Inflamed Shoulder Tendon (or maybe ligament)

[MetalBunnyLove]

I injured my shoulder just over a year and a half ago while doing dumbbell bench presses. I got an MRI done and they said there were no problems, except perhaps a little bresitis.

About 4mo. ago I slowly began making my transition back into the gym. I've been doing light shoulder exercises, using dumbbells and a rubber band. Perhaps I havn't strengthened my shoulder enough, but after doing some sets of push-ups, or swiming, the soreness is definitely noticable.

The other day I went back into the physical therapy office at the hospital, and they said that my tendon (maybe it was ligament) was inflamed. The lady said that I should take anti-inflamatories 2x a day for a month or so, and hopefully that should take care of the problem. She also said I should continue with light exercises.

I forgot to ask her WHY exactly my tendon is still inflamed after it has been over a year since my injury.

Anyone have any ideas about why this problem is continuing? Any ideas on treatments? I've been using 2 or 3 different exercises for my shoulder which are supposed to target my rotator cuff muscles, but maybe that's not enough?

[King Viscera]

I injured my shoulder just over a year and a half ago while doing dumbbell bench presses. I got an MRI done and they said there were no problems, except perhaps a little bresitis.

About 4mo. ago I slowly began making my transition back into the gym. I've been doing light shoulder exercises, using dumbbells and a rubber band. Perhaps I havn't strengthened my shoulder enough, but after doing some sets of push-ups, or swiming, the soreness is definitely noticable.

The other day I went back into the physical therapy office at the hospital, and they said that my tendon (maybe it was ligament) was inflamed. The lady said that I should take anti-inflamatories 2x a day for a month or so, and hopefully that should take care of the problem. She also said I should continue with light exercises.

I forgot to ask her WHY exactly my tendon is still inflamed after it has been over a year since my injury.

Anyone have any ideas about why this problem is continuing? Any ideas on treatments? I've been using 2 or 3 different exercises for my shoulder which are supposed to target my rotator cuff muscles, but maybe that's not enough?

Is it the front of your shoulder that hurts? Does it hurt to put your arm behind your back, like when you wash your back in the shower? How about when you stretch your arm over your head?

My guess, just from what youve described and from the exercise that cuased the injury, is that you have tendonitis in the long head of the bicep tendon. It runs from the top of the acronium and connects to the top of your bicep muscle.

This tendon may be rubbing the clavical and causing irriation. There are several options to rehabilitating it which would include either physio therapy, rest, cortisone injection, or if worst comes to worst.... surgery (shave 5mm off the clavical).

[MetalBunnyLove]

Is it the front of your shoulder that hurts? Does it hurt to put your arm behind your back, like when you wash your back in the shower? How about when you stretch your arm over your head?

My guess, just from what youve described and from the exercise that cuased the injury, is that you have tendonitis in the long head of the bicep tendon. It runs from the top of the acronium and connects to the top of your bicep muscle.

This tendon may be rubbing the clavical and causing irriation. There are several options to rehabilitating it which would include either physio therapy, rest, cortisone injection, or if worst comes to worst.... surgery (shave 5mm off the clavical).

I have full range of motion, but when I do move it in certain positions it gives me a little pain. Putting my arm behind my back and stretching it over my head, like you mentioned are typically the positions that I feel the pain.

Yes, it's front of my shoulder which hurts. The woman at the physical therapy office said that this tendon runs between two bones and subsiquently, rubs against them because it is inflamed.

It just pisses me off that this injury has lasted as long as it had. Either I'm doing something wrong in the recovery process, or...I don't know. Anymore suggestions would be appreciated.

[King Viscera]

I have full range of motion, but when I do move it in certain positions it gives me a little pain. Putting my arm behind my back and stretching it over my head, like you mentioned are typically the positions that I feel the pain.

Yes, it's front of my shoulder which hurts. The woman at the physical therapy office said that this tendon runs between two bones and subsiquently, rubs against them because it is inflamed.

It just pisses me off that this injury has lasted as long as it had. Either I'm doing something wrong in the recovery process, or...I don't know. Anymore suggestions would be appreciated.

Well by the sounds if it, youve been going through this for almost 2 yrs and youre shoulder is not responding to the physio exercises so youll have to take another course of action. If it really bothers you to such an extent, it might be time to consider decompression surgery in that area.

Find a good orthopedic specialist and weigh the pros and cons of this with him and discuss your goals with him.

Otherwise you could just completly give up all upper body work for 6 months to a year and it may heal on its on. Thats what I did with my shoulder (have exactly the same problem as you/ have taken 6 months off completly so far) and it's feelin a hell of alot better.

[jdmalm123]

Find a good orthopedic specialist and weigh the pros and cons of this with him and discuss your goals with him.

agree. could be a torn labrum. won't heal naturally. requires surgery.

[MetalBunnyLove]

I just got off the phone with the orthapedic nurse. She said, that from the MRI and X-Ray, the only indication of a problem was contained to bresitis, and tendonitis of the supraspinatus. Also, she said there was no evidence of a torn labrum.

The advice she gave me was to start taking an anti-inflamitory for the next month or two and hopefully that will just fix the problem completely.

[Vaper]

I just got off the phone with the orthapedic nurse. She said, that from the MRI and X-Ray, the only indication of a problem was contained to bresitis, and tendonitis of the supraspinatus. Also, she said there was no evidence of a torn labrum.

The advice she gave me was to start taking an anti-inflamitory for the next month or two and hopefully that will just fix the problem completely.

and continue training or rest ?

[MetalBunnyLove]

She said continuing training was ok.

I took off completely for nearly a year after it originally occured.

[jdmalm123]

I just got off the phone with the orthapedic nurse. She said, that from the MRI and X-Ray, the only indication of a problem was contained to bresitis, and tendonitis of the supraspinatus. Also, she said there was no evidence of a torn labrum.

The advice she gave me was to start taking an anti-inflamitory for the next month or two and hopefully that will just fix the problem completely.

glad to hear that. would they give you a cortizone shot for pain in the meantime?

[MetalBunnyLove]

Good question. She mentioned something about getting a steroid shot, and that I could only get it a total of 3x in my life! At least that's all they are allowed to give. As far as the cortizone, I don't know. Would it be worth me asking?

[jdmalm123]

I had three epidural steroid injections. Technically, they could give more in a lifetime but try not to due to potential side effects.

The cortizone is easy. They can do it in 5 minutes in the office.
In most cases it can completely remove the pain in 1-3 days and last 6 months to indefinitely. You decide!

[neoplasia200x]

Good question. She mentioned something about getting a steroid shot, and that I could only get it a total of 3x in my life! At least that's all they are allowed to give. As far as the cortizone, I don't know. Would it be worth me asking?

Don't worry. Cortisone is a steroid. And there are no rules for how many times you can get the shot.

Cortisone has side effects that is why they are probably hesitant about giving too much.

[Redando]

Hey man! I am facing the same exact problem and it has been 6 months so far! It pisses me off that the docs keep telling me that I should just rest it while I cannot even sleep on my left shoulder at night without waking up in pain.

Have you found any remedy to it?

Thanks

[Tonyhz23]

I've had this exact problem for a year now.. December 2nd I messed up my right shoulder doing flat bench and the MRI showed no problems other than some irritation. Physical therapy 8 months didn't seem to work... I have full range of motion yet I feel sharp pain on random movements