As a busy executive mum, balancing work and family can be challenging enough without the added struggle of shoulder or arm pain. If you have been experiencing sharp, shooting pain, tingling, or numbness in your shoulder or arm, it could be nerve-related. Understanding the different sources of nerve pain can help you identify the issue and find relief. In this blog, lets discuss if your shoulder and arm pain is nerve related.
Nerve pain typically feels distinct from other types of pain. It’s often described as sharp, burning, or shooting and it can radiate from your neck down into your shoulder or even into your arms up to the fingers. You might experience numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm, making it difficult to perform everyday tasks like lifting your child, working on your laptop, or even driving.
Here are three common sources of nerve pain in the shoulder and arm:
Cervical Radiculopathy: This condition occurs when nerves in the neck (cervical spine) become pinched or compressed, leading to nerve pain in the shoulder and neck. This can happen due to poor posture, such as slouching or hunching forward for long periods and prolonged sitting - something many executive mums do when spending hours at a desk or hunched over devices, or conditions like herniated disc, stenosis, spinal arthritis, spinal fracture, infection or tumour that involves the nerves, or a brachial plexus injury can lead to cervical radiculopathy. You might feel pain radiating from your neck to your shoulder and arm, particularly with certain positions of the neck or with some specific movements at the neck that irritate the cervical nerves. Watch this video to learn more about nerve pain:
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Thoracic outlet syndrome happens when nerves get compressed between the collarbone and first rib. This condition can lead to tingling and numbness in your fingers, a weak grip, along with shoulder and neck pain that worsens with arm movements. If you feel these symptoms when lifting or reaching, thoracic outlet syndrome might be the culprit.
Local Nerve Compression: Nerves can also become compressed in the shoulder or arm area itself. This can occur due to repetitive movements, poor ergonomics, or improper posture during daily tasks like typing or holding your phone. When the nerve is compressed locally, you might feel pain or weakness in the shoulder, or even radiating down to your hand.
HERE is a free guide on "How can you manage your nerve pain?" where you can get more information about what are nerve pains, how do you know if you are suffering from nerve pains, simple solutions to manage your nerve pain and much more.
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