Posted: 2/4/2013 3:00:59 PM EDT
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Late last summer/fall I pulled something in my shoulder trying to pull my outboard motor up out of the water while standing in the back of the boat. It was a sudden sharp pain but I gave everything a break for a week and a half and it seemed to go away. Then I spent another week easing back into things and all was well till last week.
There wasn't a specific pop or pull, but it steadily got worse all week and now its back, and it's bad. It's a stabbing pain in the back center of my shoulder. It hurts the worst when I do the following: -;reach my arms up to wash my hair -cast a fishing pole (think whipping a bait-caster for distance) -push-ups are torture -pull-ups are murder -get my arms set up under the bar to squat So, does that sound like something to see a Dr about, or just give it a few weeks again? The thing that pisses me off is I'm 36 days into P90x and I really wanted to finish it out, but I don't think pushing through that much pain is going to accomplish anything. Alternate ice and heat? Totally quit for a while? Do cardio and leave the shoulder alone for a month? I gotta run out for a few hours but I'll be back later. Thanks guys, for any helpful advice. |
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I'd get acupuncture
It works really well for certain types of pains. I recently had a pain in the shoulder/back that at times caused numbness in my arm., kept me up at night, and it was uncomfortable getting dressed. One acupuncture appointment ($60) and I was GTG after months of pain. I think it all stemmed from a softball injury last summer. I popped something throwing the ball. 
Getting old sucks. |
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Quoted: I'd get acupuncture I'd get acupuncture by a REAL doctor... not some fucking online credentialed ass-hat. Go to your primary doctor, get a referral to a sports ortho, Physiatrist, or pain management. Have them accupuncture you with a needle full of steroids... granted it doesn't necessitate surgery. |
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Quoted:
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I'd get acupuncture I'd get acupuncture by a REAL doctor... not some fucking online credentialed ass-hat. Go to your primary doctor, get a referral to a sports ortho, Physiatrist, or pain management. Have them accupuncture you with a needle full of steroids... granted it doesn't necessitate surgery. I don't have a doctor. Guess I could go to one of those walk-in places, but does it sound serious enough to go that route, or just give it some time off? I know you don't have a crystal ball, but I'm sure you've torn a thing or two in years of working out. Do you usually go to a doc, or just wait it out? |
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Could be shoulder impingement, re-injury from this summer (which sounds like a labral tear), could also be joint dysfunction coming from the neck/upper back and 1st rib (which a good chiro or a PT could help, hard to find). If you can go to a physical therapist (PT) directly I would go. Otherwise see a sports ortho doc who will probably say see PT after giving some advice.
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I'd get acupuncture I'd get acupuncture by a REAL doctor... not some fucking online credentialed ass-hat. Go to your primary doctor, get a referral to a sports ortho, Physiatrist, or pain management. Have them accupuncture you with a needle full of steroids... granted it doesn't necessitate surgery. I don't have a doctor. Guess I could go to one of those walk-in places, but does it sound serious enough to go that route, or just give it some time off? I know you don't have a crystal ball, but I'm sure you've torn a thing or two in years of working out. Do you usually go to a doc, or just wait it out? You could wait it out and gradually work back in but seeing a PT could get you going sooner and still have exercises to do. If it is torn, you take the previous route anyway and seeing somebody sooner than later is better if torn. I don't think it is torn as it would have been a specific event like this summer, tears are not something that gradually comes on, impingement and joint dysfunction injuries do come on gradually. |
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Sounds like the long head of the biceps muscle/superior labrum region is primarily involved; possibly a combination of a couple of issues now that it has been a while -usually "it" is not just one thing.
Don't waste your time at a doc-in-the-box, on average they are neither prepared nor disposed to evaluate and diagnose a specific musculoskeletal issue. You need a good Orthopedist, Chiropractor, or PT to evaluate your shoulder and set you on course. A not-so-good Ortho, DC, or PT won't be much more help than the walk-in cliinic so try to get a good referral and don't hesitate to get a second opinion if you think you're getting cookie-cutter care. Definitely see someone else if your first whoever can't conclusively reproduce your pain. For the time being do your best to stop aggravating it. |
Sounds like you have a SLAP tear my friend. I'm an expert on them because I've had one (or 3 depending on how you look at it  ) that took 3 surgeries to repair. You will have to have surgery to fix it, no other way, and it just gets worse if you ignore it like I did.
