Question
Hi, im 19 and a female. I have problems in my deltoid area. I lift weights but never heavy ones. Ever since i tried lifting a heavy weight, after that my deltoid hurts, only on the right side. i couldnt raise my arm, and i usually sleep on my right shoulder. so when i got a check up, now i have to sleep on my back or left side. that was a few months ago. but now ever since i did wing chun, which is some martial art training, it uses alot of shoulder muscles and then my shoulder started to hurt again but not as bad as before. when i got a check up at the time, the doctor told me that it could be torn or some sort and if doesnt get better in 2 weeks i have to go to this or doctor which cost money!! and i cant afford it. so is there anywhere to heal the pain without the cost of seeing a doctor? please and thankyou.

Answer
Dear Enielle,

The truth of the matter is that your shoulder pain could be caused by a lot of things.  Your primary care doctor is trying to help you by giving you time to heal, without a specialist.

If you do not recover with the help of your primary care doctor, then you might require the help of an orthopedic doctor.

It is impossible for me to diagnose and treat you through email. I wish that I could.  Most injuries will recover with time, but there are some that do require additional care and treatment, sometimes surgeries to recover torn tissues, such as torn rotator cuff tendons, torn labrum, etc.

You have two choices:
1) give this injury several months to heal without re-injury, by easing up on all sports. Ligaments and tendons require months to fully recover.
2) Follow through with your medical doctor's recommendation, see a specialist.

PS:  All doctors cost money.  Whether or not you pay for the bill yourself, somebody has to pay for the bill. These are highly educated men and women, who spent many years and hundreds of thousands of dollars to get through school, clinicals, residencies, etc.  Sometimes we are able to get some health care through a social program, yet even then, taxes pay for the care, and all of us pay the taxes. There is no free lunch!

I hope that this gives you some ideas and thoughts.

Keith Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com