A friend with claustrophobia said the same is true about being in a cast -- the feeling of an arm or leg "trapped" in a cast is enough to cause an anxiety attack.

I was recently on an airplane that was parked on a runway, where they turned off the air conditiong - in fact, any air circulation at all - it got hot and stuffy and I was getting the feeling that going through that emergency exit door was a pretty good idea. Nora said she had some "medicine" that would help - fortunately, they turned things back on.

I injured my right shoulder chipping ice off the driveway. Pain built over a period of months, to the point that I had very limited range of motion. My doc thought I had a partial tear, and I got a contrast MRI. No tear, just initial pain led to limiting use, which led to frozen shoulder. He sent me to a PT that helped "unfreeze" the shoulder over several weeks. REALLY painful. Shoulder is pretty good now.

Your doc really won't know without an MRI. You can try going the PT route and hope there is no underlying damage that the PT exacerbates. But keep taking the Ibuprofen as you go through therapy.

My ortho doc is the team physician for US Rowing and several college and pro teams here in NJ. He really knows his shoulders, and did operations on my youngest daughter's shoulders to tighten the capsules after years of competitive swimming.

We need to get the mods to open a Rotator Cuff sticky or something. Same issue here from a 10 mph over the bar crash almost 2 years ago. Good discussion.

Apologies! No, I don't have it. I did fidget in the MRI, but not the fear you're talking about. I assumed it was the same.

Tendinitis vs. tendonitis

I've been doing some reading and found some articles saying that most cases of tendinitis are actually tendinosis. I'm suspecting I'm one of those cases, since my pain hasn't improved at all using the conventional RICE method (except Elevation ---- I can't keep my arm above my head most of the time).

Can't believe how timely this is. My rotator cuff tendinitis was diagnosed just YESTERDAY.
I haven't been on this forum in a while and then today I find this discussion.

Yen - I had a very similar experience...my shoulder ached for a couple of months but nothing too bad (hurt when I slept on it or reached behind my back) but in mid September I developed a sore bicep - felt just as you described it - like someone had punched me HARD in the deltoid. But I have no memory of any injury or traumatic event.
I did not want to take Advil since it did not hurt all the time- it only hurt when I moved my arm in certain ways. I figured it would get better with time but instead it got worse - worse pain and more movements that made it hurt. Finally saw the MD yesterday.

The MD is sending me for PT AND put me on twice a day prescription anti-inflammatory for one month. It already feels better after only 2 doses (maye I should have started the advil 3 months ago before it got this far??)

Looking forward to PT so I can find out what to do and NOT to do in the future, but I am really hoping I won't need to take the medicine anymore.

But not happy to hear this may be a recurring problem:(

Friends warned me recovery takes about 18 months, and sure enough that's about what it took. You simply cannot do whatever movement causes the pain, even if this means giving up a hobby for awhile. This is NOT one of those things you can work through. Note that if you're not aggravating it, by definition you don't need painkillers. (I did use ice packs during the first few days). I found stretches that worked, never sought professional help. Now, (at 63) my shoulders are stronger than ever, e.g. I can do dumbbell flies with 35 pounders.

Incidentally, the stretch that worked best I discovered by accident: I'm a truck driver and I was lifting the hood during my usual pre-trip and I noticed how good it felt as I pushed it smoothly and slowly above my head to full extension, then held it a few seconds. I attribute my recovery to a combination of time (patience) and this one stretch, and I continue to do it every morning, counterbalancing it with other stretches like pulling. (The only problem is I can't think of a way to duplicate this particular stretch in the gym! Maybe a standing press with a light bar). In fact I stretch at every opportunity during the day - I believe it helps prevent injuries in general. Listen to your body.

Wow, that is amazing! I almost didn't post this, thinking it's too OT. But as I explained above, arm signals are painful while on the bike, so it's related enough.

UPDATE:
I saw the ortho doc on Tuesday. There is no improvement -- in fact, the pain seems to have migrated further up and around the arm. Some movements are much more painful, including driving (I drive a stick shift). He gave me an order to start PT 3x/week for 4 weeks, and I already have an appt. on Monday morning at a place that treats a lot of sports injury.

Yes, it just continues to get worse until you do something to make it better. Try putting the top down with one hand on a Mazda Miata when you have a shoulder problem. I did this - once - and almost passed out. It was getting so bad that I had referred pain throbbing in my hand and back, just sitting on the couch in the evening. Good luck with your therapy!

My PT begins tomorrow morning. Working on the slide show the past week, I could feel new shooting pains high in the shoulder. Hoping for the best!

I have a similar pain in the same place plus rotator cuff aches too . Have had it on and off for decades.

The pain is not continuous and comes and goes. Worst at night. It does best when it's well exercised. I have to be careful in my weight training to do it regularly and if I do gap it, to build the weights back up up slowly. It's definitely a damaged tendon in my case, or was some years ago. I'm skeptical your doctor really knows with out at least an mri.

