I mentioned the other day about my shoulder hurting and here is the update. A few years ago I did some work in the garden and had really bad shoulder pain afterwards. I had gone to the doctor who said it was sprained and pretty much that was it as far as treatment goes.
Ever since then, it has never been quite right and doing certain things bothers it like bench presses, shoveling or trying to start the lawn mower. The other day, it just started hurting again out of the blue without any mechanism of injury that I can think of. I could not raise my arm up at all without stabbing pain and anti-inflammatories were not doing much for the pain. It was keeping me from sleeping and not getting any better, so I went to the ortho on Saturday morning.
X-rays were negative, but I was told there was a lot going on in my shoulder. Obviously a soft tissue problem. After some other tests, the working diagnoses would be bursitis, impingement or a rotator cuff tear – possibly more than one of those together. I have weakness in the arm, so a tear is probably higher on the list. After weighing options, it was felt getting a cortisone shot would be the best course of action to start with. We have a $4,000 deductible, so an MRI would pretty much be out of pocket and a shot would be the next step after that anyway, plus it will hopefully give me some pain relief and get rid of the inflammation.
If I still have pain relief at the end of the week, then I’ll just go in for a flare. If the pain comes back then i will be scheduled for an MRI and some PT. I’m hoping it works. My arm feels about 50% better today. I hope it keeps going. I do have to take it easy with biking. I can still ride, but no really long trips this week and not many hills or really bumpy rides. At least I don’t mountain bike 😀 That means cupcake ride put off until next weekend if all goes well.
On a good note this weekend, I did get my guitar fixed and can play again! Playing doesn’t hurt very much, so I’ll take it.
ok I hate to be the one to ask this but could it be at ALL tied in with perimenopause or menopause?
it seems so odd BUT I have had so many friends with that sort of ailment stuff and it was all tied in with that at the start!
<3
I think it’s just general aging LOL
I’m sorry your shoulder is doing this but glad you’ve started a course of action. You’re much too young to be dealing with something that can be fixed so you can go on with your regularly scheduled life!
Also, because I just read the blooming post this morning, I’ve been meaning to tell you the tulips I ordered from Scheepers (based on your recommendation) were so pretty, I’m repeating the order so I can continue to fill in on my retaining wall.
You should try some Alliums as well. They are just so pretty!
Ah aging – it really stinks when you can do something and not even realize that you’re hurting yourself! I hope the shot works, but in the event you do need to have the MRI, will they give you a cash discount? I’ve found that to be true in our area – it’s still expensive, but it helps.
It’s possible. I don’t know about this particular office, but I’ll be asking for sure if I need it.
Bummer, especially about the bike riding. I had tendonitis (self-diagnosed 🙂 ) and I couldn’t even lift a drinking glass. It just went away on its own. It sounds like you might have something more complex, but here’s hoping it will go away on its own too.
Lori –
I have neck and shoulder issues also and I go to a wonderful chiropractor about every 5-6 weeks. I wonder if that might help?
So sorry Lori but glad you are least feeling better!!! Some bike riding over none is good too….
Yahoo for good news on the guitar – now for some videos from you! 🙂
HUGE HUGS!!!! Hope it keeps getting better!
I’m so sorry to hear that you are in so much pain! It’s horrible when it’s chronic and nothing helps…especially when there wasn’t a “thing” that happened to cause it really.
I hope the cortisone shot helps. I had one in my ankle years ago after I had surgery to repair the ligament and after 9 months of post-surgery pain the doc gave me the shot (which hurt like HELL!!!) and about a week later, the pain was gone and it hasn’t come back. I know a lot of people get shots in their back and it’s kind of 50-50 whether it works, but I had a good experience. I hope it helps you!!