please help! I am 51 female and seem to have a debilitating problem, with a lot of conflicting advice. Dr says push through the pain, keep it moving. Physio says DONT.
History/symptoms. 11 months ago I was picking up some groceries and suddenly got a really sharp pain in myshoulder - sort of very high upper/outer arm area. I screeched but the pain only lasted a few seconds. Having said that, from that momnet on I couldnt lift my arm up from my side. Every time I tried it was like it just wouldnt go, the same sudden piercing stabbing pain would stop it. I put up with it for 6 weeks before finally going to the doctor, I figured it was a pulled msucle and time would fix. Also from that day on I was totally unable to lift my arm in any direction, if lying down. Heavy, and the same sudden yelping type pain. I mean the only way you could tell I tried to lift was f you placed yor hand over the shoulder and felt it, the lift was so slight you couldnt tell it had at all! Lying down I can lift about half a centimeter - at most. This makes sleep hell !!!! every time I flinch it in my sleep I cry out. Standing, i can lift it to the side about 12 inches - on a good day. Sitting down, but leaning slightly back, I cant lift it from my lap - unless sitting very straight upright eg if resting back on the lounge with my laptop, I have to use my left arm to lift my right one onto the keyboard. If not moving I had no pain. Over recent months though, I now have a more ongoing pain as well even at rest, it burns. I have had to compensate a lot by using my left arm (which now has the same burning sensation but full movement) and by using my right arm more from the elbow. That tendon on my forearm is now also agonsiing (overuse I guess).. Now, when I extend my right arm out, I get bad tingling in my thumb and the two fingers beside it. Its like the symptoms are now spreading down to toher areas of my arm (due I guess to the way I now have to use it).
I have had cortisone injections into the shoulder (5 over 6 months) and physio. still it worsens. I cannot take anti inflammatories (the only thing that relieves the pain) as I have kidney disease. I am even on oxycodone now and that does nothing at all!!! It helps sedate me at night so I am not as inclined to move my arm in my sleep but gives no pain relief.
I have heard a lot of terms bursitis, rotator cuff, supra something tendonits. What on earth have I done??? REcnetly I also noticed it is now starting to click.
Need some advice here as there are now big probelms in my "good" arm due to having to take the whole load for 11 months!!! I dont understand how picking up two grocery bags can do all this!!
re adivce. One says suck it up and push past the pain, the other says do not - move it passively though to prevent the shoulder freezing, two very different lots of advice!