Help with long-term shoulder pain. - JP Fitness Forums

LakeWorthB · 04-30-2007, 02:20 PM

Ok this is a shoulder problem that I have had since I was 18 which was 12 years ago, and since I started reading the JP Forums I figured I should ask for help. Though bear in mind I am not a fitness professional so I may not have the terminology correct. But thanks in advance.

The pain comes from the middle of my deltoid, and usually is a faint pain that is felt continuously, and is a dull pain if I touch firmly, and I especially feel it when I raise my arm up from the side. The right arm is definitely worse than the left, but both might be affected. Range of motion is not affected.

In addition what happens when doing sports that require raising my arms quickly like basketball, swimming, even tennis it feels like it gets pulled(tear), once it gets like this I can't raise my arm without sharp pain for a week+. I haven't gotten to that point in a couple of years, but the dull pain always reminds me of this.

The only person to look at this was a chiropractor 3-4 years ago while there for another ailment, and he was not able to help. I think it is a muscle problem, and hoping you can tell me I can fix it using a foam roller or something like. So thanks again.

1. Pain has been on and off for the last 12 years.
2. Playing basketball, swimming, and tennis makes the deltoid muscle feel like a tear, which gets better after a few weeks. But is mostly a dull pain.
3. Pain comes from right deltoid. Right at the top towards the shoulder.
4.5. Pain feels like dull pain continuously but becomes sharp with certain movements. With firm pressure I can feel pain in the muscle.
6. To make the pain worse, if I have my right arm in the position like I was going to do a bench press, and then rotate my forearm as if I was going to do a shoulder press.
7. I haven’t found anything that makes it feel better.
8. I do not feel any radiation of pain.
9. I can’t play tennis, because I think this hurts it the most.
10. Pain is annoying, and it bothers me to just adjust the radio in my car. I also do not like to get hurt to keep from playing sports.
11. This is the only shoulder injury have had.
12. Pain seems to be the same as it has been.

bryanc · 04-30-2007, 03:56 PM

So what happened when you were 18?

LakeWorthB · 04-30-2007, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryanc

So what happened when you were 18?

When I was playing basketball, when I raised my arms to block a shot, it felt like I pulled my shoulder muscle.
Brian

bryanc · 04-30-2007, 06:10 PM

I don't know if you remember, but can you describe the event a little more? Was this the equivalent of raising your hand really fast, or did you collide with anything, or make contact with the ball, or?

LakeWorthB · 04-30-2007, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryanc

I don't know if you remember, but can you describe the event a little more? Was this the equivalent of raising your hand really fast, or did you collide with anything, or make contact with the ball, or?

I think it was more of raising my hand really fast.

bryanc · 05-01-2007, 10:26 AM

So, you were in a game, and raised your hand really fast and had sudden onset shoulder pain that you had never had before, that has never fully resolved over the past 12 years, but that you associate with that single unloaded event? Or is there something we're missing?

I know this seems repetitive, but I just want to clarify your injury history. Most sudden onset injury is associated with trauma of some kind, but you don't seem to have that in the injury background, so the clinical picture is kinda blurry.

UConnJulie · 05-01-2007, 05:18 PM

It sounds to me like you have a chronic scapular instability with resultant impingement .... here are some good threads regarding similar topics that should help you ...

Bill: Shoulder Issue... Please, some advice!

Bill Hartman Interview - Avoiding shoulder injury

Damn SHOULDER!

LakeWorthB · 05-02-2007, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryanc

So, you were in a game, and raised your hand really fast and had sudden onset shoulder pain that you had never had before, that has never fully resolved over the past 12 years, but that you associate with that single unloaded event? Or is there something we're missing?

I know this seems repetitive, but I just want to clarify your injury history. Most sudden onset injury is associated with trauma of some kind, but you don't seem to have that in the injury background, so the clinical picture is kinda blurry.

Yes I think this characterizes it well.

bryanc · 05-06-2007, 02:05 PM

I think this is worth a physician visit. Some information is missing that I don't think we can really get at online. Your recalled mechanism of injury doesn't quite fit with the actual injury and there could be something there that can only really be diagnosed in person.

LakeWorthB · 05-06-2007, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryanc

I think this is worth a physician visit. Some information is missing that I don't think we can really get at online. Your recalled mechanism of injury doesn't quite fit with the actual injury and there could be something there that can only really be diagnosed in person.

What type of doctor should I see?

UConnJulie · 05-07-2007, 07:31 AM

An orthopedist would be a good start ...

LakeWorthB · 11-01-2007, 02:35 PM

Well just for completeness I wanted to say that it started to hurt more again so I went to the Dr's where I was diagnosed as subacromial bursitis. With 30days of medicine, and physical therapy, and to see him again in 5 weeks.
Thanks,
Bri

UConnJulie · 11-01-2007, 08:45 PM

Good ... keep us posted!