Hurt Shoulder

[Nehkara]

Hey guys!

Maybe not the best place for medical advice but I figured there would be some folks here with experience in joint issues.

Last night my left shoulder was bothering me a little bit but not much.. just a bit sore. I woke up this morning and it is worse and I am wondering what the recommendations are. Here is the best description I can give:

Pain and weakness on abduction (moving my arm away from my body) from 30 degrees to 90 degrees. Once I lift it above my shoulder it is okay and between 0 and 30 degrees from my leg it is okay. I have full range of motion but I find it difficult to bring my arm up to 90 degrees and I sometimes have to try twice. It does not hurt at all when I have my arm at my side.

Any advice/suggestions? It doesn't seem very severe and I would like to avoid going to the doctor if I can. I have some anti-inflammatories and they seem to be helping a bit.

Thanks in advance.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by fotze

Don't go to the doctor, he'll probably just tell you its cancer or some other thing you don't want to hear, take two aspirins and use your right hand for the next week.

Yes sir, Mr. Fotze sir!

[FFR]

Where do you feel the pain? Front/Back/Side? Is it sharp or dull? And if someone asked you to point to the spot where it hurt, could you? or is it hard to pinpoint.

Does it hurt if you raise your arm forward?

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by FFR

Where do you feel the pain? Front/Back/Side? Is it sharp or dull? And if someone asked you to point to the spot where it hurt, could you? or is it hard to pinpoint.

Does it hurt if you raise your arm forward?

It feels like it is right inside the shoulder joint... it would be hard to pinpoint. It also feels like there is a bit of a shifting or clunking when I lift it.

The pain is the same if I lift it to the front or the side.

[FFR]

One more question:

With your good arm, apply pressure downwards to the bad arm (above the elbow) and try to raise your arm. Then apply pressure upwards (other side of arm) and try to push your arm back down to your side.

Does it hurt both ways? Just one? Or none?

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by FFR

One more question:

With your good arm, apply pressure downwards to the bad arm (above the elbow) and try to raise your arm. Then apply pressure upwards (other side of arm) and try to push your arm back down to your side.

Does it hurt both ways? Just one? Or none?

None. For whatever reason that does not hurt.

[FFR]

Ok, well that rules out tendinitis for the most part.

My guess would be something with your supraspinatus tendon (Though typically, if there is a strain, you would find weakness and pain when you applied resistance while abducting your arm.) or your bursa sac in your shoulder (subacromial bursitis).

What you are describing sounds a lot more like subacromial bursitis, however that typically doesn't occur alone...usually it happens with inflammation of your supraspinatus tendon.

My recommendation would be to ice it in the evenings, 15 minutes on, 45 minutes off to help with pain. You don't want to ice it too much as there is already limited blood flow to tendons and ligaments, and blood flow is what heals injuries. Take pain medications (avoid Tylenol!) such as advil or Motrin. You want IBprofin types, not acetimeniphen (I can't spell at all). And try to avoid use for a couple of days. Don't sleep on that side if possible.

If the pain hasn't disappeared in a couple days...see a doctor.

Again, its hard to diagnose without seeing the shoulder and performing certain tests, but thats my recommendation. You can ask me any other questions if you want either here or via PM

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

It feels like it is right inside the shoulder joint... it would be hard to pinpoint. It also feels like there is a bit of a shifting or clunking when I lift it.

The pain is the same if I lift it to the front or the side.

I dont know what you did but that sounds like your rotator cuff to me. I'm no Doctor but I've trashed both rotator cuffs playing Rugby and that symptom pretty much describes it.

I think weakness on adduction and inhibition of smooth motion are trademarks of a rotator cuff injury, or so my doctor told me on that fateful day.

Its no big deal really, I've lived with it since I was 15.

[Kybosh]

I'm no doctor (of medicine anyway) but from personal experience it sounds like you may have injured your rotator cuff. If it was torn you would not be able to lift your arm but you may have strained it or something. I would recommend toughing it out like a man . . . but probably go see a physician if it doesn't get better with rest.

[FFR]

Originally Posted by Locke

I dont know what you did but that sounds like your rotator cuff to me. I'm no Doctor but I've trashed both rotator cuffs playing Rugby and that symptom pretty much describes it.

I think weakness on adduction and inhibition of smooth motion are trademarks of a rotator cuff injury, or so my doctor told me on that fateful day.

ts no big deal really, I've lived with it since I was 15.

The reason I tend to say it's not a rotator cuff injury is that typically those happen due to sport or some activity and you know right away that you've done something. There is also usually a significant limit to range of motion. Pain is also very localized and you could point to the spot where it hurts.

Edit: clunking and shifting can also occur when the bursa sac is injured. The bursa sac is what provides the lubrication for you joint and allows it to move smoothly.

[Nehkara]

Thanks guys, especially FFR, for your help. I will ice it a bit tonight, rest it and let you know what happens. Hopefully its nothing big.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by FFR

The reason I tend to say it's not a rotator cuff injury is that typically those happen due to sport or some activity and you know right away that you've done something. There is also usually a significant limit to range of motion. Pain is also very localized and you could point to the spot where it hurts.

Edit: clunking and shifting can also occur when the bursa sac is injured. The bursa sac is what provides the lubrication for you joint and allows it to move smoothly.

Very true, just the way he described it was pretty much what I went through when I hurt mine so I figured I'd throw my medically uninformed opinion in there.

You're right though, you'll know you did something pretty quick if its the RC, it hurts like hell.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Locke

Very true, just the way he described it was pretty much what I went through when I hurt mine so I figured I'd throw my medically uninformed opinion in there.

You're right though, you'll know you did something pretty quick if its the RC, it hurts like hell.

This came on slowly so I am leaning towards FFR's diagnosis but thanks again for your input!

[Dion]

I had a similar problem like that. I put both heat and ice on it every night. I also went to a physio guy who set me up with some stretch bands to strengthen and exercise the shoulder.

http://www.theratek.com/ItemForm.asp...7-23c6e919cb73

[redforever]

Well, for years my husband used to be bothered with the symptoms you describe. And he could wake up with it in the morning, was like a frozen shoulder, very limited mobility and certain mobility, hurt like the bejeebers.

His was always rotator cuff. And what he also had was calcification. Then some wee little piece of calcium would get dislodged, end up in the rotator cuff and until absorbed by the body, that shoulder would be pretty well immobile. And sleeping was almost impossible unless that hand was fully supported at just the right angle with pillows.

Then he went to physio at Lindsay Park and started doing the proper exercises to strengthen that shoulder and warm it up before exercising. And was given simple stuff to do at home for maintenance. He has not had a problem now in over 5 years.

[AFireInside]

My gf has a masters degree in Physiotherapy and of course her suggestion is to go to physio. It will difficult to pinpoint exactly what it is without doing proper tests.

Could be, supraspinatus tendon being pinched, bursitis (bursa sac), calcium deposits (generally if you are older),.

Need to know if the pain sharp, or dull, where exactly the pain is in the shoulder (front, back, top), if you've recently changed your activities (sitting more,), poor posture etc.

Difficult to diagnose a shoulder without seeing it.

[troutman]

Ben Gay.

Or Gay Ben.

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by troutman

Ben Gay.

Or Gay Ben.

Very well-played.

[EVERLAST]

suck it up....put some tape on it and get back out there!!!

[missdpuck]

It's only a flesh wound........