Deltoid injury?

[Catrin]

I've probably (hopefully) just tweaked my bad shoulder yesterday, but I woke this morning with pain in my upper arm - shooting pain in all directions until I actually got up. It is, basically, fine now, though I am aware that at least something was tweaked. It doesn't actually hurt or throb, just doesn't feel right. My assumption is that if I really HAVE torn the rotator cuff, that I would have known it during my workout yesterday morning, or at least soon afterwards. I don't THINK it would have waited almost 24 hours to present itself and it did not hurt to dress this morning, including fastening my bra so that is a good sign.

The pain is more on the side of my deltoid than anything, though I wonder of the "shooting" nature of it when still in bed was actually nerve. Probably too late to ice...and I HAVE to go to the office today for a 12 hour work-day - too many deadlines and I am the only one in my office who can do the work.

Hoping a couple of days taking it easy will address it. An MRI isn't in my budget right now...not with a move coming!

If anyone HAS had this type of injury, any tips on self care? I WILL get it checked out if it doesn't ease by Tuesday. I am currently considering if riding tomorrow is a good idea, but will have to see. As upright as my riding position is I hope that means I will be able to.

[Crankin]

Catrin, I have no advice for a deltoid injury, but, please be careful. You've had so many injuries...

[Catrin]

Catrin, I have no advice for a deltoid injury, but, please be careful. You've had so many injuries...

Sadly, yes, but all of them combined (excepting the neck injury perhaps) is better than my physical condition + diabetes onset before I started exercising and lost the weight. I figure that either way injuries will come, and I would prefer they come from being active. I THINK I know what happened yesterday and I won't be doing that particular exercise again (pushups on an unstable surface). I USED to feel 90 years old and couldn't walk up a single flight of stairs...NOW I can do things that I once would have never dreamed of.

At least I no longer ignore injuries when they happen

[Crankin]

Good! I would not be one to tell you to stop exercising.
Like the doctor who told me to "just ride 5 miles and gain 10 pounds" a few years ago, when I was having some medical issues. Yeah, so I could be like him, and ride around town with my gut hanging out over my shorts .

[Catrin]

I HAVE decided to go ahead and get the MRI. If nothing else the hospital will allow me to make payments. There have been too many problems with this shoulder, and while it is better in some ways than it was a year ago, in other ways it isn't. It would be good to know exactly what is going on with it and determine, realistically, how much stronger it can get. Surgery is NOT an option as long as I can use it! I do know my neck injury affects it... My doctor has been encouraging me to get the imaging for the last 6 months.

[OakLeaf]

Hope you get some answers.

Finding a balance when you're not 100% is very difficult.

[Catrin]

Hope you get some answers.

Finding a balance when you're not 100% is very difficult.

Yes it is, which is why I've been resistant to getting the very expensive pictures. The trick will be on finding the right specialist to examine them - since for so many surgery is the automatic outcome. I simply need to know exactly what is wrong and what I can realistically expect. From my experience the gym activities are helping it a lot - as long as it isn't anything overhead. Functionally speaking I am scre@ed for anything overhead and that can be a problem when you live along. Frankly I don't care if I can't press my weight in an overhead squat - I DO care if I can't perform normal functional movements - especially since I live alone. This particular shoulder tweak is getting my attention...

[Sky King]

Just a thought but you know your body. Are you over thinking this? Would a massage or trip to PT be a less expensive visit. I have similar issues and a nice massage - sometimes w/ hot stones or hot cups and ASTEM treatment from the PT does wonders to redirect my muscles fibers and loosen the muscle

[Catrin]

Just a thought but you know your body. Are you over thinking this? Would a massage or trip to PT be a less expensive visit. I have similar issues and a nice massage - sometimes w/ hot stones or hot cups and ASTEM treatment from the PT does wonders to redirect my muscles fibers and loosen the muscle

It would be nice if PT WOULD help my shoulder, but it never has - and I've been in PT with multiple therapists for months on this very shoulder. The mobility work I do HAS helped in some areas. We KNOW there is a physical problem with my shoulder, it is time to figure it out. Part of it is indeed muscular and connective fiber related - but it is time to know if there is anything else going on. Thankfully the MRI isn't THAT expensive, I only have to pay 20% of it...and it is a good diagnostic tool. I DO know that I've never experienced anything like the pain I had last night. Ever, and that included when I broke my upper arm and collar bone. That is why it has my attention.

