[27F] Experiencing severe neck pain and new swallowing/breathing difficulties
Patient Description
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Arora's Assessment
What might be happening
Based on the information you've provided, possible causes of your symptoms include:
-
Cervical Radiculopathy: This condition occurs when a nerve in your neck is irritated or compressed. This can cause pain that radiates down your arm, and can be associated with numbness or weakness in your arm or hand. The loud crack you heard when you stretched your neck and the subsequent pain could suggest a herniated disc, which is a common cause of cervical radiculopathy.
- Treatment often involves physical therapy, pain relievers, and sometimes surgery.
-
Musculoskeletal Strain: Given your history of hypermobile spectrum disorder and fibromyalgia, it's possible that you strained a muscle or ligament in your neck, causing the pain and reduced range of motion.
- Treatment typically includes rest, physical therapy, and pain relievers.
-
Esophagitis: This is inflammation of the esophagus, which can cause pain when swallowing. This would not explain your neck pain or arm symptoms, however.
- Treatment depends on the cause but can include dietary changes, medications, or rarely surgery.
What you can do
Given the severity and duration of your symptoms, it's important to seek medical attention. Here are some things you can do:
- Schedule an appointment with your doctor. They can perform a physical examination and potentially order imaging studies to better understand what's causing your symptoms.
- In the meantime, try to avoid any activities that worsen your pain.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as the ibuprofen you're already taking, can help manage your pain. However, these should be used sparingly and under the guidance of a healthcare provider.
- A warm compress might help relieve some of the muscle tension in your neck.
What you should look out for
You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:
- Sudden, severe headache
- Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Sudden vision changes
- Loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden, severe weakness or numbness in your arm or leg
Remember, I'm an AI and this advice is based on the information you've provided. It's important to consult with a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
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9 mo ago