Set back - your opinions - rotator cuff - update

I have been in physio for my frozen shoulder and resulting muscle atrophy on my left side for several months.

i've had a bit of pain on the front of my right shoulder...but nothing I can't handle.

In the middle of the night I roll over on my right side...then when I roll back (in my sleep) on to my back...my shoulder hurts and it wakes me up.
But I've been putting up with it. Thought it was maybe lyme or bart attacking that area...and continued treatment would resolve it.

Last night, it was excruciating. Today, the pain is horrible...It even hurts to touch the top of the shoulder. I can't lift my arm..and very few positions feel okay...always some pain there...but lifting it is very sore...
Can't get dressed...cant' do anything.

So, my SIL who had a rotator cuff issue from hair dressing...said she ended up doing exercises and after a few months she was better...I will discuss with my physio.

My question: should I get imaging done...to make sure there isn't a tear anywhere? I didn't hit it - there was no incident...so I'm thinking it's just swelling of the muscle that is now causing an impingement.

I guess an ultrasound wouldn't hurt?

Interesting when I read about it...it talks about repetitive overhead movements cause it...which I have not been doing...

Ultrasoundbis not a very good resolution and may not be able to tell much ...can you get a mri ? My muscles have been ateophyied ther also .my rt shoulder has beed hurting for years ...it feels loose in there like cartaldge has been eaten ...

bee venom repeatedly and ozone injections have gotten bugs out and are intiating a healing response ....my knees hips and spine are all feeling the same ...is this borrielia or bart? Did it go away with any abx ...i know it was put on pause with zith and rocephin ...was it just the inflammation being quelled ...

i want my collagen and joints back too girlie ...i dont think the pt is good till bugs are out ..are you doing any msm, fish oils or collagen ?

It sounds like something very abnormal is happening with pain that intense and unusual for you. Keep icing and definitely get a professional check.

Do ultrasound.
I had rupture of thigh muscle just because I lifted my leg. Lyme ate my tendons and my muscle coudn't bear the weight. It was awful. At that time I didn't know I had Lyme. I was so puzzled.
The best is to do ultrasound and to know whether you need some additional physio therapy.

And x-ray cannot see torn muscle, so it would not be a good choice. Just ultrasound or MRI

I hope it is not rupture. I hope it is just inflammation - maybe you were cold.
Take care and keep us posted!

My friend got run into the boards during a ice hockey game a few years ago...and they told her just to rehab.
She's a teacher and had to use her left arm to hold her right arm up to the chalk board. That's how bad it was...she insisted something was torn...
Lots of pain...she argued with Physio there was something wrong.

Finally 5 or 6 months in, her GP sent her for an ultrasound...and it showed her tendon had pulled away from the muscle. She had surgery and it's fine now.

Doctors just don't listen sometimes.

So, I think I will start with an ultrasound if my Dr. can get me in within a week. Otherwise I will pay for an MRI myself.

although, a torn rotator cuff might not show up in an ultrasound...julymorning? That sounds very painful what you went through!

Girlie-Mri's aren't reliable enough when it comes to showing if rotator cuffs are torn or not.
It sounds to me like you have nerve involvement. Take something that will take down the swelling and ice the area. See if you can immobile that area and that arm so that you minimize your pain.

Trust your instinct - imaging would bring greater knowledge. If you insurance covers it, getting a clear picture of what is going on can only help not harm. I too had a frozen shoulder and was diagnosed with bursitis. An orthopedist can do various tests to rule out a torn rotator cuff. These bugs sure get at everything don't they. heal quickly!

I've injured rotators on both shoulders in the past. Its no fun.

I didnt know much about alternative soft tissue healing in the past like ART- which is great for this stuff.

It is odd you got a sudden flair up with out doing anything. Most likely it was slightly injured before, maybe slept on it wrong.

I just tried a RX topical anti-inflamitory - Diclofenac (generic for tramadal). Its a NSAID cream. It works, but I'll see how well.

How did you heal yours'? Astroman

- I initially first injured them in the early 90's, and got frozen shoulder on both two. None was at the same time at least.

I first went to GP, who sent me to an Ortho, who confirmed rotator cuff issues and gave a cort shot -didnt help.

I then relied on chiros and PT's. They made it better, but not cured. Both shoulders "clicked" up to 2008. I'd have flar-ups, but not like the initial injury.

So in 2008, I started to learn all about soft tissue treatments via online - and sought professional help in these areas. Active Release Technique(these people are magical !), trigger point release and myofacial release is what fixed them- with strengthening in between. I also bought a cheap US hand device- its OK,. not like the pro units though.

My shoulders / blades/ upper arms are now "ripple" free and pain free when relaxed. I do the muscle work on them before and after workouts. And I sometimes take weeks long breaks between workouts to see what I feel like fully relaxed. My hips are the next big project, a difficult one too.

So its my same "program" I've been using on my entire body. I'm not a freak, as some here might think, pro athletes have had this stuff done for them on a regular basis.- the pro teams P/T's do this stuff regularly. Its the fastest recovery; a pro down is money lost.

Athletes or not, our bodies are the same.

Regular medicine is so far behind the times.

While you are still in this "touchy" phase. - Ultra sound, ant-inflamitory gels, alternate warm/cold, skip warm if it makes this worse. And very light finger tip massage when you can do this. Then, graduate to the above ideas if you wish (and I hope there is an ART practitioner near you, its worth it for the long haul). Not many in BC though:

www.activerelease.com/find-a-provider.asp?strGeocode=%2853.7266683%2C+-127.64762059999998%29&strAddress=British+Columbia%2C+Canada

Post Edited (astroman) : 10/16/2016 10:47:50 PM (GMT-6)

Girlie. I just recently got X-ray and MRI of my rt shoulder. It has been ruining my life. I thought for sure things were torn to bits in there however, nothing out of the ordinary showed. My dr wants me
To see a TOS specialist so that's next. I was shocked when the imaging showed normal. I feel like my neck trap scapula rhomboid muscles are all ripped but it's not the case. Maybe the tos specialist will find something or maybe it's just Lyme :(

Girlie - my frozen shoulder cleared up! The orthopedist I saw recommended physical therapy and to add an anti-inflammatory. He knew I wanted holistic, so suggested arnica and almonds, the PT recommended adding cherries so for a bit I added them to my smoothies (even though high sugar). It was sore a bit last night after dance rehearsal.

Girlie said...
BBM - how is your thigh now?

now it is better, it is not ruptured anymore, but I still have pain. However, that pain is minor in comparison with the pain I have in my back and ankles.
I went to physio therapy. I think it helped the muscle to heal faster.
I hope you will feel better soon.

PeteZa said...
How did you sleep last night Girlie? Hope it feels better this morning.

I did get some sleep...I took an AC&C last night....to help with pain...

I hold it like a broken wing...I can't even put my arm in the sleeve of my housecoat without hubbies help...it's that sore. I can't have a bath...because I won't be able to get out safely.....

Dr. appt. today...already schedule to go over my newer lab test results.