low shoulder

[Dr Damien]

Dear Coley6

Thank you for the updates, its unfortunate that your symptoms seem to be getting worse. I think a nerve conduction test is necessary, from what you are saying ...there are possibly neurological causes that have been overlooked. My earlier texts had that clause in it about that possibility. I think your physio has helped you long enough but if infact there are neurological causes, then its time to have a specialist look at it...I can understand your frustrations and fears with regards having further tests done, but delaying it further is not going to be of any help in my opinion.

your initial diagnosis of the hypermobility syndrome may be playing a part particularly in how the blood supply to these nerves are functioning, so sustained positions of your neck etc may be contributing to all this...i would suggest holding off phsyio and getting assessed by the neurologist/vascular specialist first...

but if you have to see a different physio, bear in mind you want to avoid any fixed postures now and you want to possibly improve the blood supply to these areas, so sleeping postures, postures in your daily activities are going to be important to look at...

if you could describe how the taping was done this could be also helpful to know...

keep us updated

many thanks

[Coley6]

Thanks again: your input is helping me understand what's going, and giving me good questions to write down to ask my physiatrist.

I just had an MRI done on my head/neck just yesterday because I was getting bad headaches, though that's resolved now, but maybe that imaging will come in handy to solve this mystery. I just really hate the sound of the nerve conduction study and emg. I understand it's probably important to do I would just prefer a miraculous recovery and avoid this whole thing!!

The taping was sort of like a triangle around the top of my arm. My physio said something was happening with my scapula and humerus, I think she said it was 'dumping', so her taping was trying to prevent that. I really liked the taping because it made my shoulder feel so much more secure, and I felt like I could use it without worrying that it would dislocate, but we discontinued it when the doctor learned that I couldn't shrug.

In the meantime I'm being careful not to do anything silly to hurt my shoulder, but I'm trying not to over-protect it either. It just feels like someone's pushing on the top of my shoulder; it's so heavy, so it is really hard to write and type, I'm using my elbow as an anchor. I'm still able to do most things (dress, wash hair, cut food etc), it just hurts.

What I don't understand is how the upper trapezius muscle atrophied without my realising. How does a muscle just all of a sudden not work like that? It's just strange because I was on such an good physio program to try to sort out my hypermobility and my shoulder was doing great. I'm glad I've been able to maintain my 30 mins of cardio and lower body exercises/stretches each day.

I will keep you updated. Thank you again!!