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Is my shoulder pain a disc problem or nerve pain?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am working as a design engineer. I work more than ten hours per day in front of the computer. Last two months ago I have pain in my right leg while walking and irritating buds while sitting on the right side. So I went to doctor. He took magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and says I have disc bulge L4 L5 and it presses the nerve root. The doctor prescribed some anti-inflammation tablet and take physiotherapy for ten days and take rest some days. I finished my physiotherapy and I do exercise twice a day suggest by the physiotherapist. I take rest in bed for one month, but my pain not reduced. I consulted some ortho specialist they said bulge is very small only no need to worry. Now I have some shoulder pain and nerve pain in my right hand. While sleeping I feel numbness in my baby finger and ring finger from the wrist on both hands. I am confused now is it the only disc problem or something nerve problem? I have taken medication for erectile dysfunction for two months ago. The doctor prescribed one month medicine but I took two weeks only later I scared of my leg pain and I stopped medicine.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com. The numbness in your small finger is related to a pinched nerve in the elbow, probably related to a wrong position during sleeping. It is not related to the bulging disc in the lumbar vertebral column. I would just recommend performing a nerve conduction study if the numbness persists. In the meantime, I would recommend avoiding pressure on the elbow during sleeping or on the desk.

Medically reviewed byiCliniq medical review team

Published At June 30, 2018
Reviewed AtSeptember 13, 2023

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