Suggest Treatment For Pain In Arms And Shoulder Blade In An Elderly Person

Posted on Wed, 6 Jan 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 6 Jan 2016 Answered on

Thu, 4 Feb 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi I am 63yrs old and have had shoulder blade pn for the last two wks. Pain does not keep me from using my arms but is constant and keeps me from sleeping at nite, up every 90mins. Walking and keeping busy helps the pn to lessen but will not go away completely. This started 12/23/15 in my right shoulder blade, I thought I slept to hard and in one place to long. I kept moving it, it hurt to take deep breaths seem to get better but went to left side. Now after two weeks there is radiating pn between the two withheat, massages to the area and taking tynelol every 4hrs it is not getting better. Also went to Urgent Care(12/21/15) as I thought it was the onset of bronchitis. Received a tordol injection which helped some but after 3days intense pn again.

Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini Greca (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Muscular-skeletal pain;prescription analgesics advised to start...

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I am sorry for the painful health problems you are going through.

The pain you are having on your right shoulder blade irradiating between the two of them are suggestive for osteoarthrosis (muscular-skeletal).

Tynelol alone cannot help; you need to start prescription anti-inflammatory medications like ketoprofene or diclofenac injection for the first few days, then, orally. Muscle relaxants containing baclofen can also help if using for short term.

Keep applying heat pads and analgesic oils/cream locally.

You can discuss this further with your doctor to get prescription.
All the best!
Dr.Albana

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini Greca (2 hours later)

Again thank you for your help. Now what can I take as I'm on the road. Also a bit of health history. I have the following

HTN losartin 25mg (am) and atenolol 50mg(pm)
Hypothyroidism levothryronine 75mg (am)
A-fib digoxin 250mg(pm) xarelto 20mg (pm) and flecanide 100mg (am & pm)
Dx 11/2015
HRT estordial 1mg (pm)
SAD citalapram 10mg (pm)

Supplements
Vit D 2000iu (am)
Omega Vit-fish oil (am/pm)
Calcium Magnesuim Citrate w Vit D

Will tylenol arthritis help? last nite I ended up taking vicoden to sleep thru. Have vicoden from low back suregery in 2004. I walk 1 1/2 miles and do stretches for back issues so will continue along with oils and heat. I will see my PCP in April 2016

Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini Greca (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
If you take Vicodin, should not take together with tylenol arthritis...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Thank you for providing more details.

1. Tylenol arthritis can help ease the pain. However, once again, if the pain is unbearable, then, should see your doctor immediately or should go to ER to get prescription medicines as advised earlier.

2. Vicoden (Vicodin) is a combination of pain killers such as paracetamol and hydrocodone and can ease severe pain as in your case. You can continue taking it for the next following days until completely pain-free.
But remember to stop using tylenol arthritis if you take vicodin as both of them contains paracetamol (acetaminophen) inside.

3. Once again, if the pain is unbearable, should seek medical help as soon as possible. If cannot see your primary doctor, then, go to ER as I want to make sure everything is related to muscular-skeletal issues and not to your cardio-vascular system (taking into account your medical history).

Wish fast recovery!
Dr.Albana

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