Shoulder Pain

[country_angel_heart]

I'm a 34 yo paraplegic. I've been using a manual wheelchair for about 24 years now. In Oct/Nov 07 I started having pain in my armpit area. I was in a car accident in Dec 07 in which I got whiplash. However, I recovered from that in March 07 but still had the armpit pain. In about April 07 the pain moved into both my shoulders. It's almost unbarable at times. I went to my GP which thought it was rotar cuff tears in both shoulders. He then sent me to an Ortho. The Ortho said it probably wasn't rotar cuff tears because I have too much movement for that. I explained how much pain I'm in. I feel weak in my arms too. It's difficult for me to pick up heavy objects without hurting. Once I was in the store attempting to pick up a 12 pack of soda and dropped it cuz the pain was so bad. He gave me a cortisone shot in both shoulders. I thought the one in my right shoulder helped but after a day or so I was in the same amount of pain as before the shots. I'm scheduled for an MRI on both shoulders. Some days are more bareable than others. But there are days where it hurts too much to even move at all. Does anyone have any ideas what this could be???

[JainMD]

Hi Shasha,
How are you feeling now?
I think of few possibilities like either it can be Impingement syndrome and rotator cuff disease.
Before I proceed I would like to know few things.
Where is your pain actually? What movements, if any, exacerbate your pain?
Does your shoulder ever give way? Did your shoulder previously have pain, but is now only stiff?
How long have you had your shoulder pain and have you tried anything to help it?
Any imaging studies which are been done. I would be interested to know.
Bye.

[shasha1974]

My husband used a manual chair since his injury in 1967.  He was 18 at the time and the docs all told him there was no need for an electric wheelchair (which weren't that common then anyway) because he had 2 good arms to use as motors.  That was very good advise for the short term.  However, after 35 yrs of working those joints to compensate for appendages that didn't work, his rotator cuffs were too worn out to do anything about.  NOW....I hope docs are suggesting use of electric wheelchairs for folks with long term injuries.  The manual chair gave him the muscles that made me take that 2nd and 3rd and....well, ya know...and it was easier to manage.  I just wish we'd known to give those arms some rest from time to time.  There NEEDS to be more research on long term injuries.

Sorry.....I got on a soapbox and ignored what I wanted to tell ya. My husband has some symptoms several yrs ago and was found to have a syrinx (cyst in spinal cord).  The neurologist in Atlanta said it was pretty common with old injuries.  That's not trying to diagnose you.  It's just a suggestion to have the MRI concentrate on the entire back...not just the shoulders.  I don't take anything for granted in medical testing or consults anymore.  Research.  Keep a simple diary of aches and pains, meds and changes that bug ya.  
God bless!
Shasha