Hello Doctor,
About three weeks ago at work, I think I injured a muscle in my shoulder. I didn’t feel it at the moment, but the next morning I woke up with my entire arm and hand completely numb and could barely use them at all. It’s my strong arm, and now I can’t even carry the lightest weight. I also have trouble raising my arm or reaching behind my back.
It doesn’t cause severe or sharp pain, but the numbness hasn’t gone away, and my ability to use my arm isn’t getting better. Even my hand is very difficult to use. I was using a hand cart to carry heavy boxes at work, and I had lifted my arm straight above my head to hold the boxes on top from falling.
What could be the cause, and how can I get relief?
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to Dr. Galen. Please find the below response to your query.
You most likely have a subacromial bursitis (impingement of the shoulder), as the work/impact was low-energy and unlikely to cause structural damage. To address this:
1. NSAIDs: A 3-day course of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should help reduce inflammation and improve symptoms.
2. Cortisone Injection: I often recommend a cortisone injection to determine if the numbness is due to pseudo-paralysis. Pseudo-paralysis means that while your shoulder motion may be limited, your elbow, hand, and fingers likely retain full strength during flexion and extension.
If your symptoms persist after this initial treatment or worsen, further evaluation with imaging or a physical examination may be required.
Thanks
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