popmom Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 (edited) A few years ago I fell and caught myself on my right arm. My shoulder really bothered me for a few days, but then it seemed fine. Then months later I would feel some discomfort with certain movements. Really minor and sporadic. Fast forward to now... Every night in bed when I go to pull my weighted blanket up with my right arm, I have some pain in that shoulder. 😞 Just lifting that arm straight out to my side is uncomfortable. It just seems like it's gradually getting worse. I think I have answered my own question. sigh. I would prefer to be in denial because I have 3 female friends my age who have had shoulder surgery in the past few years. I really don't want that to be me. Anyone been through this and NOT ended up needing surgery?? Maybe I'm just paranoid and need to take Advil for awhile. eta: I'm pretty sure I aggravated whatever this is a a couple of weeks ago doing wall push ups. I have been (((trying))) to be a little more active and do something to not lose muscle mass. These wimpy wall pushups were an exercise I did in PT years ago, so I thought it would be safe. 😞 Edited October 12, 2023 by popmom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amethyst Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 I hurt my shoulder lifting weights back about four years ago. I thought it would feel better in a few days. It did not. I was encouraged to keep using it through the pain. I didn’t baby it. Around the six month mark, I was really getting discouraged. But then it gradually started getting better. No surgery needed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popmom Posted October 12, 2023 Author Share Posted October 12, 2023 Just now, Amethyst said: I hurt my shoulder lifting weights back about four years ago. I thought it would feel better in a few days. It did not. I was encouraged to keep using it through the pain. I didn’t baby it. Around the six month mark, I was really getting discouraged. But then it gradually started getting better. No surgery needed. That is good to hear. Thank you so much for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 Something very similar happened to my dh. He had physical therapy on and off for a couple years and had a steroid injection twice early on when it was most painful. The other option was surgery. Eventually it became tolerable (instead of very painful), and now It's been about five years. It did seem to slowly heal over time without surgery, and most of the time the pain is gone and he can use it as before... although it's not perfect. If he overuses it, some pain returns, but it's very manageable. It's more of a leftover pain which doctors are okay with and which doesn't seem to hold my dh back at all from using it. However, he mostly uses it for daily functioning -- he doesn't lift weights with it, do heavy chores, etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 I had a very similar issue when I moved my arm and finally saw a doctor. After imaging I did about six weeks of physical therapy and it completely cleared up. My older sister and my dad have both had similar experiences with shoulder pain and physical therapy within the last five years. Lots of issues can be resolved without surgery, and the sooner you take action, the better. Hope you feel better soon. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popmom Posted October 12, 2023 Author Share Posted October 12, 2023 Thanks, y'all. I think I will go ahead and get it checked out. That ortho practice and PTs have so much of my money already! lol But I am certainly grateful for them. Those PTs can work some magic. I'll be a little embarrassed if I have to go back! Cervical radiculopathy in 2016. Then a broken ankle in 2018. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 (edited) I had shoulder pain and had it checked out to rule out a tear, and diagnosed as a subscapularis strain. The doc gave me information about targeted PT exercises. ETA: I had an Xray but no MRI. I did them (sporadically) on my own, continued to be active and use the shoulder as I normally would, including kayaking, and the pain has mostly disappeared after several months. Edited October 12, 2023 by regentrude 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popmom Posted October 12, 2023 Author Share Posted October 12, 2023 11 minutes ago, Annie G said: I had a very similar issue when I moved my arm and finally saw a doctor. After imaging I did about six weeks of physical therapy and it completely cleared up. My older sister and my dad have both had similar experiences with shoulder pain and physical therapy within the last five years. Lots of issues can be resolved without surgery, and the sooner you take action, the better. Hope you feel better soon. did you have to have an mri? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 1 minute ago, popmom said: did you have to have an mri? Mine was almost 7 years ago and they did imaging but not an MRI. But my PA at the time was a friend and she knew me well enough to try sImple things first. Mine ended up being muscle imbalance after overuse of my shoulder (renovating our old house to get it ready to sell). I think today it’s more likely I’d need an MRI- I feel like they’re used a whole lot more now than they were then…at least in the small town we lived in. I don’t recall whether my dad or sister had an MRI. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbutton Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 I had PT for a couple of months for shoulder pain. I was not activating the correct muscles when I moved (goes with mild hypermobility). I had to do very babyish exercises much of the time, but then progress snowballed. At first, the PTs were pushing a bit too hard and had to back way off, but it worked out eventually. