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Trying to diagnose what my problem is.

Posted , 6 users are following.

timbo59
timbo59

About a month or so ago both of my shoulders started to mysteriously flare up, though in different ways, and the problems don't seem to be in any hurry to go away.

Many years ago I think I threw my shoulder out from constant ball throwing day in and day out through winter and summer for my 5 - 6 dogs, to a point where I eventually could barely throw at all and took to hitting the tennis ball for them with a golf club - I thought at the time that I'd developed a torn rotator cuff, but never really did anything about it. Over the years it hasn't bothered me over much unless I do a fair bit of throwing again.

Well here I am at age 55 and suddenly the left shoulder has really become exruciatingly painful when I lift my arm up or out under stress. Examples? The other day I was dropping off a book for my daughter at the library and simply stopped at the collection box to put the volume through the slot. The combination of the weight of the book and the tension of stretching out with the arm set off the pain. Same happened again a couple of days again when someone threw a frisbee at me and without even thinking I lunged up to grab it, only to double up as this awful searing pain shot through my shoulder, like someone had just stuck a poker in it. Even today, while dropping off my wife at the airport, when I reached out through the car window to grab the parking ticket at the boom gate entry I couldn't manage it - my son had to reach over from the window behind me.   It doesn't seem to be muscular, because normally if you've pulled or hurt a muscle the pain eases off the instant you release whatever tension or pressure is inducing the pain. With this it doesn't matter if I put my arm straight back down - the pain just screams out at me for 15 - 20 seconds before it slowly subsides. My right shoulder has also developed issues, though in a more minor and different way. The pain seems to get triggered if I move the elbow about in certain directions while down or lift the shoulder as if shrugging. So the question is, am I suffering from something like bursitis, is it a rotator cuff issue, or altogether something else? Thanks in advance.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Dinah54
    Dinah54 timbo59

    Posted

    It could be something like supraspinal tendonitis. Do you have PMR - if so prednisolone can weaken the tendons. But you really should go to see the doctor rather than try to self diagnose!
  • tina-uk_cwall
    tina-uk_cwall timbo59

    Posted

    Hi timbo, I can say if you are suffering from PMR, but I suspect not. If you already have a damaged shoulder then occasionally over the years that injury flares up. And this is what I suspect in thus case. I only say this because I have injuries along my right hand side, from my right shoulder, shoulder blade, and hip and if I go on long walks, or carry heavy things then sure as eggs are eggs I will suffer a flare.

    i would definately visit a Dr because it could be something simple or as you suspect PMR although I don't think it is. Good luck, christina 

  • EileenH
    EileenH timbo59

    Posted

    This sounds more like rotator cuff injury or bursitis than standard PMR. Of course, it could be bursitis due to early PMR and the old injury could be flaring up causing more pain in one shoulder than the other but at present the description isn't PMR-ish.

    As the others say - you need to get your GP to refer you to an orthopod for a start for a proper investigation.

  • timbo59
    timbo59

    Posted

    Well, that was part of the reason that I was trying to sort the issue out beforehand. I'm living in the USA these days and though our insurance I can bypass the GP and go direct to the specialist if need be. If it's rotator cuff than the ortho would be the way to go, but I think if it's bursitis the GP would handle the initial treatment unless it's so bad that surgery is required.

    Thanks for the responses.

    • EileenH
      EileenH timbo59

      Posted

      Here in Italy it was the orthopods I saw first - I then discovered that my GP will also give the cortisone shots they gave me. However, the orthopods did the investigations that sorted out one from t'other.

      I see what you mean about bypassing the GP - but I found the orthopods here were equally as aware of PMR as the rheumy. And rotator cuff injury CAN involve both damage and bursitis I think.

    • EileenH
      EileenH timbo59

      Posted

      By the way - Erika has reminded me: Bowen therapy is recommended for "frozen shoulder" and may be worth exploring if you can find a local practitioner. It certainly helped me survive 5 years of PMR without pred and a lot of people with similar symptoms to yours have benefitted too.
  • erika59785
    erika59785 timbo59

    Posted

    Hi Timbo,

    I have had this pain in my left shoulder.  I went to my GP (I live in the US) and he gave me a cortisone shot which kind of helped, but he also prescribed Physical Therapy for a "frozen" shoulder BUT with instructions to take it easy because of my PMR. 

    I have had this sudden pain coming on making a certain movement, which made me almost scream out in pain like you describe.

     It is better now after 4 weeks.......it takes a long time, but PT will help.  My right shoulder hurts at times, too but this is due to PMR which I was diagnosed with since last fall.

    Hope, you can find a solution for the pain in your shoulder.

    All the best,

    Erika

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