What Causes Periodic Pain In The Upper Arms?

Posted on Mon, 22 Aug 2016

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

Mon, 22 Aug 2016 Answered on

Tue, 13 Sep 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I have periodic pain in my upper arms and when I do have trouble putting my arms behind me to do my bra and also hurts when I lift my arms up. Some days it is worse than others and sometime it goes away altogether. I stopped taking my collostral med seven months ago because I thought that was causing it but apparently that was not it. What could be the problem?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
it can be frozen shoulder

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your case and I think that you might be having frozen shoulder.In this condition there is pain at night and restriction of movement. Before I advised you anything I would like to know little detail of the illness.
1.Do you have Diabetes or Thyroid or smoker?
2.Do you have pain more in night?
3.Did you had any trauma in the shoulder?
please send me answers of these questions. I will try my best to help you.
thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (2 hours later)

I do not have diabetes but have been on thyroid med for 40 years. Under active. I have not smoked for 50 years. When I do have this pain it is day and night. I have not had trama to the shoulder. The pain is in both arms but more in the left.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You need to do physiotherapy and steroid injections

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your case. Stiff shoulder is due to thickening of capsule. It is common in Diabetes or Hypothyroid persons. I have following suggestions for you.
1.Hot water fomentation
2.Tablet Brufen 400 mfg twice daily.
3.Physiotherpay is most helpful in this.You need to do daily shoulder range of movement exercises. Also wax bath can be given to shoulder.
4.Make sure that your Thyroid profile is within normal limit.
5.In rare cases you need to take steroid injection also.
I hope this answer will be useful for you.Let me know if there is any other followup questions.
thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng