“I have severe pain in my right shoulder and upper chest area?”
I have a history of joint issues and have had problems in my left shoulder for a couple of years. I recently noticed I was starting to have pain in my right shoulder area that radiated into my right pectoris, pain was mild to fairly painful when this would act up, in the past 10days to 2 weeks it started to feel like I pulled or tore a muscle in my chest towards my sternum, it didn't bother me everyday, then tonight after playing guitar it started to act up getting very painful radiating into my upper right chest and into my right shoulder I had palpated the area prior and felt nothing out of the ordinary, then tonight I noticed a small bump on top of my collar bone( cannot say if bump was on collar bone or if by pushing down I was pressing the bump on to my collar bone, when pushed it was painful almost like sharp stinging type of pain, that radiated into chest and shoulder, I checked other collar bone and did not feel anything, I put Australian dream on the area and took 1- 800mg ibuprofen, and pain has subsided some (I think) I'm a 53 year old male, so I am starting to, become a hypochondriac, immediately I'm thinking Cancer cause of the bump and pain, a blood clot possibly. I have terrible county insurance and do not want to spend an entire day in a County ER with possible Covid pts. Can you possibly answer my question?
Male | 53 years old
Medications: Atentenol 50mg, Subutex 8mg, Hydrochlorathiside
Conditions: Hypertension
2 Answers
Hi, First I should say it's important if pain continues another week or more that seeing a health care provider would be important as I am not actuakky examining you and there may be other signs to help accurateky diagnose and treat you. That said from what you have described the bump you have-painful and radiating pain and moveable- it sounds like a trigger point. When muscles are strained and painful the continued pain can cause tightness. The tightness can cause pain and the muscle can develop bumps known as trigger points. Trigger points become a source of pain themselves. They are a feature of myocardial pain. The fascia us the connective tissue lining covering all our muscles. When the fascia becomes irritated the nerves traveling in the fascia lining are irritated as well and pain can radiate from its origin to other areas in the region. I would recommend you continue Ibuprofen as needed for a week or so since it has helped you. Applying an ice pack for 15 minutes, taking a hot shower or doing both consecutively may also bring relief. Applying acupressure by using your knuckle to massage the trigger point will also help to break up and lessen the trigger point. Regarding your shoulder, you may have some arthritis that has been aggravated. Please check out my Facebook, Instagram or YouTube channel, chronicpainrescue for exercises for shoulder pain. Once your pain is less you should also do these exercises to strengthen your shoulder.
Please reach out again to let me know if this information was helpful to you. Best to you, Dr. Ruth
Please reach out again to let me know if this information was helpful to you. Best to you, Dr. Ruth
Usually a rotator cuff problem.But might also have an associated nerve pinch.See an Orthopedic Surgeon.
