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I somehow messed up my shoulder and have been stiff for days, but today is horrible. I hurt from my neck, down my shoulder blade and back, and down my arm. I can't look to the left because the pain is intense. I've tried stretching, heating pad, IcyHot patch and soaking in a hot bath. I'm at a loss and I really don't want to go to the doctor because we are going on vacation next week. Any advice on how to loosen up my neck and shoulder and lessen the pain?

Ugh...this just sucks a big one.

Can you lift your arm?

double post

[This message edited by tired girl at 6:32 PM, July 7th (Monday)]

Yes I can lift my left arm completely up with very little discomfort, however when I lift my right arm up it cause pain in the left shoulder. The biggest amount of pain comes when I twist to the left and move my head or my right arm. I literally feels like someone has my left shoulder blade in a death grip and whenever I move the grip tightens. Does that make any sense?

It sounds like you have either strained or torn something. Have you tried any ibuprofen?

Or Ice and heat alternating?

Icing right now. I've been taking Advil since yesterday but iI haven't taken anything since around 12:30 because I plan on taking Tylenol PM in the hope that I will get some sleep.

The worse pain is when I turn to the right, from the waist, or when I lift both arms at the same time.

Edited because apparently pain takes away my ability to type.

[This message edited by Mack9512 at 6:50 PM, July 7th (Monday)]

Most likely you've pulled a muscle and now other muscle groups are joining in the fun with spasms.

Do gentle range of motion exercises for your shoulder and neck. (Google that) Use heat (not ice) and continue Ben gay, icy hot like stuff. You can use Advil or Tylenol. If you have any muscle relaxants lying around you can take those but don't drink alcohol or operate heavy machinery. We use those by sedating you so in a pinch you can use benedryl.

If you don't improve in a few days see a doctor to make sure you didn't tear anything.

(((Mack)))

I hope you feel better. Sending healing mojo.

If the injury is less than 72 hours old you want to use ice. You can also safely take 800 my ibuprofen every 8 hours and take Tylenol as well they work differently and are metabolizes differently. If you know what caused it and when the injury was you should have the worst pain at 72 hours. Then slowly get better. You need to drink lots and lots and lots of water to flush the toxins out promoting healing.
If you are having any numbness tingling or zapping pain you have a pinched nerve and the only thing that is going to fix that is rest and muscle relaxers the large muscles in our backs and necks are sensitive and when strained cause tremendous pain. Consider going to a chiropractor for massage tens and possible manipulation to realign things if you haven't had a specific injury.

Just spent the last 3 hours in the ER. The pain got to bad that I couldn't straighten my left arm without severe shooting pains from my shoulder to my wrist. 3 X-rays later and the diagnoses is bursitis. Which basically means that the X-rays show nothing so we are going to throw muscle relaxers at you and call it a day.

Going to an orthopedic surgeon tomorrow for further tests.

I hope you are feeling better this morning. That type of pain is awful. Make sure you make the orthopod knows surgery is not a preference. These guys pay their bills by doing surgery and often are just a bit too anxious to jump straight to that option. Also they love to order expensive tests that may not change conservative treatment so when he says MRI ask how that will change his treatment of you. Steroid injections are a great option that may provide you quick relief if it's truly a bursitis.
Don't be afraid to ask questions and discuss options. You are in control of your health care but you have to take control.

Good luck!!!

Thanks TN. Even after taking Valium and a muscle relaxer, I barely slept last night. Even time I shifted in my sleep just made the pain more intense. It feels a little better after taking my second relaxer. Going to see my GP this afternoons or a follow up.

It usually takes the combination of anti-inflammatories to shrink the swelling, along with the relaxers to allow the muscles to relax to get things back into place, and allow pinched nerves to go home. In addition Ice shrinks the inflammation, and massage will work the toxins out, and relax the muscles as well.

Icyhot/bengay, any of those are great to relax the muscles as well.

Don't forget to drink lots and lots of water.

I heartily endorse the steroid shot as well. I had bursitis so bad in my left hip joint once that I was walking like a crab. One shot and after a day of rest, I could have boogied all night! It occasionally flares up still (this was years ago that I had the shot), but I'd get another if I had to.

Oral steroids and muscle relaxers for a solid 10 days. My doctor guarantees that I will be at least 80% better by Sunday. Oh yea...I don't have bursitis; just an every day pulled muscle that became inflamed.

Yah whatever! It hurts like a mother F'r! !! I have a jacked up neck and when it gets out of whack I would take a hit of just about anything to make it better. Back, shoulder, and neck pain sucks big balls !!!! Find yourself a good chiropractor. I fought it for years and finally surrendered to it, could have kicked myself for waiting so long. 4 sessions of massage tens and manipulation and it has never been that bad again. I also used muscle relaxants and anti inflammatory meds. The combo of eastern and western medicine is quite nice.

Anyway I hope you start to see relief soon. If you have never taken steroids be prepared for some crazy moods and need to eat a lot.