Shoulder Questions and Answers

Hi, can you help me figure this out? AT first I was presumed to have frozen shoulder, but now possible TOS, or is it a mechanical fault / injury. Which way to turn? Pain in Right AC joint, at the distal end of the clavicle. It is likely to be caused by a repetitive strain injury as my work is fairly physical. I often have to lower heavy loads by extending my arm and sometimes have push downwards, as I using a spring loaded contraption for work. This apparatus has occasionally failed me leaving me with discomfort. My symptoms now are: posterior and lateral arm extentions above 80 degrees or so cause pain in the anterior area of AC joint, and a brusied sensation over the AC joint. Cannot lie on shoulder but otherwise am able to cope without any pain meds etc. provided I moderate my movements. At first it was very painful and all movements were difficult – like a frozen shoulder. This eased after about eight weeks and now pain is very “localised” in the joint itself. However, lately have been experiencing numbness extending from elbow to include lateral forearm, little and ring fingers. Numbness does not result in loss of function, just feels a bit cold and like a local anaesthetic when bad. I avoid carrying heavy loads as low carrying (groceries etc) at times causes a “stretching” sensation at the elbow into the forearm. There is lately some weakness in the hand, but not severe, just with movements like turning a key in a lock or opening a jar. No xrays as yet because want to be sure where to start due to limited funds and a preference for no surgery. Really appreciate this opportunity and would be grateful for any advice to help with steering me in the right direction regards diagnosis and conservative treatment.

Hi, my husband has a nerve that has pinched – TOS which is affecting his circulation, breathing, etc. He has seen GPs, orthopedic surgeon but no one has been able to diagnose TOS, After much research, we have found that it definitely is TOS. What are the solutions? Thank you, Amy.

Dear Dr De Beer,

I’m not sure if you received my question, so I rather send it again. Could you kindly let me have a second opinion on the following:

Shoulder pain started in January 2013. I went to the doctors in June 2013 and went for x-rays and an Ultrasound. Full thickness tear on right shoulder – supraspinatus tendon.

We first tried with cortisone injections. I had 3 in total. July 2013, September 2013 and November 2013.

The inflammation/pain always came back after +/- 8 weeks. In January 2014 (21/01/2014) I had an MRI and the doctors decided to operate.

Had surgery on 11-02-2014. For 8 weeks in an arm sling. All went well and no pain.

Went to Physiotherapy after 6 weeks.

After +/- 12 weeks pain started, this time in both shoulders and the pain moved all the way down into both underarms.

They first thought it must be pinched nerve.

In between doctors put me on different painkillers again.

My GP sent me for a sonar on both shoulders, to see what is going on (20.08.2014) As per the report, now both shoulders got an inflammation and suggestive torn tendon again in right shoulder and cannot exclude torn tendon in left shoulder. (I tried to attach the rapport, but the format was not allowed)

Could you kindly give me some advice. If you need any of the other reports, x-rays, MRI, scans or anything else. Please let me know

 Thank you very much in advance.

My mom is 84 & tripped 3 tmes at work (she worked waitressing F/T) The 3rd time she fell & hit her shoulder on a chair on the way down & broke the top humerous bone. That was 2/12/2014, she was in skilled nursing facilityfrom approx. 2/15 to 5/7. She has been going to therapy twice weekly & they had a measuremnet of 52% (guess that was how high she could raise it. She also cannot grasp or forma fist. It was a clean break, no surgery, then one of the aids in Nursing Facility got impatient with her & grabbed her by both arms in order raise her up higher in a sitting position. Now it sems the break is not aligned & is outward & forward. Soory that was just some background. While in therapy the therapist notice the broken shoulder is higher than than the normal shoulder. What would cause that to happen? The first 2 xrays were done at hospital. The last image from CT April 9th. Hope you can open them! I appreciate any input! Thank you

Dr. de Beer en span, goeie naand, hoop dit gaan goed. Ek het u gekontak 2010/2011 ivm TOS simptome en inligting, waarop u my geantwoord het met baie volledige epos. Baie dankie. Ek is toe verwys deur my GP na Panorama Hopsitaal waar ek gediagnoseer is met Arterial TOS en in 2011 is my linker boonste 1ste rib verwyder. Geen komplikasies, dankie tog, maar ongelukkig baie min tot gee verligting. Omstandighede was egter so dat ek nie regtig kon gaan vir ‘n opvolg of om die 2de operasie aan die regterkant te kon doen nie. Ek kon “cope” tot datum maar die afgelope 2 weke het ek geweldig, mper onuithoudbare pyn aan my linkerkant. Konstante pyn agter op my linker skouerblad, nekspier bo my sleutelbeen, agter links by my nek, my bo-arm by my skouer het ‘n brandende pyn asook my linker arm by die elmboog, my pols brand permanent en my hand se gebruik aksie is definitief stadiger as gewoontlik. By die werk vandag het ek verskeie items laat val, my linkerkant heeltyd gestamp en ek voel effens van balans af. Dit kan ek alles hanteer maar die konstante pyn (bruised or pulled burning muscle) gevoel is regtig besig om my onder te kry. Ek kan nie aanmekaar pynpille drink nie, dis nie gesond nie en dit verwyder nie regtig die pyn, dit verdoof dit net. My kinders is nog jong en ek is baie op die pad, dis gevaarlik, gelukkig is die week vakansie. My vraag (na al die gekla, hiehiehie) is dit ‘n probleem wat kan voorkom na “rib removal, armpit surgery” of is dit ‘n kruis simptome van my regterkant wat nooit gedoen is nie? Ek vra onverskoning dat ek afpak, maar ek is regtig moeg en voel opgesny en moedeloos want ek kry nooit regtig antwoorde of hulp van plaaslike Weskus dr’s. Hulle dink ek ly aan ippikonders.