The surgery hurts, BAD. Then comes the fun part of PT, and that hurts just as bad. All my therapists told me the same thing, PT after major shoulder surgery is the most painful of any PT. And when you are done with PT and think you can go back to normal life with that arm, DON'T. That's why it took 3 surgeries to finally fix mine. I told my doctors that I was very active but they really had know idea about just how physically active that I really was/am. It can take up to a full year for it to be strong enough to resume overhead activities. If not, prepare for more surgery like I did. Go to an ortho that's good with shoulders. He will rx you an MRI and you can go from there. P.S. Motrin 800mg 2x a day helps the best with the pain pre surgery. |
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I have no idea what any if these posters' backgrounds are, not trying to argue, but what you describing is pain on the posterior of the should with external rotation and abduction. It's rotator cuff (sounds like teres minor and infrascap) until proven otherwise. Not trying to be abrasive or rude, but when someone complains of posterior aspect shoulder pain and people start spouting off with "it's your bicep"... Just makes me wonder~~ |
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Quoted:
I have no idea what any if these posters' backgrounds are, not trying to argue, but what you describing is pain on the posterior of the should with external rotation and abduction. It's rotator cuff (sounds like teres minor and infrascap) until proven otherwise. Not trying to be abrasive or rude, but when someone complains of posterior aspect shoulder pain and people start spouting off with "it's your bicep"...
Just makes me wonder~~ Should have quoted your post when it was still non-specific. You are the guy who prescribed a steroid injection just a few post up, aren't you?? |
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Of course I recommended steroid injections. Standard of care includes injections for rotator cuff tendonitis/tendonopathies, etc. ETA: Regardless--> I edited my previous post to clarify and limit people thinking I was attacking individuals. |
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To me the edit struck me as more abrasive and directed, and intended to make yourself look better.
My apologies if I misunderstood your meaning. As to the topic at hand, actual standard of care starts with in-person professional evaluation -don't you agree? Someone in this thread stressed that... |
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Quoted:
I have no idea what any if these posters' backgrounds are, not trying to argue, but what you describing is pain on the posterior of the should with external rotation and abduction. It's rotator cuff (sounds like teres minor and infrascap) until proven otherwise. Not trying to be abrasive or rude, but when someone complains of posterior aspect shoulder pain and people start spouting off with "it's your bicep"...
Just makes me wonder~~ Tell me more about infrascap? What is your background to be saying steroid injection? I am finishing my DPT and worked in a great PT clinic (sees a number of pro athletes and Olympians) for 2 years previous as a tech. Like cmw stated, you can't be real specific without in-person consultation and with him suggested seeking care. Steroid injection may be standard care in many places but studies have been showing it weakens the tissues making them prone to further injury. It is largely masking some other underlying problem. If it doesn't resolve the issue after 1 or 2 injections something else is going on. I also wouldn't say rotator cuff until proven otherwise, that isn't to say it isn't either. Clinical experience may tend to lead you somewhere going into an eval but you must still be open to other possibilities. |
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7 years working as a researcher in a pain office staffed by Neuros, Orthos, and Physiatrists. Having dealt with literally hundreds of collegiate athletes, I have quite a bit of experience with steroid injections, as well as more conservative management (PT, nothing, etc)... all the way to Surgery (both on partial and full tears)... Improperly placed injections are likely the cause of subsequent weakening. Injection directly into the tendon can cause rupture/necrosis. Peritendon injections, with Ultrasound guidance has Minimal-no risk of causing a further tear/weakening. I've done research on Muscle recruitment at 2 separate Big 10 universities, Muscle recruitment recovery post injury is where I'm currently concentrating (along with some concussion work). I'm a Neurologist. I'm a D.O. = I don't give advice lightly, as mentioned in my first post of this thread: He should go to his doc to get a referral to the appropriate specialist. Re: Infraspin.: 2nd most encountered tear, ~90% are not full thickness. Pain is located at the site of tear/rupture, if it's a tendonopathy, then the pain often goes down the arm/front of the shoulder. |
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Quoted:
