what did I do to my shoulder?

It hurts my left shoulder. In the past, all my shoulder pain was a bursitis (spelling?) issue, and this is very different. Basically it is stiff/tender to lift from my side or to reach behind or forware. The pain seems to be at the top of my shoulder and straight down the arm. I know there are lots of folks with shoulder issues, so I'm wondering how I figure out what I've done. Thanks. Well, bursitis is pretty darn bad. Are you doing RC exercises? If it's at the top of the shoulder going down the arm it could be bicep tendonitis or RC tendonitis. I agree with Matt, rest doesn't always help, you can stiffen up more. So swim easy, if you can. If the pain persists, see your ortho ASAP. If it's bad, NSAIDs won't help that much. They could also upset your stomach. Anti-inflammatories can also interfere with the healing process. Ice is good. I had a combo of RC tendonitis and biceps tendonitis when I started swimming and ramped up the yardage too quickly. A shot of cortisone in the bursa sac cleared the bicep tendonitis immediately and it never came back. Now, the shoulder crap is another issue ... Tough to reverse dessication ... Excessive freestyle really, really doesn't agree with me. If it's an "impingement," which is just a code word for tendonitis, then I recommend ART. ART is great for relieving impingements, breaking up scar tissue, and reducing swelling. As a runner, you already may be familiar with ART. I also do my rotator cuff exercises pretty regularly. It's all about containment.

I swam Wednesday night, and didn't notice anything wrong. Yesterday I woke up and don't remember noticing anything, then after I was at work awhile I noticed that I had difficulty putting on my jacket. It hurts my left shoulder. In the past, all my shoulder pain was a bursitis (spelling?) issue, and this is very different. Basically it is stiff/tender to lift from my side or to reach behind or forware. The pain seems to be at the top of my shoulder and straight down the arm. I know there are lots of folks with shoulder issues, so I'm wondering how I figure out what I've done. Thanks. ACK. I had that and my PT said it was RC. Not neccessarily severe but maybe a little tender. Get a professional opinion though. Ice for pain and inflammation in the meantime--my opinion.

Hmm? I would probably try some NSAID's and rest for a few days. Have you been swimming more than usual lately? Another option to consider: I often find that when my shoulders ache in a delayed onset type of situation, that swimming again ASAP is the best cure. Inactivity brings me more discomfort than swimming every day it seems. Perhaps NSAID's and some swimming will get you back where you need to be.

I haven't been swimming more than usual, but Wednesday was all freestyle rather than a mix of things. And I was trying to sprint (which is just a joke for slow-twitch me). I really donn't want to hear the RC thing. Nope, denial on that. By the way, NSAIDs aren't really helping, if that makes a difference.

Hmm,this sounds all to familiar since I am going thru it right now. Pain in upper part of shoulder and the pain transfers down to my elbow. My physical therapist says there is no problem in the arm itself, just up in my rotator cuff and then the pain just transfers down. Could be a little tendonitis or in my case a lot, and in both shoulders. Pop the advil, ice 15 minutes and if you got the stretch cords, use that to strengthen up the shoulder. I have a whole list of exercises to do from my P.T for the next 3 weeks. Hope all goes well for you :-) greg

This reminds me of an article I posted here a few years ago. NSAID's block the production of prostoglandins which are responsible for healing damaged tissue. By this argument the NSAID's don't help and might actually hinder the healing of tissue...but by the reduction in swelling they might aid healing by reducing an impingement. This is all from memory but I would imagine the article is still hyperlinked in a shoulder thread somewhere around here. The source was related to physicians sports medicine guide or something along those lines. Well, this is why I take them sometimes. I think I've posted this somewhere, but I know a college coach who recommends slamming the NSAIDs for 48 hours continuously when swelling first appears and then stop. But probably best to reduce swelling with ice and ART. I know the prolotherapists don't let you take any NSAIDs or steroids when you're getting treatment because they are trying to rebuild or regrow the damaged tissue or cartilege.

Well, bursitis is pretty darn bad. Are you doing RC exercises? If it's at the top of the shoulder going down the arm it could be bicep tendonitis or RC tendonitis. I agree with Matt, rest doesn't always help, you can stiffen up more. So swim easy, if you can. If the pain persists, see your ortho ASAP. If it's bad, NSAIDs won't help that much. They could also upset your stomach. Anti-inflammatories can also interfere with the healing process. Ice is good. I had a combo of RC tendonitis and biceps tendonitis when I started swimming and ramped up the yardage too quickly. A shot of cortisone in the bursa sac cleared the bicep tendonitis immediately and it never came back. Now, the shoulder crap is another issue ... Tough to reverse dessication ... Excessive freestyle really, really doesn't agree with me. If it's an "impingement," which is just a code word for tendonitis, then I recommend ART. ART is great for relieving impingements, breaking up scar tissue, and reducing swelling. As a runner, you already may be familiar with ART. I also do my rotator cuff exercises pretty regularly. It's all about containment. This reminds me of an article I posted here a few years ago. NSAID's block the production of prostoglandins which are responsible for healing damaged tissue. By this argument the NSAID's don't help and might actually hinder the healing of tissue...but by the reduction in swelling they might aid healing by reducing an impingement. This is all from memory but I would imagine the article is still hyperlinked in a shoulder thread somewhere around here. The source was related to physicians sports medicine guide or something along those lines.

Does your neck hurt at all? The down the arm thing may be your scalenus medius. While you're icing try icing your neck as well, it may help.

My shoulder is feeling much better, although I'm not sure how it will do in the pool. I was doing some easy exercises this morning and I heard/felt a loud popping crunching noise, and then it seemed to loosen up a little. Very odd. Now I only feel tenderness in the deltoid, not the shoulder. And note I said tenderness. It really isn't pain, just a little something when I try to do certain things. Monday I really will try to get in the pool. Today's swim ended up just being a soak in the bathtub after a 3 hour run. How embarrassing.

I have had the popping followed by relief. I must admit it's a little scary but most likely nothing to be alarmed about. I have been ramping up my workouts recently and I am feeling the pain...mostly in my triceps and lats but to a certain degree in my shoulders I suppose. Anyhow, what helps more than anything for me is to use the affected limb but not to the point of working through pain. Whatever you can do without pain, do it.