Vriendelike groete

Hi dokter

Ek het 2 maande terug my skouer seer gemaak in rugby en het ‘n sling gedra vir omtrent 2 weke en was by 4 fisio sessies. My skouer was nog seer na dit maar ek het reg gevoel om weer rugby te speel en het ‘n week terug weer rugby gespeel en dit weer van vooraf seer gemaak. dit is ‘n pyn van van agter my skouer tot in my tricep? Ek weet dit is nie ‘n been nie maar dalk ‘n ligament of spier. Ek het ‘n afspraak, maar kan dokter net vir my sê wat dokter dink dit mag dalk wees asb?

Groete 

I had pec major transfer to scapula for scapular winging I lifted something heard a pop now I’m having trouble lifting my arm and the muscles in arm and chest are killing it hurts to cough or take deep breaths also what could it be?

Hi Dr De Beer

Thank you for a very informative web site. I had a mountain bike accident about 3 years ago. A plate with  screws was used to  repair the fracture. Since then I have been experiencing pain and discomfort in the shoulder. With numbness and swelling of the shoulder. Making it very difficult to ride my bike. Would you suggest taking the plate out.

Thanks

I have a bankart + a HAGHL lesion , should I have surgery?

Thanks, regards Mauro

Hi Dr De Beer

 I at gym bench pressing when sudddenly my should made crunching sound, close to that sound of biting into chicken gristle, i have given the benching a skip for 2 months and i still can not move or press any weight hevier than 22kg without it being Debilitating, and if i rest the back of my shoulder against a object i can feel a pain shooting from the back to the front…

PS* sorry no xrays

Kind regards

Hi Dr de Beer,

a follow-up on my previous enquiry. My daughter experiences severe pain when she lifts her arm up to shoot the ball, do a breast stroke swimming motion, or reaching up above her head or certain cross chest reaching movements. She is very dispondent at this moment as she has quite a few big tournaments coming up this term for water polo. Regards Margo (Photos the same as with previous question)

My right sholder has drooped and i have pain in sholder and bicept 1 year after rotator cuff and bicept tendon repair What causes this?

My husband  recently passed a kidney stone dr told him he may have calcium deposit .going to see urologist. Last week he  hurt his  sholder could this pain be related to the calcium deposit  he has?

AC removed 12 months a go, every day very much in pain.

AC removed now more painful then ever shoulder buns when I pick up arm for to long.

Good morning Doctor, I had a shoulder op on the 30 September 2013. They removed calcification. I have no pain but my muscles has been in spasm from the moment they removed the pain block. I have had spasm ever since. I was re-admitted. I have been back to the specialist and normal doctors for them to help me get my muscles to stop going in to spasm but the moment I start using my arm, I am in pain again due to my muscles. All the doctors do is give me more meds to use and my muscle spasms do not subside.Can u give me any advice please.

Hi there. I have dislocated my shoulder in February, posterior. It then re-dislocated, posterior, again in July and last weekend. I haven’t seen an Orthopaedic yet as I can only do surgery next year as I am playing on going to work at a ski resort this year. What is the best support brace I can get in the mean time?

Dr. Joe, I have dislocated my shoulder about 4 times in the past 4 years playing rugby. I’ve been for many physio sessions and only recently was my should relocated properly. I’ve been doing all my rotator cuff workouts that the physios have given me but still to this day it feels very unstable. I really want to be able to go back onto the rugby field and perform to the best of my abilities. Do you by any chance have any advice for me?  I havent had any x-rays or anything of that sort done. Kind regards,   JP.

Good day Dr de Beer, I have been experiencing shoulder pain for many years, including pins and needles running down my right are,I have recently had a should op  but have since experienced severe pain at times even when at rest.I have had a neck MRI as my doctor wanted to ensure that the problem did not arise from there..nothing detected. In desperation whilst in Joburg last week I saw a GP and he has told me to contact you.Reading through your website I as sure that I have T0S.The pain at times is unbearable, sharp pain in shoulder blade ,top of the shoulder and sometimes up towards the neck. At times is feels as if worms are running inside my arm.Please help.Thanks Ben Burger P.S.I am in East London but do think that I will be coming to see you A.S.A.P.

Hello dokter Jy het my op die 3de okt geopereer vir n klas 3 ac joint separation. Wil net weet hoe lank sal die hele rehab vat tot ek weer sport sal kan doen(rugby, krieket en golf)? Groete Marius.

My arm started paining (between the elbow and shoulder) and the pain has spread up tp my shoulder and the back of my shoulder.. it hurts when i lift my arm or use it. it has gotten worse over the last couple of weeks. i have gone to the doctor but only received pain medication.. the whole shoulder, arm and neck feels stiff.

HI DR JOE I HAVE SEVERE WINGING OF THE SCAPULA, WHICH OCURED AFTER HAVING A LYMPH NODE REMVED ON MY NECK OVER 15 YRS AGO,AND SOME NERVES WERE SEVERED. IT IS NOW CAUSING EXCESSIVE PAIN AS THE SHOULDER IS VERY HEAVY, IM 48 FEMALE, LIVING IN DURBAN, AND WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP WITH THE PAIN, IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT A TRANSFER OF THE PECTORIAL MUSCLE CAN BE USED TO HOOK UP THE SCAPULA, IS THIS CORRECT, LOOK FORWARD IN HEARING FROM YOU, I CAN SEND PICS IF REQUIRED. THANKING YOU ERIKA COLLINS