Shoulder impingement syndrome: everything you want to know about it

Discussion in 'Injuries' started by visor, Jul 19, 2012.

  1. visor

    visor Regular Member

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2009
    Messages:
    16,401
    Likes Received:
    2,001
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC
    Ice it lots (10min every hr if possible) , take ibuprofen, rest. Do not play or even take dry swings until pain subsides.
     
  2. TeddyC

    TeddyC Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2013
    Messages:
    1,279
    Likes Received:
    2
    Occupation:
    ( ●.●) --O #>
    Location:
    Planet Earth
    Tks for the advice!
     
  3. Orangie

    Orangie Regular Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2010
    Messages:
    132
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    SG
    Based on what I've gone through with shoulder pain, you seems to have too much shoulder forward movement on your smashes.

    BTW, I'm not a doctor. Its based on what I've been through. If you like my craps, please read on.:D

    I think too much smashing with your favourite racket is disloging your shoulder forward.Technique issue;) Stop smashing.... If you continue smashing, the shoulder joint will be pushed up towards the collar bone. More pain and restricted movement.

    Allow me to assume something: There is no pain, no limited shoulder movement at all during games time. Any pattern also can. The pain will come after a certain period of time (hrs) of shoulder inactivity. Feels whole arm can't move or lift. Need to "warmup" shoulder so that you can feel your arm.

    Anyway, to cut my craps short, you need to get your range of movement back by doing some shoulder stretching exercises. Pendulum swing exercise is a good one. You can feel all the crackings of your shoulder. Do not work on the pain, it will not help. No pain no gain in this case is untrue.

    Once you've got the range of movement back, you have to work on strenghtening the shoulder. I'm sure anyone could find tons of shoulder strenghtening exercises info on the web. Problem is whether one actually do these exercises or not.

    Pertaining to your question on how long it takes to recover, I have no idea.:p Till today (>1 yr), I'm still building my shoulder. At least it doesn't hurt as much as before. Anyway, my experiences may not be the same as what you are experiencing now. Good Luck!

    Craps ends.

    Serious stuff now: Please consult a doctor for your medical problems. MRI, x-ray whatever to pinpoint the problem.:D
     
  4. TeddyC

    TeddyC Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2013
    Messages:
    1,279
    Likes Received:
    2
    Occupation:
    ( ●.●) --O #>
    Location:
    Planet Earth
    Too much smashing, indeed
    ( ○.○) guilty as charged.

    Actually, the shoulder pain was there even b4 I started smashing. Just a slight movement discomfort. Aftr the session, it's gotten worse. Now the pain is throbbing even when my arm is stationary. Guess should have just not gone for badmtn that day...simply irresistible...at a price.

    Anyway, am hoping to get back to courts in 2 wks...is that reasonably feasible?
     
  5. visor

    visor Regular Member

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2009
    Messages:
    16,401
    Likes Received:
    2,001
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC
    Possibly 2 wks. But you have to treat it and also do some pendulum exercises to increase the space between the tendon and the AC joint.
     
  6. TeddyC

    TeddyC Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2013
    Messages:
    1,279
    Likes Received:
    2
    Occupation:
    ( ●.●) --O #>
    Location:
    Planet Earth
    Yipee! Tks visor, u make my day : )
     
  7. TeddyC

    TeddyC Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2013
    Messages:
    1,279
    Likes Received:
    2
    Occupation:
    ( ●.●) --O #>
    Location:
    Planet Earth
    Had a physiotherapy session today. It helps a great deal. The thing that's impressive is the pinpoint massage. It soothed the pain away. The most unimpressive thing is spending my full-tank-gas-equivalent dough
    ( ○.○)

    Was told to use warm pack instead of ice pack. Hhmmm...wonder what's the difference?
     
  8. NOLE.LUCKY

    NOLE.LUCKY Regular Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2012
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    TS
    An ice pack is used to reduce inflammation (by lowering the temperature and draining the the fluid in the bursa that causes swelling). A warm pack on the other hand promotes blood flow required for the healing process.
     
  9. TeddyC

    TeddyC Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2013
    Messages:
    1,279
    Likes Received:
    2
    Occupation:
    ( ●.●) --O #>
    Location:
    Planet Earth
    Tks for the informative reply!
     
  10. amleto

    amleto Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2008
    Messages:
    2,890
    Likes Received:
    89
    Location:
    UK
    I had aggravated supraspinatus a couple years ago. had some physio and rest and all was well for a while... until ~ April/May time this year it started to come back.