It could be a congenital problem. Mine was and it was operated on some 12 years ago as the mri showed a damaged tendon which the x-ray missed. The mri didn't reveal the extent of the damage. The tendon was sewed up.

For some strange reason a nylon/Velcro armband around the forearm just below the elbow of the type to mitigate tennis-elbow mitigates the pain of the rotator cuff/mid-upper arm. Go figure. I wear the band cycling and weight training or while doing any heavy work around the house when I get a flare up. It's gotten worse with age so I may have to see about another mri.

First though, I've got this book on order:

http://www.amazon.com/Treat-Your-Own...1080797&sr=1-1

It's apparently poorly written and poorly organized, but it's helped a lot of the reviewers. I always do the self-help before letting the medical types have a crack at it. Generally that works very well.

Each case is different and diagnosis with out an mri or operation to look inside is not all that reliable. However, Keeping the area exercised is generally more effective then letting it atrophy. Also, the perceived location of the pain is sometimes not the location of the actual damage.

Al

I tore my Teres Minor tendon canoeing about 20 years ago in my left shoulder and had quite the time with pain until I had a couple acupuncture sessions. After all the PT I still had spasm which the acupuncture managed to relieve. Last year, I tore my Supraspinatus Tendon in the same shoulder while rowing my raft down the Grand Canyon. I went through PT for that and now, for the most part, I am pain free. I have to be careful though as to how I use the joint so I don't isolate that muscle since the tendon will never be 100%.

Do the PT, everyday, and try to continue those exercises at least a couple times a week after the shoulder feels better. The exercise movements are generally the low resistance range of motion type and don't take much time but make a big difference.

First day of PT was interesting. The PT confirmed my belief that I have tendinosis, not tendinitis ("tendinitis doesn't last this long").

Based on the objective/subjective observations, he also believes there is a partial tear in one of the rotator cuff muscles.

I did several different exercises, some of which I am to do at home on days when I don't go to PT. This morning, my triceps hurt more than the last time I did an upper-body work-out at the gym (2 months ago).

I was asked to do a modified sideways plank (on my knees rather than my feet). I couldn't do that for even a second without a lot of pain (2 months ago I could do that for at least 1 minute on each side, pain-free). The PT was very surprised (I wasn't), then said "We have a lot of work to do...". If he thought I should be able to do that, and then was surprised when I couldn't, I wonder if there's something else going on or if things are worse than they suspect.

Or, I might just cancel the rest of the PT and get this book... the reviews are very impressive.

Timely topic and great thread. I have developed the same problem just in the past few weeks.

I wonder how he can tell the difference between muscle tear and tendon tear. Pure speculation?

I too have difficulty with the side plank. However, my next phase is build up to doing them as they are good core for mountain biking. An advantage of rehabilitating ones self is that you are more free to experiment and can adjust more quickly to how you respond. I've done far better by being "in charge" for all my medical issues.

PT is more of a one size fits all deal based on my and my wife's limited experiences. However, I am seriously biased against P therapists as I am nutritionists based on the experience. I'm also very skeptical of doctors.

When I had the shoulder/cuff operation, I had a deal with the surgeon that there was to be no PT. He was to train me on the exercises and I'd take care of it. Within about 5-months I was canoeing well again. And that's from an almost completely severed tendon. Sure it still hurt some, But that lasted for maybe a few months more.

I tend to push things and work with the doctors to set my upper limits.

Al

Well Kids, I don't want to put to fine a point on it, but I notice that mine gets really sore if I spend too much time on my laptop.:innocent:

Well, PT exercise can't be more boring but they seem very effective. Today, my triceps hurt from yesterday's subtle moves as much as they did after an upper-body workout at the gym. Planks, resistance bands, core ball.... I'm looking forward to the results.

Glad I started this post since it seems to apply to so many of us. Yesterday while sitting in the chair with a heating pad over my shoulder, the man next to me said "Rotator cuff? Seems to be common."

You can ride a laptop? Wha kind of saddle? How long is your top tube?

I had to raise the mouse about 2" on my pc. That helped a lot. I think it had to do with the height of the chair arms.

Al

Did you start PT yet? If so, how's it going?

I opened the book at the link and viewed the exercises. My shoulder would be screaming after just 1 rep of any of those exercises. Every week, in spite of the gentle PT exercises (currently, working on scapular function), my pain worsens and I'm able to do less without pain. This week, I can't lift the ladle to take a scoop of oatmeal without pain, while last week that action was pain-free.

Thanks for the recommendation though; it's interesting that it helped you but not me.

I'm considering ordering this book. After several weeks of very gentle PT exercises (low-resistance bands, no weights, stretching), the pain in my shoulder has consistently worsened with each passing week. Even after the exercises with the least-resistant bands, done very gently without pain, my shoulder feels worse the next day.

