Question
Last week, I was using quilting snippers, the kind you have to use only the ends to cut through several(my case,6 layers) layers of material. Of course, these snippers have a spring that require a lot of strength to use. After a few days of snipping 2 hours or so, each time, my upper arm muscles are so sore. There is one spot on my upper arm that is very sore to the touch. I have tried ice packs, heating pad, and taken Tylenol. It is hard to lift my arm in a certain position, very painful. I need to know what I should do to alleviate the pain, or should I see a doctor. This is the first time I have asked for advice on the net, so this may be confusing. Hopefully, you can give me some advice. THANKS

Answer
Dear Karen,

This sounds like your ordinary run of the mill overuse injury.  You have created a significant increase of workload on the arms with the repetitive motion of using the snippers.  These types of injuries are usually just muscle strains with a possible small amount of tearing in the muscle belly.  As long as you did not hear a loud pop, the muscle should not have a severe injury.

The best source of pain control in this instance is the use of ice and over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs such as tylenol or motrin.  Pain from muscle strains can be significant and will be increased with usage of the affected muscle/arm.  It is important that you limit the use of the muscle, but do not eliminate it, because controlled motion will help the area to heal by removing some of the inflammation.  Slow stretching/contraction of the muscle will keep it from tightening up which will also increase its blood supply, oxygenation and nutrient delivery.

Stay away from the hot packs, they might feel good at the time, but they will actually increase the amount of localized inflammation and dehydrate the affected muscles.  This will always slow your recovery time and promote further damage.  If you want to take a hot shower, that is fine but limit the time to 10 minutes and then ice the arm when you get out so the tissue will cool quickly.

Try this for the next week and you should see an appreciable reduction in pain, but it may not go away all together. remember that healing takes time and it is a process...be careful not to re-injure the area, and do not think that if the pain subsides that the injury is completely healed.  Muscles need 4-6 weeks for a complete resolution if they have been injured or torn.  Make sure that you keep this in mind before participation in any strenuous activity.

If your pain does not start to reduce, and your function does not increase, then it would be appropriate to go to the doctor and get a functional examination of the arm and specific muscle groups.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net