Question
About a month ago I started having slight to medium numbness/tingling in my right hand and pain in my right arm.  My hand itself is not in pain.  The pain goes from just above the wrist all the way to the shoulder but the arm hurts the most.  The pain is not sharp or shooting, just a deep ache and comes and goes during the day.  The intensity ranges from mild to medium/severe now and has gotten worse since it started. My neck does not hurt at all nor is stiff.  There is a slightly sore spot near my elbow but it is mildly painful and only when touched.  Ibuprofen helps as does heat, somewhat.

I have had no injuries that I know of, I had thought I might have pinched a nerve while exercising, but it has been suggested it might be CTS.

 It is starting to interfere with my daily life
and I am trying to decide if it is needful to visit a Doctor which I DO NOT do unless something seems very serious.  If it will get better on its own or with exercise I can tough it out.

Thank you for any advice you might have.  

Answer
Hi CJ and thanks for writing,

I think it's best that you do see a doctor as no one can guess what's wrong without examining you and running a few basic tests (X-Ray & possible Bloodwork).

It sounds like there's nerve involvement which could be from a trauma, even an old one, or some inflammatory process, or a degenerative process, or it could be something completely different like a virus.

I think it's best that you go be examined and run some tests. It's better to go and find out it's nothing serious, then not go and ignore something that could have easily been treated early, but may lead to long-term complications if left too long.

Sorry I can't be more help, but I wish you all the best,

Margot