[goldfinch]

It is time for the MRI.

I tore my rotator cuff many years ago. I didn't know it for several years.

[Catrin]

It is time for the MRI.

I tore my rotator cuff many years ago. I didn't know it for several years.

This is what I am afraid of. Surgery just is not an option but I refuse to worry about this just yet. Hopefully it's just an inflamned tendon, but time will tell. Of course Even a torn cuff does not always require the "s" word...

[OakLeaf]

Surgery just is not an option.

I'm very opposed to surgery and any type of invasive intervention in general, but that doesn't mean that in specific cases it can't be beneficial. I hope you will keep an open mind about it.

[Catrin]

I just returned from my Osteopath and with good news. No expensive pictures or consults required Apparently my rotator cuff, biceps tendon and even my deltoid are not the problem (he did a wide variety of tests for these). The problem turns out to be my pec minor and there is some inflammation/tendinitis there. Ice, topical medication that he provided, and if it doesn't ease in a reasonable time period I've a referral to a massage therapist who does trigger point therapy. He offered an injection but I turned it down, though I might revisit that idea. My mobility work is targeting the area he thinks is most responsible, and he wants me to continue as I am - keep exercising and just don't do what hurts!

I am, however, taking a couple of days off... He also suggested acupuncture, but I am less likely to go that direction. Something about needles... I wanted to do other things tomorrow, perhaps a very gentle yoga class I've heard about to just get some movement in. If I can sleep well tonight without pain then I will consider it. I suppose that I need to learn to sleep on my back...

[Catrin]

If I had a torn rotator cuff, I wouldn't attempt push-ups. I would, however, do exercises that worked the area doing something that has less inherent risk of injury. My reaction to your first post was exactly the same as Crankin's.

Maybe it's time to learn to exercise in a new way? Something a little more deliberate and controlled? Then you could approach the types of exercises you are doing now with an increased understanding of your own kinesiology. An injury every few years, fine. Several per year? Not so much.

Thankfully no torn rotator cuff, just tendinitis in my pec minor (Pec Minor Syndrome) and the cuff appears to be fine He thinks the underlying cause of the tendinitis is actually the underlying cause of my dysfunctional shoulder and THAT is progress as this is the first time we've had an idea what that cause might be.

I won't be doing pushups or pressing/overhead activities until the inflammation goes away - and then I will revisit that decision. It was just SO painful last night that it really got my attention and I thought it was my rotator cuff. This year I've tried to be much better in focusing on not doing what hurts - and trying to keep my ego out of it. I've only recently added pushups back in, and obviously that was a mistake. Apparently I also need to stop sleeping on my side.

SO thankful that this doesn't appear to be on the same scale as the injuries from 2010-2011. This IS my first new injury since the whiplash injury in late 2011, which still isn't right... The PT this last winter was due to a long-term dysfunctional shoulder, not a new injury. They just keep on giving :\

[ridebikeme]

Glad to hear that perhaps your injury isn't as serious as previously thought, although I'm certainly trying not to minmilize it either. Good luck with your treatment!

IN addition to the shop, I also work as a personal trainer at a nearby hospital. I love that it seems that many people are interested in fitness and many like the CrossFit type of workouts! I LOVE the energy both physically and mentally. But with lots of different types of exercise, we definitely have to be careful with some of the movements. I see this all the time with people watching Youtube videos, and trying to to duplicate the same movement themselves. Some certainly are very good, but others are definietly putting our bodies in position for potential injuries.

Anyway, I know I got on another subject altogether, but take care and keep us informed!