Weird “pain” in left arm?: For the last few weeks... - Thyroid UK

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Weird “pain” in left arm?

Murphysmum profile image
6 Replies

For the last few weeks, month or so I’ve had a tightness in the muscles running from my neck, over my shoulder and down my left arm. It’s most obvious when I have my arm outstretched. It feels like shortening of my bicep muscle.

I thought at first it was like the frozen shoulder pain I seem to get with too much FT4 but it’s not shifting, if anything it’s getting worse. I now get numbness and tingling in my thumb if I use the arm too much.

Is it time I saw a doctor or have others suffered from anything similar? I’ve lost count of the number of things I’ve nearly seen a doctor about, only for them to have disappeared with a dose change!

TIA as always 😊

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Murphysmum profile image
Murphysmum
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6 Replies
LivingWithHT profile image
LivingWithHT

Not to scare or alarm you but feeling such sensations in the left arm, bicep and shoulder areas can sometimes be the warning signs of an oncoming heart attack or heart issues. Please try to make an appointment with a doctor for a checkup ASAP just to be on the safe side and if you can’t get one any time soon then try to at least speak to a doctor, nurse or any available medical practitioner on the phone.

Murphysmum profile image
Murphysmum in reply to LivingWithHT

Thanks, will do 😳

I’m sure it’s not as it worsens when I stretch my arm forwards, and I have slight pain across the base of my skull and right arm too, though much less.

I will call tomo though and get it checked out.

LivingWithHT profile image
LivingWithHT in reply to Murphysmum

Well, when you put it that way, it might just be something as simple as a bad sleeping position. It could also be excessive water retention or dehydration, the former tends to give me some of the same symptoms you described.

Hopefully, it’s nothing serious 😊.

have you looked up carpal tunnel syndrome? Your recent change in dose could have caused it temporarily, wait a couple of weeks to see if it goes away x

Edit: you seem to have it for the last few weeks. When are you due a blood test? I have the same experience, have some silly symptoms, used to go to doctors to check this and that, changed dose, went away. Even went for a gastroscopy because of my bloating and was checked for lymphoma because of weight loss and water retention. The joys!

Gophe profile image
Gophe

I've had tendonitis for many years, and what you're describing sounds possibly like really bad tendonitis. But, unless you're left handed, I wouldn't expect it in the left arm. I did meet someone once who had it as severly as what you've described. He was on the keyboard all day for work and played video games in his spare time, so tons of repetitive movements. Does this map at all to your experience? (When mine started, it flared up when I held up a hair dryer to dry my hair, when I did dishes, etc -- anything where my arm had to do something unsupported.)

EDIT: It can also result from overuse of the arm in sports.

TheOtherSpellman profile image
TheOtherSpellman

I get this. I believe it’s linked to my low B12 as others on a B12 deficiency forum I’m on have had similar symptoms. I also have low-normal folate.

Have you had yours checked recently?

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