UKC

Hi
For a about 6 weeks I have been coping with a shoulder injury I am not sure how it occurred and these are the symptoms.
Movement when my arm is lifted and backward (such as putting a jacket on) my shoulder and arm ache
Raking movements where again my shoulder is lifted and backward ache
Sleeping on it can cause aching
The ache is felt all the way to the elbow on the brachialis muscle
The pain is relatively intense causing me to wince and grimace all the time whilst doing simple tasks.
There is no point of origin of the pain and no bruising. I climbed on it a few weeks ago and it was okay after awhile but ached afterwards - I have not climbed since
It could be from sleeping badly, climbing and that's it really
There is no pain when I lift my arm forward, write use a pc etc
Any help would be appreciated. It is something I will go to see the doctor about in the new year.
Thanks in advance

In reply to Fluvial:

I am suffering from something very similar, and it is p*****g me off! I also have a sore spot in my left shoulder blade, that hurts when my wife tries to massage me, and I think they're linked.

Hope someone has any ideas.

I intend waiting until I am completely sick of it, then as it starts to heal, I will pay an extortionate price to see a phyio, who will recommend some exercises and a whole load of repeat visits, which I won't do, and it'll heal with time

But it would be nice if someone had a magic wand.......

In reply to Fluvial:

Read this article; http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=119

Could be rotator cuff related. I guess resting it and doing the exercises described in the article would be a good idea.

In reply to Fluvial:

Its screaming physio to me.......

Maybe try a bit of swimming see how it is with crawl and breast stroke, try and locate the source?

In reply to Fluvial:

Does it hurt if you lift your arm out to the side plans facing down?

From my limited experience every shoulder injury is rotator cuff related, it's such a pathetic group of muscles.

In reply to Fluvial:

I've loads of (bitter) experience with shoulders (too much rugby) but not expert so just two things I'd pass on: They are complicated and v easy to make worse - so as above see a physio (or osteo) for diagnosis at least; second is keep it moving - if only gently - till you know.

PS. on the upside you'd be surprised what you can do with your cack hand

In reply to Fluvial:

Rotator cuff injury for certain. You've pretty much described my symptoms to the letter.

Get to the medical profession pronto. I've had MRI scans, physio, acupuncture, steroid injections into the joint, the whole lot.

In reply to Fluvial:

Rotator seems likely, though this seems as if it could also be frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis. Maybe see a physio before you can see a GP. GP cannot sort this and it needs imaging and specialist appointments, all of which don't happen in a hurry. Physio will help you with exercises vital to stop it getting worse. PM me if you want - I am on this same injury road at the moment!

In reply to Fluvial:

I'll echo the advice of see a physio. I've had very good experiences using the physios at Nuffield clinic - i can recommend one i thought was good in London if you're based here.

I was experiencing shoulder pain a few years that I was having nightmares was rotator cuff. Turned out to be trapped facia at the top of my pectoral, a few targeted massage sessions and i was fine.

After years of scrabbling around in the dark every time I pick up a mystery injury I'm converted to seeing the physio early and nipping it in the bud. Some can be fantastic and are much better informed about these problems than GPs. Self diagnosis of these problems is really difficult and the pain can often manifest in a different area to the source of the problem. Good luck!

In reply to Fluvial:

Thanks for all the advice it appears that physio is what's needed. I will now look into it.
Thanks for all your help very much appreciated.
Happy Christmas to you all

In reply to adam 24:


That is exactly how it should be. Physio - specialist. GP - there is a clue in the name, General, generalist. A GP should not be more informed about these problems than a physio. GPs' job is not to cure this sort of injury, but to help the patient through the NHS pathway to get it solved. An interesting area; a lot of people complain that GPs don't cure their shoulder, but GPs aren't there to do to that!

In reply to Fluvial:

I think; muscular problem if you are lucky, rotator cuff if you are a bit less lucky, SLAP lesion (torn cartilage) if you are most unlucky (see Lucy Creamer's blog). See a good physio, follow the advice.

In reply to Fluvial:

As others have said... see a good physio.

I tore the ligaments in my right shoulder (some clean off) while playing rugby at 17. I never got decent physio and now my shoulder is f*cked for life (reduced movement and lower stamina).

Don't scrimp and get it sorted by someone good.