rotator cuff

[grooni]

I have a lingering shoulder problem. I've been told that my shoulder is slightly rotated forward and that the scapular winging while not hugely significant anymore, isn't totally under control. I've also been told that I have very weak rotator cuff muscles and little stability in my shoulder.
I'm waiting on an MRI to check for any tears or lesions, but other than work related (used to hunch a lot, mostly corrected now) I cannot remember anything ever happening to it.
Right now I'm on a fairly aggressive rehab schedule as I'm off work. The shoulder pain has gotten worse in the last couple of weeks coinciding with the added exercises for the rotator cuff. I realise that weak muscles will protest and that there will be some discomfort, but I don't know at what point it is to much. My physio says it's okay to keep going and that it's normal.
I'm getting sharp pains when lifting my arm. It seems to be deep into the joint and sort of along the deltoid and down my scapula. It also tends to crack and pop. Any kind of rotation while the arm is elevated is near impossible. When I do the exercises I can only feel the burning of a tired muscles, but after I stop within about half an hour it starts to become more achy and it becomes worse to move my arm. It's achy non stop, but the stabbing pain triggered by the slightest movement.
I would just like to get an idea of how much pain is normal and part of the program and what would actually be too much/damaging.
Thanks for taking the time!

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[Judith Mollet]

Right now I'm on a fairly aggressive rehab schedule as I'm off work. The shoulder pain has gotten worse in the last couple of weeks coinciding with the added exercises for the rotator cuff. I realise that weak muscles will protest and that there will be some discomfort, but I don't know at what point it is to much. My physio says it's okay to keep going and that it's normal.

Hi there, sorry but this doesn't sound as if it's just weak muscles protesting! I have no details about what sort of "agressive rehab schedule", exercises and repetitions you are doing but I think you are stirring things up more than helping. The shoulder is complex and has not only muscles to strengthen or lets say work efficiently and coordinated with "sufficient" strength but also tendons, those of the roator cuff are integrated around and with the joint capsule, and bursa between structures. If your pain is now increased and also at rest and/or at night you likely have provoked an inflammatory process somewhere. Talk to your physio (who I assume is qualified ?) and back off somewhat in intensity. Pain is an individual thing and it's not possible to say how much is "bad" for you. Non stop ache does not sound appropriate!

[gerry the neck]

Hi

I'm not a physio, but I've had frozen shoulder 3 times. That's whar your description sounds like. My frozen shoulder was caused by nerve problems in neck. Nothing actually wrong with shoulder itself, although thats what it feels like. Frozen shoulder usually lessens its intensity after 3/4 months and gradually disappears after 10 months, without any exercises or interference. Its just muscle spasm referred from neck. One sure way to help it last longer than it should is to engage in testing exercises which simply return the problem to starting point and the cycle of recovery must begin again. If it is likely to be frozen shoulder, then an MRI of neck area would be more appropriate to discovering cause.

Gerry

[grooni]

Thanks for the replies! Judith I think you were pretty much spot on. It ended up getting to point where I couldn't lift my arm and with my physio on vacation for a couple of weeks I made the decision to back off and take some anti inflammatory. It got better quickly. So something is just aggravating it. My physio is back as of today and we looked at it again and modified some exercises and lightened the load and repetitions a lot.
Re the frozen shoulder, they considered it but I've had some imagining done on my neck and apparently that's all good. Thanks for the suggestions tho.