Ok, so i'm hoping that someone on here will be able to give me some advice or maybe suggest something i haven't already heard.
I'm 25yrs old and have always been extremely active. Playing both basketball and soccer at a competitive, college level. I'm sure that as a goal keeper for soccer that i have many related injuries. Scar tissue, muscle and joint problems, etc; as it is very much an "impact" sport when you're in net....im sure that some of these past impacts have affected me, and maybe my injury is something from repetive use. although i have not participated in these sports for almost 3 years now.
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I lift weights at home and have been for many years, I have never had any shoulder, or clavicle related injuries. Approximately 6 weeks ago, I was lifting weights and felt like i maybe hurt a muscle in my peck and could feel it was really tight, so i booked a massage appt. When i was there the massage therapist tried a tecnique i've never seen before.
What exercise were you doing specifically? Was it a real injury, spasm, or just a strange feeling of tightness?
With me laying down face up on the massage table, she stood behind my head and placed both her hands on my clavicle bone, she then proceeded to push in, with alot of force, not once but 3 times. Each time she did, it was enough for me to completely expell my breath, to the point of having no air left. This tecnique was painful and im still not too sure what it is she was trying to do.
A few things here: Can you describe exactly where the hands placed the most pressure?
Additionally in the future, if there is any technique you are unaware of or feel uncomfortable with then you have the right to ask what will be happening, what to expect, and if you wish to opt out of receiving that specific treatment. It seems like the application of that technique was unfounded in that situation, especially for a muscular problem that you came in with
That night after my massage, i was having a lot of pain in the area she "treated", and later on that evening a couple of friends pointed out some brusing on my clavicle/collarbone. Since the day I had that massage I have been unable to use my left arm.
Are there any bumps there, is the skin okay?
I saw a doctor a few days later and he took xrays. He claims he sees two fractures on the xrays, which seems likely as there are two very noticble lumps on my collarbone which have been there since i saw the doctor the first time. each of them where the dr thinks he saw the fractures on the xrays. However, upon reviewing my xrays, a radiologist said there are no fractures. So a bone scan was ordered. It too came back normal. My doctor spoke to an orthopaedic surgeon regarding my results, and was told that if nothing came back on the bone scan then there's nothing there and i need to start doing physio.
The results of these investigations are interesting, however, I wonder if they have actually looked at the bump itself. It is very much possible that you could have damaged ligaments during that treatment session, but without knowing where it is difficult to say. It is also possible as a result of the treatment there is underlying bruising, or compartmentalised swelling that is contributing to the pain. But without an idea of where/what is going on it is difficult to say.
I have been in a sling for approximately 6 weeks now, the pain im feeling in my clavicle, still as intense as it was on day 1. tylenol 3's aren't enough for pain, neither is icing. both only provide very temporary relief.
Are you in the sling all day? Are there times when you feel better/worse? Are you unable to use that arm because it is weak, or you simply can not move it due to pain. How about that problem with the pec? Does that remain? Are you taking the arm out of the sling and moving it about to maintain activity?
At this point it causes me a great deal of pain just trying to do the littlest things, sitting up from a laying position, putting shirts on, tying my shoes. basically any movement that requires me to use my left arm, even just for balance, hurts.
So you are able to use that left arm for simple activities, but are limited by pain
I know my own body, and the pain im feeling, so to be told that there is nothing wrong is very frustrating.
Have you seen a physio, whom have you seen thus far apart from the massage therapist
And because of where I live and because we have free healthcare, getting the best and most accurate diagnosis doesn't always happen. Not only that, but because my injury is not considered "critical" i would be waitlisted approximately 3-4 months to see an orthopaedic surgeon, and up to 9 months to have an
mri done.
That is a lot of lay time in which you could be getting treatment for the associated problems at hand, if not the problem itself
I don't trust that doing physio is going to help, being as there is still something going on in there that hasn't been found or fixed. however, i can't and don't want to continue to immobilize my arm if it doesn't need to be or if it is only doing more damage.
Physiotherapy can help, because the one thing you are doing right now is keeping your arm immobilized, the human body is not designed to stay still. In the meantime the arm is losing muscle, becoming weaker, stiffer, and shortening as well. There are a great deal of changes that you could possibly want to prevent. Additionally Physio''s are highly qualified to make assessment of physical injuries. And at the very least can add to the assessment findings.
Any advice, i'm so frustrated!
