Shoulder Problem

[bigbubba]

I am opening this up to the PH massive as I have had no joy from the NHS.

About two years ago I slept 'funny' on my arm. I woke up with a stiff shoulder, not normally an issue but it has got worse ever since. Sometimes in the morning I can't move my arm and I have to physically lift my arm with my other arm to move it. It isn't just numb it is painful.

The bizarre thing is that after an hour or so of activity it is almost back to normal. This is every morning and it also disturbs my sleep. I have tried strapping my arm to my body during sleep to stop me sleeping on the arm, i have changed mattresses and pillows all to no avail.

I first visited the GP a month after it happened when it became apparent that it wasn't going away, the doc pretty much dismissed it on the first visit. I went back a month later and she sent me for X-rays. the X-rays came back and showed no joint problems and the Doctor also said that she was surprised that there was no sign of arthritis which she said as a 34 year old she would expect to see the start of it!

I was sent to the Orthopaedics department and they said that it wasn't a muscular issue and even though the X-rays were clear it was likely to be a joint issue!

I have read about frozen shoulders but the doctor doesn't agree that it is what I have.

Have any PH'ers suffered anything similar and if so what did you do to get rid of it?

It is beginning to really pish me off because any slight jar such as reaching to catch a ball can set it off again.

Thanks in advance,


BB

[cliffe_mafia]

See your GP again and get a referral to a physio. An MRI scan is supposed to be lot better then an X-Ray for shoulder injuries.

I've had trouble with mine for a couple of years but it only starts to ache again when I do certain exercises.

There's a lot of info on the net about shoulder rehab but a good physio should be able to tell you exactly what to do.

[Hoofy]

Do you sleep on it still? If you do, every night is resetting it back to the original problem. I have a habit of sleeping on my side when it's cold which results in sore shoulders.

If activity makes it better, then look at doing shoulder exercises every morning. In fact, I wonder if doing suitable exercises before bedtime might help. I'd also look at strength training to strengthen the supporting muscles as well as the tendons and ligaments. Have a search on YouTube for ideas.

Oh, yeah - a physio is a good idea. Mind you, I popped something in my shoulder from a stupid climbing move and fixed it by practising chi kung. But that might cost more in time and money than an hour with a physio.

[Cheib]

I wouldn't be going to see a physio, I'd be asking for a referral to a specialist/consultant. My wife has had problems with her shoulder recently....specialist thought it was calcification in the tendon but after doing a scan found that it was bursitis. She's been doing rehab/physio but may need an op. Think it's very hard for a physio to diagnose properly.

[bigbubba]

Thanks for the replies.

I don't go to sleep on it but wether i roll onto it during sleep I am not too sure. I don't know how to prevent that?

I shall go back to my doc but i get a tremendous sense of apathy from them.

Thanks

[Hoofy]

bigbubba said:

I don't go to sleep on it but wether i roll onto it during sleep I am not too sure. I don't know how to prevent that?

You're awake enough to roll. I certainly know I'm doing it!

[bigbubba]

Hoofy said:

You're awake enough to roll. I certainly know I'm doing it!

Not me! I am a heavy sleeper, the only thing that wakes me is this flipping shoulder!

[Hoofy]

bigbubba said:

Not me! I am a heavy sleeper, the only thing that wakes me is this flipping shoulder!

Well, I don't make a conscious decision to do it but I know I'm doing it and just do it without thinking about a buggered shoulder in the morning. Try putting something on either side of you when you lie down at night.

[apotek]

Ask your GP if he will give you a steroid injection into the joint,it should give you 3 months of peace and time for you to use the shoulder painlessly and maybe a bit of physio.
The alternative is to have a look at :snap crackle and pop : on youtube it put me off alright.

[mattikake]

bigbubba said:

Thanks for the replies.

I don't go to sleep on it but wether i roll onto it during sleep I am not too sure. I don't know how to prevent that?

Easy. Get your webcam. Download and install Dorgem security software (free). Point webcam at your bed. Review footage in the morning to see what you do when you sleep.

bigbubba said:

I shall go back to my doc but i get a tremendous sense of apathy from them.

Go to a different doctor for a second opinion.

Sounds like a trapped nerve to me and could be trapped by a muscle, bone, bursa pad, sleeping position etc. X-rays and MRI have probably ruled out a bone spur or bursa problem.

[Asterix]

After a particularly heavy drumming session recently (I kid you not) a few days later I got what I thought was DOMS, but DOMS can be stretched out to a degree and this was just painful. The feeling went after a couple of days but I then got terrible constant aching that normal painkillers couldn't do any thing about, then that died down and I started getting sharp pain 'in' my upper arm and elbow area which didn't go.

Went to the docs and we came to the conclusion that it's tendonitis. Been given a hefty anti inflammatory, which I need to take another drugs to counter the side effects, and while it's certainly less painful it's taking a while to go.

I'm just getting old I suppose.

Ummm - OP - can't help really - thought I'd just say my bit

[someday]

Shoulder dislocates have helped a lot of people including myself. Worth a try?

http://www.intensemuscle.com/archive/index.php/t-6...

[cheeky_chops]

i have similar problem - the only way i can describe it is as a "lax" shoulder caused by weakness around the joint. When i lie/move each shoulder back/forward its feels far looser than the other, but when i compare flexibility (eg arm up the back) the movement was far less.

Do you go to the gym? Suggest you google "lax" shoulder and exercises/strengthening that can make it flexible and strong (btw i am desk based and this is the arm i use for a mouse for 20 years...)

[Cheib]

cheeky_chops said:

Do you go to the gym? Suggest you google "lax" shoulder and exercises/strengthening that can make it flexible and strong (btw i am desk based and this is the arm i use for a mouse for 20 years...)

You don't even need a gym....just a very light dumb bell (2kg or something) and rotator cuff exercise will do the job

[Riff Raff]

When you got referred did you see an orthopaedic surgeon?

If you didn't, then my advice would be to get yourself referred. With all due respect to GP's, they are jacks of all trades, but there is no substitute for seeing someone who does shoulders and nothing but shoulders.

I've had problems with both of my shoulders off and on for years - the right one eventually responded to surgery (arthroscopic decompression) to remove a bone spur amongst other things.

I'm just about to have the left one done too - two cortisone injections and physio haven't done the trick. Diagnosis is Capsulitis, Bursitis and Tendinopathy, so as said i'll be having another subacromial decompression done in the next three weeks or so. Can't wait to have it done, although it does mean a general anaesthetic.

The point I'm trying to make is that there's so much that go wrong with this particular part of your body, you need to see someone who sorts these out for a living.

[bigbubba]

I take it you had to get the referral for your GP to see the specialist or did you go direct?

Thanks for all of your help thus far!

[Zyp]

Place a pillow so its almost propping up the affected side as you lie down, but so your arm can also rest on it.

I had my tendons 'heat shrunk' back tight via keyhole surgery after I stretched them canoeing (resulting in lax shoulder)...

The above trick was given to me by my physio and I found it very comfortable, and I also didn't / couldn't roll onto the affected side.

[Riff Raff]

bigbubba said:

I take it you had to get the referral for your GP to see the specialist or did you go direct?

Thanks for all of your help thus far!

Yes, you need to see your GP first to get him to sign off on the referral.

If you've had an ongoing problem, and the GP has had a fair crack of the whip at trying to fix it and hasn't had any success, then getting referred shouldn't be a problem. But as I said in my previous post, you need to make sure you see someone who does shoulders IMHO.