My shoulder feels good only when I do no exercises at all, and pretty much nothing else. I'm not riding or gardening --- just doing the regular daily activities (computer work with good posture and ergonomics, light grocery shopping, light dish-washing, laundry, etc), and driving my car (with manual transmission). Little things aggravate it.

Last night, my PT told me he feels that surgery seems inevitable due to the very narrow space between my acromion and the RC cuff (the tears are in that area). He recommended 3 options:

- Continue going to PT until my next doctor appointment on Feb. 22.
- Stop going to PT, but do the exercises on my own at home until my next doc appt.
- Stop altogether, and recommend surgery ASAP.

I am motivated enough to do the exercises on my own at home. I feel discouraged that I'm one of the small % who do not respond to therapy, but am willing to have the surgery if it provides the best long-term results.

Definitely read the book before you go for surgery. I had surgery about 15 years ago as it was considered a congenital issue. It worked. About 90% cure best I can estimate. It got me back to paddling and it lasted about 15 years.

However, I've made so much progress with the book and with the data in the book that indicates that surgery is rarely better than pt, I wonder if I needed surgery after all. Then my daughter got it and has had the same results.

Johnson is a practicing pt at Emory University hospital in Atlanta. In his knee book, he's got a nice forward by the chairman of Emory U Med School department of orthopaedics.

Al

Surgery on left shoulder one month ago today. I have been in PT since two days after the sugery. The Ortho wanted me to start right away. All the visits have included mainly passive exercises with the use of some bands and walking fingers up the wall. I was very guarded the first few times and it was fairly painful when the PT folks stretched (tortured) my arm. Since the first couple weeks things are easier. I do a lot of range of motion stuff and the pain has subsided for the most part. It does still ache when I do too much, but it is manageable. I was told I could expect a sling for 6 to 12 weeks but after the first visit at the 10 day mark the doc took the stitches out and to told me I could get rid of the sling. I guess he liked the progress. I still wear it when I do my power walking as to not irritate the shoulder from the repetition, but other than that I do not wear it. The bike is another matter. I am still looking at mid feb at the earliest. I am told I can't start any lifting for a couple more weeks and even then very light. I got the point today when I lifted an old crt with the majority of the weight on my "good" shoulder. It was too much and the shoulder aches a bit. I think I have learned a thing today. Anyway Yen I think that if the PT makes things worse you should bail on it and just opt for the surgery. Expect to feel odd for about 6 months but from everything I have been told it will be worth it. I am most likely going to have the same procedure done on my right shoulder in November. It has all the same symptoms but with less pain.

One additional comment. Operation or not, one has to continue a regime of the pt exercises for life it appears. The frequency can be reduced to once or twice per week. Had I done that, possibly I would not have had a recurrence.

According to the statistics quoted in the book, under age 40, some 4% have a torn rotator cuff, after age 60 some 54% do. That's according to a trial based on MRIs.

I suspect that this might be related to the fact as one ages, the tendons lose their moisture and tend to shrink and stiffen. Accordingly, I'm also exercising my good cuff.

Al

I ordered the book and expect it to arrive on Monday. I wish I could view the exercises without ordering it, to see how and if they differ from what I'm already doing. I've viewed many exercises on-line, and also the ones in The 7-Minute Rotator Cuff Solution (someone shared a free link to it here), and I know that I would have too much pain to do them. By "pain", I mean sharp tearing pain, not just a little discomfort. I'm not a pain wimp; I just know that this type of pain means the RC is being strained or sustaining further injury.

My next appt. with the sports ortho doc is Feb. 22. So, I have 4 weeks to try an "experiment": continue the PT exercises on my own, do them very gently, use heat and stretch before, ice after, and avoid activities that might make matters worse. Then, when I see the doctor, I can tell him I've done everything he suggested.

There's still the issue of the USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) training at work, learning the rappel techniques and shoring/cribbing structures for confined-space rescue, etc. Our certification requires hands-on demonstrations that we can complete all the tasks. I feel tempted to proceed with the training, do everything that my shoulder allows (pain will tell me what I can and can't do), and delay surgery until after I'm certified. If the doctor suggests surgery, I'll ask how long I can postpone it without adverse effects including a worse post-op prognosis.

I have decided to download the free PDF of The 7-Minute Rotator Cuff Solution (shared by seemunkee on page 1 of this thread). If any of the exercises cause pain, I'll stop or pull back. The Amazon reviews are impressive and encouraged me to give the book a try.

I have 4 weeks to try the exercises in these books before my next appt. with the sports ortho doc on Feb. 22. This will be my "4-week experiment". I'll report back on my progress!

On the pain thing, Johnson emphasizes that you should stretch only to the point of very little if any pain; just to a little tightness. The point is to not cause additional damage, but to gently stimulate the healing.

Since your pain descriptions match mine of 15 years ago, it will be very interesting to see how Johnson's methods work for you. I hope they do, as the operation thing is a real pain in itself.

Al