    Went to see physio who noticed flying scapular caused by week rhomboids. At this point I could just about manage external rotations using 2kg (3x 5 reps). I worked on this (doing seated rows as well), up to ~5kg 3x 8 reps now and fixed the flying scapula issue. However my supraspinatus aggravation is getting worse :(

    Seeing a specialist next week, but at this point I dont think there will be any good news :(
     
  11. visor

    visor Regular Member

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2009
    Messages:
    16,401
    Likes Received:
    2,001
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC
    Sorry to hear... :(

    Hopefully the ortho can order some imaging studies, like ultrasound or MRI to further identify if there are any tendon tears, or abnormal acromion pathology in order to decide what the next step should be.

    Meanwhile, lots and lots of exercises to strengthen the periscapular muscles to pull your shoulder humeral head down and back. This can not be over emphasized enough...

    One particular stretching exercise I've found very helpful to pull the humeral head down and to increase the space under the AC joint for the supraspinatus tendon to pass, is to try to pull/lift a heavy furniture/dresser table that is just slightly lower than the level of your hand by the side of your body. It should be heavy enough that it won't budge.

    Stand with your affected side foot close to the lifting point, then attempt to lift with the affected side hand at about 75 degrees off horizontal. Only your hand/forearm muscles should be tight, while the upper arm and shoulder muscles should be as relaxed as possible for this to work. If done right, you should be able to hear a loud click from the AC joint as it partially subluxes upwards. Don't be alarmed the first time you hear and feel this ;) ... but you should feel some relief immediately afterwards. I do this stretch several times a day...
     
    #71 visor, Oct 2, 2014
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2014
  12. Orangie

    Orangie Regular Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2010
    Messages:
    132
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    SG
    Thanks for sharing. I now know that the scapula has its part to play in shoulder injury.

    Don't be dishearted. After all the exercises that you are doing, it should give some positive result. Maybe over trained certain muscle such that the opposing muscle appear weaker. Wish to hear good news from you next week. Keep your hopes high.
     
  13. amleto

    amleto Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2008
    Messages:
    2,890
    Likes Received:
    89
    Location:
    UK
    [MENTION=57143]visor[/MENTION] , [MENTION=68472]Orangie[/MENTION]
    thanks for advice and encouragement
     
  14. amleto

    amleto Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2008
    Messages:
    2,890
    Likes Received:
    89
    Location:
    UK
    Specialist said x-ray looks good. Time for the MRI...
     
  15. TeddyC

    TeddyC Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2013
    Messages:
    1,279
    Likes Received:
    2
    Occupation:
    ( ●.●) --O #>
    Location:
    Planet Earth

    If no health insurance cover, it'll cost an arm n a leg...
    ( ○.○)
     
  16. visor

    visor Regular Member

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2009
    Messages:
    16,401
    Likes Received:
    2,001
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC
    Or a shoulder... :p

    Just out of curiosity, for an MRI in England, how much is it for private, and how long is the wait for health care funded?

    In the meantime, keep on physio and doing exercises yourself.
     
  17. amleto

    amleto Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2008
    Messages:
    2,890
    Likes Received:
    89
    Location:
    UK
    I don't know how much it is private since I have private health care cover from work. The policy costs about £400/year, which I don't pay, but it is a taxable benefit so I do have to pay something for it.

    Going private for physio is £30-£50 per session (~30 minutes). I imagine specialists' time is more costly...

    Going private, the longest wait is getting an appointment with local GP and getting the referral letter. Once that is done it's just down to the specialist's availability - maybe one week or two weeks for initial consultation.

    When I was a student and suffered a bad football tackle I had to wait 8 weeks for MRI and similar length of time to receive physio. Also had to wait an age just for the MRI results since they sent them from UK to South Africa for analysis - wtf!
     
  18. Cheung

    Cheung Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2002
    Messages:
    23,818
    Likes Received:
    4,791
    Occupation:
    wannabe badminton phototaker
    Location:
    Outside the box
    [MENTION=31680]amleto[/MENTION]

    Hope you can sort things out. My shoulder took nearly 9months to clear up. Luckily, rest was what I needed rather than being over enthusiastic with a squash racquet!
     
  19. visor

    visor Regular Member

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2009
    Messages:
    16,401
    Likes Received:
    2,001
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC
    8 wks for the govt MRI is not too bad, and in this day and age of the Internet, I'm sure the turn around read time from S. Africa is only a day or two.

    Meanwhile, resting it as Cheung suggests is gonna be tough because we all can't stop playing! :(
     
  20. TeddyC

    TeddyC Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2013
    Messages:
    1,279
    Likes Received:
    2
    Occupation:
    ( ●.●) --O #>
    Location:
    Planet Earth

    Nvr ever gonna give it up...!!
    ( *.^)
     

Share This Page