I developed sharp shoulder pain 4 nights ago after having been in a recliner with my arms up over my head. When I took them down is when the pain started. I had an appt. with my thyroid doc the next day and he just said it was most likely tendonitis, take ibuprofen and apply cold. I've been doing that but my arm seems worse as time goes on. Is it normal for me to have my arm just "glued" in L shape against my body? It still hurts when resting it like this, but is the least hurting position. I can't just dangle it, I can't lift it up--if I try, the sharp pain is bad. When just resting, my whole upper arm aches. I usually use my opposite arm to lift or move my hurting arm. Does all of this sound normal for tendonitis? Many years ago I would shoot hoops with my kids and hurt my shoulder, so that I couldn't lift it overhead without pain. It finally went away after a year or so(I just didn't shoot hoops anymore!). But when I had that, at least my arm didn't hurt when it was down and being used. This new injury just seems so much worse.
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Is this normal for shoulder tendonitis?
- Thread starter twone
- Start date
scatteredpolaroids
New member
sounds exactly like my pain when I had problems with my rotator cuff. Mine was so bad I went for physical therapy and even had a cortisone injection, but I would start with taking anti-inflammatories for a few days and putting heat on it (ice only works well for the few days after you initially injure it, which in some cases like mine you can't pinpoint a specific injury!). You don't want to not use the arm at all, as it can work against you, but be careful not to exert yourself with that arm and further irritate it.
Sounds like it could be tendonitis or bursitis. Also, try searching Shoulder Impingement.
I didn't have a specific injury either. Upper movements hurt a lot and I eventually had trouble with ROM. With the Impingement, it also resulted in Tendonitis and Bursitis. Ice and anti-inflammatory is a standard first step. My next step was PT, then I started seeing an Orthopedic surgeon. From what I understand, most people have good success with the PT. I had some temporary success with Cortizone, massage and TENS also. If the icing, anti-inflammatories and PT don't help, you may need a shoulder x-ray and MRI to see if there is a more serious problem.
I didn't have a specific injury either. Upper movements hurt a lot and I eventually had trouble with ROM. With the Impingement, it also resulted in Tendonitis and Bursitis. Ice and anti-inflammatory is a standard first step. My next step was PT, then I started seeing an Orthopedic surgeon. From what I understand, most people have good success with the PT. I had some temporary success with Cortizone, massage and TENS also. If the icing, anti-inflammatories and PT don't help, you may need a shoulder x-ray and MRI to see if there is a more serious problem.
xxforeverrxx
New member
I've battled chronic shoulder tendinitis and bursitis for 30 years, torn the rotator cuff and had AC joint excisions on both sides so I've learned a little about shoulders the hard way.
You have 2 sets of tendons in the shoulder. The top layer are for the big muscles of the arm...biceps, triceps, deltoid. The biceps tendon can be felt on the front of the upper arm going up toward the shoulder. The deltoid tendons are on top of the shoulder and attach to the collar bone and shoulder blade. The triceps rarely gets tendinitis. Feel these(front and top) and see if they are tender.
If they aren't, then it could be rotator cuff tendons. These are deep underneath. What the rotator cuff does is it allows you to rotate your hand and arm almost 360*. Let your arm hang down straight. Turn your hand so your open palm is facing forward and slightly out then turn your hand and whole arm all the way around so your palm is facing straight out to the side(almost a 360* turn) and see if that hurts. If so, it may be rotator cuff tendintis.
If you press on the top of your shoulder just to the outside of where the collar bone touches the shoulder blade(follow your collar bone up to the end then go out) and that hurts...it's bursitis. There's a HUGE bursa under the joint there known as the AC joint(acromioclavicular joint).
Any of these can be remedied with a cortisone shot and they don't hurt as much as you think...certainly less than the pain you're in now.
But if none of that seems to hit the spot, I'd go see a doc and get it examined. It's way too easy to dislocate something or tear a tendon or pinch a nerve. And the longer you wait, the tougher it maybe to fix. I dislocated my collar bone and didn't even notice it until the doc asked me how I did it. I asked...did what. Then he pointed out the dislocation. Dumb!
And don't put your arms up over your head again while in the recliner. My husband does that and it always leads to major pain in his aging joints. You'd think he'd learn from his wife!
good luck and if you have questions, I'm around..........Jenny
You have 2 sets of tendons in the shoulder. The top layer are for the big muscles of the arm...biceps, triceps, deltoid. The biceps tendon can be felt on the front of the upper arm going up toward the shoulder. The deltoid tendons are on top of the shoulder and attach to the collar bone and shoulder blade. The triceps rarely gets tendinitis. Feel these(front and top) and see if they are tender.
If they aren't, then it could be rotator cuff tendons. These are deep underneath. What the rotator cuff does is it allows you to rotate your hand and arm almost 360*. Let your arm hang down straight. Turn your hand so your open palm is facing forward and slightly out then turn your hand and whole arm all the way around so your palm is facing straight out to the side(almost a 360* turn) and see if that hurts. If so, it may be rotator cuff tendintis.
If you press on the top of your shoulder just to the outside of where the collar bone touches the shoulder blade(follow your collar bone up to the end then go out) and that hurts...it's bursitis. There's a HUGE bursa under the joint there known as the AC joint(acromioclavicular joint).
Any of these can be remedied with a cortisone shot and they don't hurt as much as you think...certainly less than the pain you're in now.
But if none of that seems to hit the spot, I'd go see a doc and get it examined. It's way too easy to dislocate something or tear a tendon or pinch a nerve. And the longer you wait, the tougher it maybe to fix. I dislocated my collar bone and didn't even notice it until the doc asked me how I did it. I asked...did what. Then he pointed out the dislocation. Dumb!
And don't put your arms up over your head again while in the recliner. My husband does that and it always leads to major pain in his aging joints. You'd think he'd learn from his wife!
good luck and if you have questions, I'm around..........Jenny