Rotatator cuff injury

About a week and a half ago I dug my carrots/beets out for storage, I had some very large containers to put them in. I picked up the container of beets (probably a bushel and a half) and carried it to my wheelbarrel and lifted it up into it, the other containers weren't quite as heavy but were still heavy.

Well, I am suffering for it now, I believe I injured my rotator cuff on my right side, it is very painful and I cannot lift my arm very high, my left shoulder is hurting a little but not nearly as much as the right one. I also have pain in my right and left groin areas, I cannot lift my legs very high without pain, not too much fun.

So, I am wondering if anyone else has had similar injury problems and what they did. I have been taking aspirin and using a capsaisun cream on the shoulders and groin area, still in pain. As I move around after getting up it is a little better but first thing in the morning it is painful to move. I have been very strong and have lifted heavy things but I think this time I lifted way too much.

Liz

Hi Liz, sorry about your injuries. I have had several serious undiagnosed shoulder injuries with a very norrow pain free range of motion They each took about a year to resolve. I concentrated on repeating movements within the pain free range of motion which very gradually increased over months. I was young then and perhaps I did not have a tear. I would attack the problem the same way if it happened again to me. I suspect if you went to a surgeon he/she would find a tear and want to operate. Good luck with you recovery. Dennis

Hi Liz and Dennis, good tips Dennis and Liz while sitting or standing cross t
Separately both you left arm as rood your chest area with elbow relaxed downward and grab your right deltoid shoulder muscle and then try to raise your elbow up to level with your hand holding the opposite deltoid and do the same with the right arm holding your left deltoid.

I suspect you will be able to raise your right elbow and overall arm closer to even height with your right hand holding the opposite (left) deltoid than you can with your left arm, elbow and hand doing the same movement but on the opposite deltoid while holding it with your left hand.

If you have a real hard time getting your left elbow and overall arm to even height with your left hand holding the right deltoid then that is s strong indication of a rotator cuff injury and possibly a tear and you really want to get that checked out and not let it become a chronic condition.

Best wishes and let us know how you do on that little test?

Cheers!
Shannon

Shannon:

It is my right shoulder that is very painful, If I understand you correctly I am to grab my opposite shoulder== left arm grabbing my right shoulder and trying to bring my left arm up, ditto with the other side. I can grab my right shoulder with my left hand and am able to bring my left arm up, however when I do the opposite---grabbing my left shoulder with my right arm, I cannot lift my right arm up to shoulder level without lots of pain. I had a problem with my right shoulder a few years ago and it healed pretty well, but now it doesn't want to heal, it has been about 2 week. I guess I will have to see the doctor, but as I understand it that operation on the rotator cuff isn't too promising.

Dennis: I tried just a few easy exercises, but my arm hurt more the next day.

Liz

This Youtube video may help. Plenty of others related to the Rotator Cuff you all were talking about.
[www.youtube.com]

EarthClinics 3 Natural Cures for a Frozen Shoulder
[www.earthclinic.com]

P.S.
LED Lamps and pads are used for pain relief. I do have a small one that i have used on a tooth that finally had to be pulled.
Go through this search. Lots to choose from. Research LED Therapy some first too.
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Youtube Video's about LED therapy.
[www.youtube.com]



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2014 07:12PM by Todd.

Todd;

Hi, I am doing the exercise that the doctor recommended and showed, very simple, I will do this a number of times per day and see what happens, I do not want any surgery.

About the light therapy, I wonder if anyone on here has tried that and has worked for muscle pain, if so, I will get it, it is around 180.00 so I don't want to buy it and it doesn't work.

I have been putting cold compresses on my shoulder and also a pad called 'Icy Pad", this is helping somewhat.

Thanks Todd.

Research it. LED therapy has been around for a long time. NASA is one of them.
Warning. Some types of these LED's should not be looked at directly. On my unit it is the invisible spectrum.

These thing are also useful for wrinkle control.

