Upper Arm Pain (Playing Squash)

Hi,

I have been playing squash 2 times a week (sometimes 3) for the past 6 months.

Recently I played a hard game on Tuesday - no problem.
Wednesday I played another hard game (I normally play hard/easy/hard but I have played 2 hard games in a row before).
During the Wednesday game I noticed that my playing arm (right) started getting sore somewhere between my shoulder and elbow. The pain was dull yet sharp. I couldn't pin point the source of the pain it just felt like I had over exerted my arm by serving too hard or playing too hard.

About 15 minutes after the game the pain intensified in the same general area. Again, I could not pin point the source of the pain. I can still use the arm but I did notice that holding a glass of water and raising it to my mouth my arm was shaking and the effort required to keep the glass raised was harder than normal.

The pain continued for about 45 minutes and was constant. I tried ice - no relief. I then had a shower and the hot water instantly relieved the pain. There was no more pain, the following day there was no lingering pain at all.

Stupidly I played another hard game on Thursday. After about 30 minutes of playing I could feel the same pain returning. I took it relatively easy from then on but after the game I could feel the same pain intensifying. Same story - the pain was at its peak 30 minutes after the game, heat seemed to help but the pain eventually subsided.

Today (Friday) my arm is slighly sore in on the front left of my right shoulder. If I press the spot it is not necessarily sore but I feel a similar pain as I experienced the night before.

To describe the pain is difficult: sharp, deep. It did not feel like I pulled a muscle. The pain felt like it extended from my shoulder to my elbow. Intensity increaced after playing.

Any suggestions or am I being too vague?


Regards,
Gazza

Dear Gazza,

It sounds to me as if the pain is not localized, and caused by sporting activity etc. you may have some nerve involvement.

A sign that highlights this is the motor/muscle weakness, and the non-localisation of the pain.

It would be prudent to have this examined specifically, as there are specific tests that analyze Nerve involvement.

Until that is ruled out, it would be recommended to stop the high intensity activity

Thanks for the advice Canuck Physio!

What do you think of the injury being something like Bicep Tendonitis?
From the stuff I have read about it it seems to fit all the symptoms.

Anyway - taking a break from squash to recover. Today the arm is fine, there have been moments during the day where I have felt monor tweaks, usually during movement but not doing anything specific.

It seems the tender spot is the inside front of my shoulder - its not sore I know its there.