Back in may my shoulder just randomly started hurting…i woke up and it was sore…If i injuried it i wasn’t awake for it. i went to a doctor twice and they just keep giving me pain killers…that dont work and finally i have a physical therapy appt coming up that will hopefully help. BUT that is a week away and it makes me cry whenever i reach behind my back to hook/unhook my bra or even wipe after i use the bathroom. any suggestions?
#1 by sokokl on January 15, 2010 - 1:22 pm
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Could be related to a pulled muscle. In relation to the issue of the bra what I do when I go to put it on is I turn the back toward the front to buckle it in place and then turn it back to the other way (the way it’s supposed to be) to put on. I find that buckling it in the front is easier. Also, there are bras out where the buckles are strictly in the front and you don’t have to worry about turning it around after buckling it.
With wiping myself unless it’s my backside for bathroom purposes there I just dab the area a little bit. For urinating and cleaning yourself to make it a bit easier you can try getting a spray bottle to fill with water and rinse the area off when done and then just lightly dab it dry (should only take about a minute).
I would also recommend a consultation with a rheumatologist (a doctor who treats diseases of the bones and joints) in case these symptoms (muscle symptoms can occur with arthritis for some people, it’s how I knew something was wrong with my leg) to see what they think if you haven’t tried one already.
As for the pain meds I don’t know what they are giving you but try applying heat to the area if you can. When I have to do that I lie the heating pad on the bed for that area and then lie down and adjust myself accordingly whenever I have muscle pain in that area.
#2 by Anonymous on January 15, 2010 - 5:34 pm
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my shoulder issue was similar… I had fluid around my rotator cuff, very slight tear…
#3 by cps on January 15, 2010 - 11:19 pm
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To add to what Mistify said, you can also perform an ice massage to the area at the top of your arm and shoulder for about 5 minutes to really knock the inflammation down a notch or two. Just take a piece of ice and hold it in a washcloth and rub it over that area. Use the washcloth to mop up the water as you perform the ice massage. Cold pack or ice massage, wait about an hour between sessions. Hope this helps, these shoulder tendonitis problems can be very painful.
#4 by mistify on January 16, 2010 - 1:39 am
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These are classic signs of an impingement syndrome. Repeated movements into this painful area could continue to inflame this area and tear to tendonitis or a rotator cuff tear. At this time, hook your bra in the front and don’t reach around to wipe…give the tissues a chance to start healing. Try a cold pack (bag of ice wrapped in a towel) for about 10 minutes 3 or 4 times a day until you see the PT.
Even if it is not an impingment, it’s best to avoid maneuvers that are setting off this amount of pain.
Good luck.
#5 by Kbear on January 16, 2010 - 5:52 am
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You might also have pleurisy. Feel better soon!