Chronic pain in Neck, shoulder and arm

Hello friends, I have just signed up here, and please forgive me if this is not the correct spot to add my story, but I am desperate for help.
My right shoulder and down same arm and neck have been hurting since November, and this was not following any trauma. It exacerbates after activity, and sleeping , if I lay on that side too long.
I am right hand dominate, I use a tablet for home health job, and type on keyboard frequently. I had a huge flare up in Dec (25) . After a cruise, when I felt it exacerbated from dragging a suitcase onboarding, I went to a walk in ortho clinic upon return Dec 16, They x rayed the arm and shoulder multiple views ,and was surprised to find this is NOT my joints as in bone on bone . The P.A. said he thinks it is a muscle sprain , and gave me a Prednisone pack, He also asked would I like to go to P.T. ( Physical Therapy) , I said yes, I got thru holidays first, and then we got major ice ,snow in January, now been to P T sessions x3. The therapist disagrees with the P.A. and thinks it is rotator cuff. My Range of motion is good, and so we have been doing these little exercises now for 3 weeks, and today I finally see a Orthopeadic surgeon . I hope for some answers and some real relief, maybe a cortisone shot , anyone else have any ideas , and I also have neuropathy in same arm and hands, Numbness and tingling, I am not diabetic. I am desperate for answers though , and I will report back tomorrow to tell you what the DR finds. Thanks for any ideas and thanks for listening.

Hello friends, I have just signed up here, and please forgive me if this is not the correct spot to add my story, but I am desperate for help.
My right shoulder and down same arm and neck have been hurting since November, and this was not following any trauma. It exacerbates after activity, and sleeping , if I lay on that side too long.
I am right hand dominate, I use a tablet for home health job, and type on keyboard frequently. I had a huge flare up in Dec (25) . After a cruise, when I felt it exacerbated from dragging a suitcase onboarding, I went to a walk in ortho clinic upon return Dec 16, They x rayed the arm and shoulder multiple views ,and was surprised to find this is NOT my joints as in bone on bone . The P.A. said he thinks it is a muscle sprain , and gave me a Prednisone pack, He also asked would I like to go to P.T. ( Physical Therapy) , I said yes, I got thru holidays first, and then we got major ice ,snow in January, now been to P T sessions x3. The therapist disagrees with the P.A. and thinks it is rotator cuff. My Range of motion is good, and so we have been doing these little exercises now for 3 weeks, and today I finally see a Orthopeadic surgeon . I hope for some answers and some real relief, maybe a cortisone shot , anyone else have any ideas , and I also have neuropathy in same arm and hands, Numbness and tingling, I am not diabetic. I am desperate for answers though , and I will report back tomorrow to tell you what the DR finds. Thanks for any ideas and thanks for listening.

@heartnurseva So sorry you’re in pain. Ask for an MRI if it doesn’t improve. There are a lot of issues that can cause this pain trajectory that cannot be seen on an x-ray.

sounds horrible (as I sit here in the same kind of pain!) Try botox in the muscles which are impinging on the nerves causing pain, try MRF (that is SUPER helpful for pain relief - kiss a lot of frogs to find the prince!) and try low dose opioids (I like percocet) if she doesn't have an addiction issue. Acupuncture. I am in P.T. now and it only seems to exacerbate my pain and muscle spasms. WET HEAT and stretching. Try sleeping on a rolled towel. I did that for maybe 6 months straight and it TOTALLY helped! I am going to start doing it again tonight. I had two cervical surgeries - on both sides. So sad it didn't resolve my problem. Oh - and wear a soft $10 whiplash cushy brace when she gets tired (when the muscles get tired) that is GREAT. I was good for about 30 years and then I wasn't. Seems my auto accidents and whiplash added up. It can take a couple of years to heal. My last whip lash was 6 weeks ago. Good luck.

@loriesco
Hi , what is MRF? Thanks!

@susanblan Myofascial release (MFR) is a specialized, hands-on physical therapy technique that uses gentle, sustained pressure to release restrictions in the fascia—the connective tissue enveloping muscles, nerves, and bones. It eases chronic pain, improves mobility, and treats conditions like fibromyalgia, headaches, and TMJ by relaxing tight tissues. They have a section here on it. You can search it on the internet. I always say its a painful massage!

@susanblan Myofascial release (MFR) is a specialized, hands-on physical therapy technique that uses gentle, sustained pressure to release restrictions in the fascia—the connective tissue enveloping muscles, nerves, and bones. It eases chronic pain, improves mobility, and treats conditions like fibromyalgia, headaches, and TMJ by relaxing tight tissues. They have a section here on it. You can search it on the internet. I always say its a painful massage!

I suffered for years. All doctors had no answers and one told me to seek help because there was nothing wrong with me. But I did not give up! Found a great neurologist and he suggested genetic testing. And he was right! I have Hereditary Nerve Pressure Palsy. A very rare condition. It also falls under Charcot Marie Tooth CMT. They suffer the same symptoms. I would definitely ask for genetic testing. He told me I had either Lupus, MS or HNPP and he was correct. Not much I can do for it but be in the care of pain management doctor. Shots, nerve blocks and ablations have helped. Hope this information helps. And yes I did go for the MRI for brachial plexus which was normal. Don’t give up. Insist on genetic testing.