Possible Rotator Cuff injury?

[anonymous-user]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 05 September 2022 at 19:23

[FactoryBacked]

I damaged mine 10 years ago when I was doing a ski season. Was desperate not to be sent home due to the injury so didn't get it seen too.

Thought I'd popped my collarbone at first. Couldn't move my arm at all for a few days. Then very limited movement for a while. Luckily one of the chalet girls was a physio so I did get some treatment.

Still very clicky and twinges when I try to stretch it too far and I also have an egg sized lump on the top of my shoulder (no idea if that's related but it appeared at the same time).

Didn't help the matter when about 12 months later I tried to spin on my head at a wedding and knackered it just as badly again. I guess because it is now weakened.

[Onespeeder]

I fell off my bike onto my shoulder a few years ago. Later that day, i found that I could not lift my arm much above shoulder height. I went to the doc who said it was rotator cuff injury and that physio was the first step. At the time, I had work PHI which paid for about 4 or 5 sessions at about £30 (then) a time. Was given exercises which involved pulling stretchy rubber mainly. Matters slowly improved and all was well in about 3 month IIRC. There has been no recurrence.

If it is severe then surgery may be needed I seem to remember; mine wasn't.

[Madness60]

I had a similar list of symptons, general pain in the area and then a proper shooting pain with certain movements like reaching forward into a cupboard or carboot. I had the normal 'ooh the shoulder is a complicated joint' try some physio. Got no worse but movement started to get more restricted and I ended up with a frozen shoulder (but apparently not a normal one) and a bit later is was discovered I had a big sub acominal bursistis.

Things that worked for me

Heat in the morning to try and ease the pain post waking up, really hot shower.
Good physio was great, I had a very average physio who was not very helpful
I used an osteopath who was outstanding both in hands on treatment and advice
The bursistis was discovered with an ultrasound scan and then I had a lot of jabs into both the bursa and the shoulder 'cavity' there's probably a better name for that, these were really quite uncomfortable when being done but solved a lot of pain and mobilty problems.

Seems to be the easy default option is to go for the complicated joint, try physio and it'll be another docs problem when you come back.

[SlimJim16v]

Yes, sounds like it. If you're OK with it, start taking ibuprofen. It's a group of 4 small muscles, that rotate your arm in or out, or start lifting it sideways.

[BobSaunders]

Had a SLAP tear in 2012, surgery. Did it again in 2019 falling off my motorcycle. Havent had it seen too yet. Don't let it drag out.

[spikeyhead]

Find a good physio, they make a massive difference to recovery.

[Aunty Pasty]

I have it now. Started back in February. It wouldn't go away. Went to the doctors. Got referred to a physic on video call who suspected irritated tendons in the shoulder. Gave me some exercises which helped in some ways but changed the nature of the pain. Went back to GP. Had another physio face to face. He ruled out nerve pain and said it was almost certainly a rotator cuff injury and also mentioned a Burser? Also had an ultrasound which didn't show any abnormalities so the diagnosis remains shoulder impingement/rotator cuff/irritated tendons.

Was offered steroid injections if I wanted them. I have another appointment with the same physiological in a few weeks. We'll discuss it then.
I think mine came about due to poor sleeping positions rather than injury. Very common apparently. Ibuprofen tablets/gels seem to help as well as Deep Heat.

[mfmman]

I have an odd pain in this area, it's not at the shoulder joint itself more going down towards the side the bicep but not at the bicep itself. It's on the outer of the arm

Only painful first thing in the morning and then if I try and lift my arm upwards/backwards at the same time. Left arm and I am right handed.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

[wibble cb]

I woke up one morning about 3 years ago and found I couldn't raise my right arm, or even put on a shirt, the pain was akin to being stabbed, no previous hints or issues were present, I had what was initially said to be a rotator cuff tear in my right shoulder, my chiropractor couldn't help, so he ordered an MRI and physio. After the scan, it was then diagnosed as Rheumatoid Arthritis,(kind of worrying at 47!), but even then they were not sure, after a consult with the chiropractor, he then went with frozen shoulder. As a result I ended up having a cortisone injection into my shoulder, this took about a week to take effect, but it helped as I now couldn't feel the pain that was there previously , so was able to do physio exercises and return to normal activity.

Fast forward to April this year, thing were pretty much as normal with my right shoulder......shame I was now getting v similar pain in my left shoulder ! I had another injection and once again, things are returning to normal, no one can point at any one thing and tell me what caused it, years ago I was diagnosed with Marfans syndrome, a skeletal issue which means I have to watch what I do, but even that was discounted, its a strange injury thats for sure!

[mike13]

I had rotator cuff injury on (r) side, cured by exercise and physio over 2 months 4 years ago, then last year whilst off receiving treatment for cancer, it developed on (l) side, different physio who thought shoulder impingement.
I actually cured it from a YouTube video of 4 exercises which I did religiously 4 times daily, I also bought a rope contraption which fits over a door and acts as a stretch. Have to say it was much more painful and restrictive on the second occasion. Don't let this go on too long, it's better seen early on and treated.

[mike13]

mfmman said:

I have an odd pain in this area, it's not at the shoulder joint itself more going down towards the side the bicep but not at the bicep itself. It's on the outer of the arm

Only painful first thing in the morning and then if I try and lift my arm upwards/backwards at the same time. Left arm and I am right handed.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

This is where the pain was with me on both occasions, I could actually put a finger on the most painful spot.

[mfmman]

mike13 said:

mfmman said:

Any thoughts?

Thanks

This is where the pain was with me on both occasions, I could actually put a finger on the most painful spot.

Interesting, thanks.