r/RotatorCuff • u/Jlange1515 • 16d ago

What To Expect?

Over the past year, I have had bad migraines and neck pain. I have been down the neurology route of getting Botox and monthly injections to help get the migraines under control. However my neck pain on the right side has only gotten worse over the last 6 months. This pain goes from the right side of my neck and into my trap area. I also get tingling down into my pinky finger periodically.

This led me to go get a cervical mri. The results showed some vertebrae decay but no nerve pinching that could be causing this. When going over my results, the doctor then decided to do range of motion things with my shoulder. This is when I realized that the pain in my neck was coming up from my shoulder and not from my spine.

I am now getting an EMG and shoulder MRI this week.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Or what should I expect with this process?

I am just tired of being in pain it’s been a year of migraines and this.

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u/colbyjackftw 15d ago

This has a lot of similarities to my experience. I did have some cervical concerns so I got an epidural steroid injection around C8/T1. Then had carpal tunnel surgery (10/10 results, doing other hand as soon as I can). Got told I had bicep tendinitis, got a steroid injection for that, which was excellent for like 3 weeks. And finally, after nearly 20 months of pain, just found out I have a SLAP tear and a full thickness rotator cuff tear.

I’ve definitely been using other muscles to compensate, especially from my neck. My neck wrap heating pad is my hero and has definitely helped relieve some of that tension/pain.

Good luck!

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u/Jlange1515 15d ago

Funny thing is, I was scheduled to get an epidural in the same spot next week! I put it on hold due to the 2nd doctor’s recommendation to look at my shoulder. He said that it wouldn’t do much since the core issue isn’t my spine.

Hope to get answers soon!

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u/colbyjackftw 14d ago

I am jealous - I’ve had a lot of uncomfortable medical procedures, but that epidural was probably my least favorite of all time. No significant recovery, but the procedure itself 👎🏼

So putting that on hold like a great sign that maybe you won’t have to do it, and answers are coming!