That's excellent Wiz. I'm so glad that you stepped out from under the sales hat to give your client a hug. I'm sure that your compassion, understanding and tenderness, meant a lot to her. It is so easy to feel isolated, as we all know, when one is going through a rough patch...and she sure sounds like she is going through one.
Sending well wishes and prayers to her.

Erin,
I think that I've posted these links before but here they are again. You might very well have a pinched nerve that is referring pain to the shoulder and arm. That would explain it not responding to regular pain medication. Nerve pain requires narcotics or something that affects the gaba/pre-gaba neurotransmitters.

Common sites of nerve compression that refer pain to the shoulder are at the spine due to disc protrusion or herniation, and in the neck due to muscular spasms of the Scalene muscle group.

Please check the links as there are photos of where Thoracic Outlet pain is referred to. If the pain is due to the Scalene muscle, the pain distribution illustrated will look like the same distribution that you are experiencing.
The good news is that nerve pain from the Scalene muscle group, responds very well and quickly to physical therapy and/or massage therapy.

There is a link at the bottom of the list of links that gives some info on how to treat the Scalene spasm and trigger points; so you can try to massage it or treat the trigger points your self straight away.
You might also check with a PT or Massage therapist to see if they are familiar with treating Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) and/or Scalene Trigger points, also known as Scalene Anticus Syndrome. If so, maybe they can help you with it.

In the mean time, if it is TOS from either cause, while laying down or reclining, putting the back of the forearm against the forehead or resting the forearm on the top of the head will often relieve pressure on the nerve, as this position takes the Scalene muscles as well as serves to broaden the thoracic outlet through which the nerves that supply the shoulder and arm pass.

Hope that this helps and that you get relief soon. Nerve pain is just so nasty.

With love, Erika


Thoracic outlet syndrome/Scalene muscle spasm & nerve compression

Overview of anatomy, injuries-causes of dysfunction, symptoms, treatment:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tho...ndrome/DS00800

http://intraspec.ca/tos.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoracic_outlet_syndrome


Scalene trigger point therapy
http://www.triggerpointtherapist.com...troublemakers/