inflammation from RA damages joints so that the cartilage breaks down, etc.

This is all good to know. This is definitely upper cervical. Kind of right between the shoulder blades. But you’re right it might be just normal age related? I’m not 25 anymore 😜

Edited June 29, 2022 by Ann.without.an.e

[kbutton]

9 minutes ago, Pawz4me said:

Almost everyone over a certain age has some amount of osteoarthritis/degenerative disc disease in their spine. Even when it shows up on xrays some people will have symptoms and others won't. I have RA and I also have OA that affects various joints, including my spine. My understanding is that if the spine is affected by RA it's typically the cervical spine, not lower down. But keep "typically" in mind. My rheumy attributes my spinal issues to OA because it's in the lumbar region. Also, to complicate matters further--RA can cause OA. The inflammation from RA damages joints so that the cartilage breaks down, etc.

OA and RA can have an interesting interplay.

I would also keep in mind ankylosing spondylitis--I think it's autoimmune, and it can be hard to get properly diagnosed. https://spondylitis.org/about-spondylitis/overview-of-spondyloarthritis/ankylosing-spondylitis/

IIRC, AS is more common in men, which makes it harder for women to diagnose, but I am not taking the time to verify that at the moment. 

1 hour ago, Ann.without.an.e said:

I saw the chiropractor today and he thinks he can help to relieve what we think is a pinched nerve. But idk y’all. I need advice. 

He took x-rays. The x-rays show a curve in my spine. I’ve never been known to have a curve in my spine? Also he says I have some arthritis in the vertebrates in the same area (middle of my upper back). The rest of my vertebrates look great. I’m a little concerned that there is something more that can’t be helped with chiropractic going on? Could arthritis cause scoliosis?  Could scoliosis cause arthritis? He did say that arthritis in those specific vertebrates isn’t uncommon for women who are top heavy because of the pressure to the joints. I have been blessed with far more in the breast department than I’ve ever wanted. He didn’t seem concerned, he said chiropractic would help but he can’t change those things.

I’ve always had elevated RA antibodies, how do I know this isn’t the RA symptoms we’ve been keeping an eye on?

Would y’all chalk it up to the cleavage or explore it further?

 

I am echoing what @cintinative said, but I will note that even without an official dexa scan, a good x-ray will leave hints of bone density issues. You can ask him directly if he sees any early signs of osteoporosis (and what those signs would be). 

So, everyone is saying scoliosis--is it a side-to-side curve? There are other types of curves due to other types of things, such as kyphosis (and lots of people have a combination). Mild scoliosis is often missed as you grow; I know much less about age-related scoliosis. The chiropractor should be able to measure a Cobb angle. If he's reluctant at all to talk about it or take an angle, definitely go to an orthopod, but I think that you can ask the chiropractor more questions. It really won't hurt to get more information from him before you go to an orthopod--kind of a like a dress rehearsal, plus if you know some things, you can ask the orthopod better questions. 🙂 

And yes, arthritis in the spine is common, and I think any kind of stress from misalignment (not only in your spine but in any bony area) can cause it. 

[Ann.without.an.e]

Right now, I have a Chiro appointment again tomorrow and I'll ask more questions. I'm also supposed to see him twice next week and each week for a while. I also have an appointment with an orthopedic spine specialist next Thursday, they just happened to have a cancellation. If I ask the Chiro more questions and don't feel the need to see the ortho then I will cancel the appt. Better to have it and cancel than not have it. 

Edited June 29, 2022 by Ann.without.an.e