Joe A Shaw PA-C - 7/12/2008

Question
I have been having chronic shoulder pain for the last three years. I was on a heavy weightlifting routine at the time of injury, and I cannot pinpoint the exact time or what I was doing at the time. I felt the tendon in my shoulder popping, and some sharp pains running up my trap. I stopped all lifting and iced my shoulder for some time, but after 3-4 mo., nothing happened. I went to a doctor, who told me nothing was seriously wrong, and to keep working out lightly. After a little over a year, I went to a physical therapist who told me I pulled a muscle along the spine of the scapula and it was inflaming the tendon. After six weeks of PT, and about a month of the exercises after, there was still no improvement. I've been trying to lift lightly since then, but every time I do, my shoulder hurts for days afterwards. I'm at the end of my rope. I'm a student w no medical insurance, so i can't really afford any kind of MRI, or even a doctor's visit... Help, I need to get back in the gym. This is killing me!!!

BTW, I don't think it's impingement syndrome, I did some of the trials, and they didn't have the results they said to look for...

Answer
Mike,
You should see an ortho shoulder specialist...and You will need to get an MRI (sorry)..I mean it has been 3 yrs!..sounds like a rotator cuff tear to me that at least needs to be ruled-out..or possibly snapping scapular syndrome. You obviously have a mechanical problem like a chronic tear or something...otherwise it would have healed by now. It's the old you can pay me now or pay me later thing...in that it may get worse as you get older and then you will have worse problems. It sounds like you already are getting compensation pain..pain from other muscle areas..trying to compensate for an existing or chronic injury. Try going to an university hosp setting that has an ortho residency program. You can get health insur. as a student cause I got it in college..