I asked in fitness and exercise - shoulder pain

[Aerows]

but I figured I'd ask here, too. I occasionally get severe pain in my shoulder. Like, I want to die shoulder pain, and the only thing that worked in the past was a cortisone shot right in the muscle. Narcotics have never done anything for me except put me in a bad mood.

I started hanging from a bar, and it stretched my shoulder out and it feels GLORIOUS. I also started taking vitamins but the hanging from a bar for like 5 minutes seems to fix it for some unknown reason. It's better than a cortisone shot!

Anyone know why that fixes my shoulder?

I was in a bad car accident that messed it up when I was younger.

[pleinair]

1. Physical therapists

know this stuff really well--is there a resource near you for this? Without literally seeing you it would be hazardous for anyone to guess at this sort of thing

[Aerows]

3. I have NO idea how I finally figured out how to make it quit hurting

It's a freaking miracle.

5'4", 115. I'm over 40.

[Spider Jerusalem]

2. Sounds like a pinched nerve (axillary, median or radial)

and the stretching can help by relieving the pressure.

[Aerows]

4. It's a miracle.

I just hung for a little while, and suddenly, it felt better than it has in 20 years.

[Old Codger]

5. possible

Impingement syndrome, but not a Dr need to have it looked at by professionals.. Not internet guessers

[Aerows]

7. I read up on it - Impingement Syndrome

and everything is the same as what I experienced, except stretching it made it feel fantastic.

Cortisone shots are the only thing that helped in the past.

[FuzzyRabbit]

9. Muscle or tendon injury probably

Since cortisone shots and stretching helped, it sounds to me like a muscle or tendon injury.

Check with a good sports medicine physician to get an accurate diagnosis and referral for physical therapy or massage. Physical therapy and massage therapy are good non-invasive modalities for muscle injuries.

One of my patients suffered for several months from an auto accident injury to her shoulder. Finally she went to a sports medicine clinic and they provided her with excellent physical therapy and then referred her to me for her massage. She is doing fine now.

[eShirl]

13. sports medicine is amazing

[murielm99]

6. I can only tell you what worked for me.

I may have hurt my shoulder by using the rowing machine the wrong way. I may have been jerking it instead of making a smooth, rowing motion.

Muscle relaxing pills did not work. I went to a massage therapist, and he helped a great deal. He was knowledgeable enough about fitness and exercise to suggest some modifications to my workouts, too. Anyway, I had about eight one-hour sessions with him, and I rested the shoulder for a couple of months. It is fine now.

I am 65, 5'1" and about 115 lbs. I work out about six hours a week.

I am not saying this will work for you. But I know what that excruciating pain can feel like. I hope you find a solution.

[Aerows]

8. It feels like a rat gnawing in your shoulder

I can't be more descriptive than that. But I hung there, and my freaking should quit hurting. When I got a shot of cortisone to stop the pain, it was so beautiful. But this was different. It felt like it finally got *righted*. I'm not naive to think it will last forever, but it felt so damn good to not be in pain anymore simply from an exercise, I could dance with joy.

[Orrex]

10. Have you encountered any raccoons recently?

Seriously--ask a doctor. An internet forum is a terrible place to seek medical advice.

[kentuck]

14. What do you call a person that finished last in medical school??

Doctor.

[eShirl]

15. At least they finished medical school.

[cali]

11. Exercise does a lot to mitigate the pain I have from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

the result of a bad accident that shattered my tibia and fibula and did massive soft tissue and nerve damage. But the pain from the resulting traumatic arthritis only responds to cortisone shots.

[eShirl]

12. because it stretches something that is no longer injured but still too tight

I would not get too crazy with the amount of time per stretch. 1-2 minutes at a time should be plenty.

[WhiteTara]

16. Sounds like rotator cuff damage. Be careful. nt