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popmom Posted October 12, 2023 Author Share Posted October 12, 2023 (edited) 21 minutes ago, kbutton said: I had PT for a couple of months for shoulder pain. I was not activating the correct muscles when I moved (goes with mild hypermobility). I had to do very babyish exercises much of the time, but then progress snowballed. At first, the PTs were pushing a bit too hard and had to back way off, but it worked out eventually. That’s encouraging. I have such a small social circle—when 3 of my friends had surgery in a few years time—and I had that fall. I’ve been scared. I know surgery isn’t the end of the world, but I have had more than my fair share of surgeries… That sounds whiny. I know it’s going to be okay. It’s like when you jump off the high dive for the first time…and you think yay I did it…and yet it’s even scarier the next time because you know… Edited October 12, 2023 by popmom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popmom Posted October 12, 2023 Author Share Posted October 12, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, regentrude said: I had shoulder pain and had it checked out to rule out a tear, and diagnosed as a subscapularis strain. The doc gave me information about targeted PT exercises. ETA: I had an Xray but no MRI. I did them (sporadically) on my own, continued to be active and use the shoulder as I normally would, including kayaking, and the pain has mostly disappeared after several months. Thank you! That is more encouragement! I am particularly concerned about wanting to be able to exercise. I was in really good shape until my autoimmune symptoms hit several years ago. The fatigue was debilitating. The plaquenil has helped some with the fatigue, and regular exercise is also recommended for Sjogren’s. I desperately want to be able to exercise again. Edited October 12, 2023 by popmom 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 DH had shoulder pain for a long time and couldn't use the shoulder in certain directions. We looked up his limitations on google and figured out the problem and then used some PT exercises from Bob and Brad on youtube. He got some relief pretty quickly and is now 100% fine. MIL fell a couple of years ago and her shoulder does need surgery. Because of her health issues, the difficult recovery, and the lower success rate of the surgery, she's decided against surgery for now but it really does affect the quality of her life because of constant pain and limited range of motion. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 I can't use my left arm the way I can use my right arm as of February when I had my neck surgery. Anyway, I have regained lots of use of my arm. I don't have problems getting dressed anymore and can use my left hand very well, But my left shoulder subluxated and never came back. It is never in it's socket. It does hurt some but not enough for another surgery. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 My shoulder injury was obvious overuse writing on a smartboard with my arm overhead (didn't help that the smartboard is mounted too high). I saw my regular doctor, no imaging, likely tendonitis, and had 6 weeks of PT. But the real cure which took many months was no longer writing that way. I now have a standing desk and write on my laptop screen with a stylus and that projects on the whiteboard. My pain was lateral motion--lifting my arm out away from my body. I do exercise with dumbbells once a week and I still have to use lighter weights for any exercise focusing on shoulders or lifting my arms out away from my body. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 11 hours ago, Annie G said: I had a very similar issue when I moved my arm and finally saw a doctor. After imaging I did about six weeks of physical therapy and it completely cleared up. My older sister and my dad have both had similar experiences with shoulder pain and physical therapy within the last five years. Lots of issues can be resolved without surgery, and the sooner you take action, the better. Hope you feel better soon. The bolded is especially important. Dh went to his PCP for a neck issue and his doctor sent him to physical therapy. Fortunately in his case the PT said she wouldn't work on him without knowing what the issue was. As it turned out he did need surgery and therapy exercises would have actually made things worse. I'm not saying that's your issue but many doctors will want to send you to PT without first identifying the problem. I'd recommend requesting imaging before anything else. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbutton Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 10 hours ago, popmom said: That’s encouraging. I have such a small social circle—when 3 of my friends had surgery in a few years time—and I had that fall. I’ve been scared. I know surgery isn’t the end of the world, but I have had more than my fair share of surgeries… That sounds whiny. I know it’s going to be okay. It’s like when you jump off the high dive for the first time…and you think yay I did it…and yet it’s even scarier the next time because you know… Whine away. I’m terrified of any kind of surgery. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CT Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 I had increasing problems back at the height of pre-vaccine COVID when we were delaying non-essential medical appointments, but it finally got so back I went in first to my PCP and thereafter to the PT he referred me to for "frozen shoulder." The PT sent me home with a list of exercises, making me SWEAR that I'd really do them for 20 minutes every morning and night, which I religiously did through quite a lot of pain, and it finally subsided in about ~6 months. It was HARD. 18 months later I started feeling the same feels in the OTHER shoulder, le sigh. But I knew what it was this time and I knew what to do. But at about the same time I started being serious about yoga. The PT helps, but the yoga helps more. The whole "work with the breath" thing -- it's not just woo, it truly does make a difference. Good luck. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 I once hurt my right elbow while hauling mulch. I got it checked out (eventually) and was told it was inflammation and could take a while to heal. They recommended otc anti inflammatories as needed. It took a year to resolve itself. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrileyWerner Posted March 20 Share Posted March 20 (edited) I'm sorry to hear about your shoulder pain, even if it's been a year since you posted about it. Dealing with discomfort like that can be tough, especially when it affects everyday activities like pulling up your blanket. While Advil might offer temporary relief, it's essential to address the underlying issue.Considering your concerns about surgery, it's worth seeking advice from a shoulder specialist. Even though it's been a while since you posted, it's never too late to explore treatment options. Checking out the shoulder surgeon at https://www.kevinkrusemd.com/frisco-texas-shoulder-surgeon/ could provide valuable insights into your condition and potential solutions. Edited March 21 by BrileyWerner 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popmom Posted March 20 Author Share Posted March 20 I am happy to be able to update that my shoulder has improved since I posted this. I am even able to swim without it hurting. I took the advice of continuing the gentle workouts. Some yoga and resistance training. It helped. I can check that worry off my list! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted March 20 Share Posted March 20 Yay!!! So happy for you!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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