Ebay search. A lot of them to go through. Find the one you like with Free Shipping.
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Amazon Search. Go through the Amazon comments. They don't bite their tongues, if they don't like something.
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NASA and researchers led lights health benefits search
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Hi Liz, I had a similar injury a few years ago. My injury came about by over reaching for a water bottle that had fallen to the floor in my car. I was stopped at a light and tried to pick it up to stop the rolling around while driving. Of course I was belted in so my reach was limited by the seat belt. That didn't stop me from trying to stretch a little farther to get the bottle. My efforts proved unsuccessful so I left it.(light turned green) Should have gave up sooner.

The soreness didn't begin right away but just continued to worsen over time to the point that I could not raise my right arm. It was as if my shoulder was frozen. I went to a chiropractor who practised the ART. Active release therapy. All he did was hurt me more. Next I went for physiotherapy. They were more gentle treating me with heat ultrasound and exercises designed to help increase the movement range of my shoulder. Weeks went by and nothing seemed to be working. Finally my therapist said he bring out the big guns. That turned out to be acupuncture. Well it worked, not right away but with each visit I was gaining more range of movement in my shoulder. Eventually was fully healed.

As your injury was caused by lifting something heavy, the injury is likely not the same. Having said that if regular physio doesn't seem to work It might not hurt to try the acupuncture.

Be well

Adrian

Thanks for all the comments but nothing seems to be working except for motrin or aspirin, which lasts for about 6 hours. I just can't go on this way any longer, I don't want to be taking drugs, but I am having too much pain. I am making an appointment with a doctor tomorrow. It has been 3 weeks and I am not any better, so I will see what happens. Since I have a pace maker I cannot have a MRI, I don't know if a cat scan is able to show the soft tissue.

Liz

What exercise did your Doctor give you - MD's are not usually very good on the proper exercises for muscle injuries. The correct exercises take the shoulder through its pain free range while using as little muscle action as possible.

An example of this would be to stand with arms by your sides (easier to do both arms together) - relax as much as possible - now gently rotate the arm i.e. go from the natural relaxed position of thumb side of hand facing forward to palm facing forward then the other way till little finger side of hand facing forward. Don't go in either direction until you feel pain and always stay as relaxed as possible. Repeat ten times 3/4 times a day. If you find you can do this I can give you others to add to it.

Ice can be very helpful though don't use just before exercising and keep the ice pad on no longer than twenty minutes at the time.

Sam:

I hope I understand the exercise correctly, I have done a few today, I have both shoulders hurting, my right one is much worse. I don't know if there is anything I can do for my groin area, both sides, it is painful as well. I have an appointment with a doctor this coming Monday.

If you have anymore tips for me, I will appreciate it.

Liz

Found this below on Curezone forum.
I use a couple of books, one called "Pain Free" by Pete Egoscue and another called "Stretching" by Bob Anderson for all my pain needs. Both books have come in handy for my wrist and hip injuries due to playing pickleball. Hope this helps!
Search around. You may find a free pdf of them.

Sorry for the delay in answering, Elizabeth - having a few problems at the moments.

There are three other exercises (though mobilising moves is a better term)

1) Stand with arms hanging loosely at your sides. Now raise your arms forwards fairly quickly but very smoothly and as relaxed as possible until they are at right angles to your body with hands still hip width apart. (BUT - if pain starts before that level don't go any higher and on the next 9 repetitions stop just before where the pain starts.) Now without pausing & keeping your arms at the same height move them smoothly back until they are pointing straight out to each side & return to hanging by your sides.

2) The same move but raise arms out to the sides first then forward then down.

3) Start with arms by your sides. The swing them out to the front and without stopping back down and out behind you.

With all three stop just before the point of pain and do them as relaxed as you can.

Hello Elizabeth,

My rotator cuff injury history may indicate some possible lines of approach.

I was very strong in certain weight exercises but never trained my rotator cuffs.

I got a small tear and performed all the specified exercises given to me by a specialist.

Two years later I had another pain level and the MRI showed a much bigger tear.

I then searched around for who our major sporting teams used as their injury surgeon in this kind of situation.

I found the recommended person who agreed to do me even though I was 73.

The surgery after effects were very unpleasant for months but after that I have been fine for seven years with no negative indications.

I can see you hate the idea of operations but don't imagine there are some magic exercises.

Have a proper MRI which has been viewed by a sporting surgeon expert as a starting point.

Any questions please ask.

Thanks

Alex