7 years working as a researcher in a pain office staffed by Neuros, Orthos, and Physiatrists. Having dealt with literally hundreds of collegiate athletes, I have quite a bit of experience with steroid injections, as well as more conservative management (PT, nothing, etc)... all the way to Surgery (both on partial and full tears)... Improperly placed injections are likely the cause of subsequent weakening. Injection directly into the tendon can cause rupture/necrosis. Peritendon injections, with Ultrasound guidance has Minimal-no risk of causing a further tear/weakening. I've done research on Muscle recruitment at 2 separate Big 10 universities, Muscle recruitment recovery post injury is where I'm currently concentrating (along with some concussion work). I'm a Neurologist. I'm a D.O. = I don't give advice lightly, as mentioned in my first post of this thread: He should go to his doc to get a referral to the appropriate specialist. Re: Infraspin.: 2nd most encountered tear, ~90% are not full thickness. Pain is located at the site of tear/rupture, if it's a tendonopathy, then the pain often goes down the arm/front of the shoulder. OK, you did mean infraspinatus, not infrascap. And I would agree with the rest of the info you stated. So given your experience, what would necessitate a steroid injection verses not? |
| I was having the same symptoms that you described. I saw my ortho doc (Gadsden Orthopedics for the locals), he diagnosed a bursa/rotator cuff discombobulation. It was treated with a cortisone injection and prescription grade anti-inflams. The injection was a little over a month ago and I'm progressing nicely. |
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Quoted:
I was having the same symptoms that you described. I saw my ortho doc (Gadsden Orthopedics for the locals), he diagnosed a bursa/rotator cuff discombobulation. It was treated with a cortisone injection and prescription grade anti-inflams. The injection was a little over a month ago and I'm progressing nicely. What I have read and experienced is that the injection can last for a month or more. Better measure will be in 2-4mo. What say Darktide? |
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I don't want a shot that is going to mask the pain for a month.
Anyways, I've found a doctor that is willing to take a new patient, but I can't get in till the end of next week. So for now I've quit all upper body exercises but I still have to use it some at work. By just not aggravating it I'd estimate the pain level to have decreased 20% in 3 days. When I forget and reach up to change the radio station while driving it still feels like a little knife being slipped into my shoulder. |
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I geeked something a couple of years ago in my shoulder. It was all you had and it hurt to breathe. I went three days in horrible pain before visiting the chiro. She put me back together and I spent a couple of weeks doing lots of cardio. It still talks to me now and again, but no pain per se.
If you have a good chiro I would visit with them first. Mine does a great job and has saved me a lot of laying on the couch, gacked out on pain meds. |
| I had a similar issue with bothshoulders, my right side being the worst. It took 3-4 months while still being active for them to get better. If I stopped working them all together it could have taken less time. I still have trouble every now and them but for the most part Im good to go. |
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injections are good to break the inflammation cycle. Most of the time, for our athletes, we inject, they do some PT/rehab. As long as they do their maintenance exercises and are dedicated to it, they generally do well and don't have to have more than 1-3 injections before they're rehabed with the problem gone totally (except for some of the chronic overhead throwing people- pitchers, track, etc) |
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1-3 injections spread over months to a year's time I am guessing? That is a lot of time for something to heal.
So Darktide my questions are these: What causes the inflammation? If a person cuts back on what they are doing and rehab, why would inflammation re-occur? We've covered this in school and in the clinic but I want to hear your answer. |
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Just a little non-update for all those who couldn't sleep because they were worried about my situation....
Well I had my doctor appointment today. 
I waited an hour past my appointment time and still hadn't seen the doctor and I had to leave, so I got up and walked out. Of course, I let them know why and got my co-pay back, but I had to go. If they had told me to be there at 3 instead of my scheduled time of 2, I could have done that. But I couldn't sit there from 2 till 4. I can't put the entire rest of my life and other obligations on pause to wait for a doctor that is running behind schedule. So now here it is two weeks and its healing up slowly but still causing some problems. Haven't lifted hardly anything and I've lost my appetite and I've already dropped a few pounds. By the time I get another apt with a different doctor it will probably be 4 weeks. Joy. |
