Posted on 01/11/2019 9:32:29 AM PST by fireman15
Some shoulder conditions may become more common as you age.
You probably don't think about your shoulders much, until you suddenly experience pain in one of them. Shoulder pain can make a simple act — brushing and drying your hair, reaching behind your back to fasten a bra, or grabbing something overhead — seem like a monumental task.
As you age, you're more likely to experience shoulder pain from a variety of common conditions. "Shoulder problems are very common," says Dr. Arun Ramappa, associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Harvard Medical School. The pain can come on gradually or abruptly, and it may range from mild to excruciating. Below are some of the most common conditions you may encounter, and some tips for how to address them.
Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that help tether your shoulder into the socket and allow you to move it in a circular motion. Some two million people visit a doctor each year for rotator cuff–related issues, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery (AAOS). Most problems with the rotator cuff fall into two categories: tears or inflammation. Suspect a rotator cuff problem if you have pain or stiffness in your shoulder when you lift your arm above your head to brush your hair or when you reach behind your back. "You won't be able to do a lot of things you want to do, such as put dishes in an upper cabinet, play tennis, or do garden pruning," says Dr. Ramappa.
(Excerpt) Read more at health.harvard.edu ...
My shoulder has hurt for 25 years.
Believe me doing pushups, etc. are not an option for me yet. But my condition seems to be improving greatly as of this morning. I have got a whole lot of work to get done and can't afford to have this thing put me out of commission for very long.
I need to do a little work on the way my generator is mounted so that I can pull start it without keeping one hand on it. But I think that the primary injury was caused by the violent pull back on the cord caused by using starter fluid in those big old two cycle Stihl chain saw motors. I bought them used and they had already seen some hard use.
I have been using a hot pad, Tylenol and avoiding painful positions and luckily it seems to be healing. I think I am going to go buy a little electric chainsaw to finish cleaning up the current mess. I have some more bug diameter stuff to cut up, but it can wait for a month or two.
If I had taken a fall and noted pain almost immediately, then I would have been more worried. This pain didn't start getting bad until a few hours later and then progressively got worse until I felt like an invalid and couldn't do anything. And then it was pretty bad for two days with little improvement. But it seems like its getting better now and I will just be a little more considerate to myself in the future.
I tried to teach myself how to hang glide and my back has hurt for 35 years.
I use an infrared light. It looks like an old computer moniter. I bought it from Amazon. Especially use it before exercising.
Slipped and fell while shoveling snow 3 years ago. Tore my socket off the bone on my right shoulder, to the socket on my left. Both needed surgery to repair.
Night time Advil was the only way that I could get through the night before surgery. My advice, get a couple of small pillows to prop your arm. Considering the pain and lack of motion, I highly recommend seeing a shoulder specialist.
The good news is that since the surgeries, most of the night time pain is gone and I am only waking up stiff and needing to stretch.
My older brother (68) had a reverse shoulder replacement last year due to rotator cuff and other issues with the joint. His ball of the ball and socket joint is now firmly attached to his shoulder bones/tendons/muscles and the socket is at the north end of the humerus. They did 3D imaging of his joint and had a computer custom design & make the whole thing.
“This getting older stuff (58 in about 3 months) really sucks...but it beats the alternative.”
—
LOL-—you are the age of my oldest “child”.
Lots of GREAT days ahead.
.
“Lots of GREAT days ahead.”
Best of luck to you.
Pain since Oct 2018. I have a bone spur in the neck. Pinched nerve pain from neck to left arm. Forearm tingles and it feels like someone has a tight grip on the arm. Pain under the shoulder blade.
80% less pain now due to exercise like stretching, chin tuck, raising arms straight over head. Do this in bed and it really works. Use this memory form pillow (Slim Sleeper 2.7” thick.
Ibuprofen 200mg x 4 and twice a day.
Turmeric with black pepper.
I use a Ten device for electronic massage. It really works. Slap the pads on either side of the spine and bring the intensity up half way. Very long lasting battery. I ran it once last week for 4/hrs and the battery hardly drained.
Easy Home Pro EHE012PRO
https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Home-Professional-Electronic-EHE012PRO/dp/B01MXSPBUW/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1547236467&sr=1-1&keywords=easy+home+ehe012pro
Drop the Tylenol, it’s just liver poison. Use motrin, alleve, asprin or another nsaid.(p)
Could be tendonitis or bursitis which rest and pt would clear up or a shot of cortizone.(p)
Hurt my shoulder 3 mos ago at the gym and finally seeing an ortho next week.
Oh, and a TENS unit is very helpful.
Had to stop doing push ups in my mid 50s because they caused my right shoulder to feel like it was becoming unhooked at the collar bone. Torture. Had been doing them since I was 15 along with weightlifting. Weightlifting still doesn't bother me at 72. Don't know what it is about the specific motion needed for push ups.
What is your arm/elbow position (elbows splayed out vs flush with torso)? How far in/out are your hands?
cortisone is one thing. but if your rotor cuff is torn - as seen by an MRI - then surgery is the only real option. Tears do not just heal, they get worse.
Orthopedic/sports medicine doctors are not always reliable in their diagnosis. See an orthopedic surgeon. - preferably one with good referrals. Ask around for others who have had similar surgery, about their experience, and their doctor.
Always get a second opinion - preferably from a different hospital group/chain.
BTTT
My story may or may not be helpful. If it is it’s probably the second part.
Im played sports where I threw, shot, and toddies a lot. My right arm. Then I played volleyball as an adult and could get above the net, again with right arm. Had a job where I pulled mechanical levers down about 1,000 rimes a day, mostly right arm. Bursitis at 40 and seemed to go away.
Last year at 71, had pain in right shoulder, every time I lifted my elbow or reached. Dr. says go to therapy. They gave me exercises to STRENGTHEN my right shoulder. Pain got worse. MRI, X-ray visit to orthopedist. Orthopedist says, don’t strengthen, stretch. Gave me three different exercises. Pain went away.
Good luck
Let it rest. The real test is if you can reach behind your back to touch the opposite shoulder blade. When I had my tear I could touch it but once I brought my arm back around the pain would build until I was almost in tears. Have you been icing it?
If there is a next time take the chain saws inside or warm them up in a vehicle before starting. Even more important is to cycle fresh fuel mix with a stabilizer through annually, at least.
Also, to those recommending ibuprofen, I strongly suggest naproxen instead. Once every 12 hours. Saves a lot of aggravation of the GI tract. I can not take even one ibuprofen now after being told to take it every four hours round-the-clock in the past. But naproxen, no problem. Acetaminophen, of course, is pretty good pain relief but is not an anti-inflammatory.
Also, try CBD for the pain (just “ribbing” you). Get well.
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