Left shoulder

[Franklin008]

I have had rotator cuff surgery before on my left shoulder (2005), the pain I had was mostly in my neck.  This last summer I started experiencing the same soreness in my neck but let it go hoping it woudn't be what I'd benn through before.  I tried a chiropractorn to no avail.  Saw my family practice Doctro who recommended physical therapy, by now I have knots in my neck, about a 3 inch span on the left side.  Went to an ortho doctor who ordered an MRI of the neck-nothing.  He ordered me to do another round of physical therapy on my neck, nothing helped only seemed to get worse. Convinced him to do an MRI of the left shoulder, nothing.  The pain and knots in my neck are some days excruciating.  I now also have pain and have had pain for weeks in the front of my left shoulder and down into my arm pit.  Hard to sleep at night.  I'm at a loss how to convince my doctor that I need help.  He has told me to keep trying stretches and see how that goes.  Well, that is what I've been doing for 8 months now.  Would an exploratory surgery be out of the question?

[Overtime_Qn]

I am seeing an orthopedic dr monday for left shoulder pain causing limited mobility. I saw my internal med dr in Jan and was told sounded like a pulled muscle. I was given stretching exercises and told to take ibuprofen. The stretching caused pain and the ibuprofen helped some. I now think the start began after I fell getting out of the shower last fall and later noticed neck pain or that muscle that you can pinch sometimes with a sudden movement. I, too, have to sleep with a pillow under my arm, the pain wakes me up, is under the arm pit, over the shoulder blade and once I put all my weight on my elbow stretching to put a fitted sheet on the bed and thought I would pass out from the pain. I worked alot of OT at the end of last year involving repetitive computer work/call center work and thought all was related to carpel tunnel trouble. After finding this site today, I am really anxious about getting better and thinking this may require extended time off from work.  Im glad I found this forum.  I will be better prepared for the visit tomorrow and know somewhat to expect. Thanks, Renee

[Franklin008]

Thank you for you post Lisa.  How frustrating to get no answers isn't it?  Today I'm going to head back to a chiropractor and try to stick with that for 5 or 6 timesto see if I improve at all. I went to the walk in clinic yesterday for pain pills and he gave my Flexeril (muscle relaxant)which hasn't helped any.  When I had rotator cuff surgery I could not lift my arm up farther than shoulder level and it hurt to try to style my hair etc.  I'm wondering if part of that could be scar tissue.  Once my ortho doctor went in again and removed scar tissue I had full use/movement of my arm.  I think there are alot of us out there that haven't had great success, I wish you well. Brenda in ND  (my log in name is my daughters school)

[lisafc2000]

Hi,  I had shoulder decompression surgery on Nov. 30, they removed bone spurs and a piece of my shoulder blade due to an impingement.  I hurt a lot worse now than I did before the surgery but it is more down the side of my arm now and when I wake up in the morning I can't even move my arm for a while.  I can not lift or reach behind me or reach across to my other shoulder even without being in a lot of pain.  Please let me know when you find out what you have.  I was also diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome but the surgeon doesn't want me to have the surgery for that. I hope you feel better soon.  Lisa

[JainMD]

Hi Franklin,
How are you feeling?
It feels nice that I could be of some help in getting closer to your diagnosis.
Yes, MRI imaging would show paraspinal muscle problems, but that is provided doctors are focused on muscle problem.
Yes, I feel you can get EMG done and also take help from people practicing alternative medicine.
I think Musculo-skeletal disorder specialist will help you in your issue.
Keep me informed if you have any queries in general and in particular relation to your current problem.
Bye.

[Franklin008]

Sorry that I did not tell you that the MRI report of my rotator cuff showed no abnormalities.  The MRI of my neck showed slight tightening of vertebrae or something which I dont' feel is related at all to all the muscle knots in my paraspinal muscles.  Thani you so much for giving me a name of the muscle group.  It is so much easier to call up on the internet and when I found a picture it's like "yes" that is exactly what is causing me so much pain.  I also feel like you suggested that maybe the pain under my arm is due to an impingement.  the more stretching/active I am, the worse it gets.  Would the MRI of my neck been able to detect paraspinal muscle problems?  something I read today talked of EMG scanning with a chiropractor, do you fell that can be helpful for the muscle knots?  Could you also suggest what kind of doctor would specialize in the paraspinal muscle group so I could perhaps make an appointment with that doctor?  I can't tell you how grateful I am to get some feedback and to finally feel l know a little more about what I'm feeling.  Thank you!

[JainMD]

Hi Franklin,
You said that today morning while you coughed and brought your arm up to your mouth you had severe pain in left armpit around lower front shoulder.
You also said that the knot is on back left hand side.
Your pain symptoms suggests that it might be referred pain to your armpit and your swelling at back suggests that it might be a muscle fiber tear of your paraspinal muscle.
In this muscle pathology, the nerve would have got injured or compressed hence the symptoms of radiating pain.
You have not mentioned your MRI report.
Keep me informed if you have any queries.
Bye.

[Franklin008]

The knot in the back left side of my neck is not due to any injury and has just gotten continually worse as time goes on.  That's why I'm thinking something has to be causing the knot.  As in a muscle tear or something elsewhere.  If I try to exercise at all as in walking, stair stepping, I'm so much worse.  I cannot sleep on my left side at all and have to use pillows all around pretty much to find a comfortable position.  This morning I noticed when I coughed and brough my left arm up to my mouth I had a severe pain in my left armpit/lower front shoulder.  I seem to feel the knots in my neck are somehow related to that area.   Thanks for your comments!

[JainMD]

Hi Franklin,
How are you feeling?
When you say that there is not around your left side, is the knot due to muscle pull or nerve injury or some ligament tear.
What is being reported on MRI?
I think either it could be due nerve impingement syndrome.
You should be doing imaging study like X-rays—including antero-posterior (AP) and lateral views of the shoulder in internal and external rotation, scapular outlet view, and axillary view—are often indicated.
Conservative treatment is usually successful and includes rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical therapy, and/or a subacromial injection of corticosteroid and anesthetic.
In the case of a calcification causing the tendonitis, ultrasound guided aspiration and lavage of the calcification has shown good results. Surgical treatment is reserved for refractory cases that have failed at least 3 months of conservative care.
Hope this helps.
Keep me informed if you have any queries.
Bye.