pain & numbness shoulder, arm, hand

Ask a PT

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Posted - 04/09/2008 :  10:55:17  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Our user asked: "I have had pain in my left shoulder blade, shoulder, arm and hand, with numbness and tingling in my thumb, first and middle fingers. I saw a doctor and he thinks it is muscle related. He gave me pills to take, but I was wondering if exercise/stretching for this area would be helpful. He did mention PT, but wanted to try drugs first. What muscles might be causing this and what exercise and stretching might I try??"

Ask a PT Response: "Your symptoms "pain in my left shoulder blade, shoulder, arm and hand, with numbness and tingling in my thumb, first and middle fingers" sounds like you may have some involvement with a nerve where either a muscle, disc, bone or other structure may be irritating the nerve resulting in pain and numbness/tingling. Some muscles that can irritate a nerve which can result in the symptoms you are describing can include involvement of the scalenes and rotator cuff muscles. Disc and cervical spine involvement can result in pain at the shoulder blade & upper extremity along with numbness/tingling as well. If your medications are not helping, physical therapy may be your next step. As far as exercises go, it will depend on what is going on ie. disc, joint, muscle etc. It would be difficult to issue specific exercises for you without an actual evaluation. From the evaluation if there are deficits with range of motion, strength, posture, tissue irritability, etc., a treatment plan would be developed to address these issues while taking into account the PT or MD diagnosis. Good luck with your condition."