Shoulder pain

[ebolton]

I thought I'd check in on this thread, since shoulder pain has been the story of my winter.

Around the beginning of November, the shoulder I used to refer to as "my good shoulder" began to ache, for no known reason. I had full range-of-motion with it. Rowing was OK and actually made if feel a little better. It progressively got worse, to the point where I called the doctor the day after Thanksgiving here in the USA (late November). I got an appointment for a month later (just before Christmas). The morning of my appointment, I rowed 20K to complete the Holiday Challenge (in case the doctor took me off the rower). By then, I was starting to notice my range-of-motion was really reduced.

Doctor proclaimed it "insideous onset adhesive capsulitis", gave me a cortisone shot into the shoulder joint and perscribed physical therapy...and took me off the rower.

Pain was relieved greatly almost immediatly after the shot, though my range of motion pretty much went to 0 after the shot and a few days off the rower. I've been going to PT twice a week since. They have me do some light weights, then they heat the joint, after which they basically reef on my arm like they are trying to twist it off. (Ever taken the claw off a lobster?) Progress has been ridiculously slow--after 2-1/2 months of treatment, I think I'm about halfway back. When I *fractured* the shoulder blade on the other side, I had full ROM back a month after being given the OK to move (though I had pain for years and weakness to this day).

Little pain during the day now, but night is tough. There is no way to sleep well with this...

Anyway, good luck to everybody with shoulder difficulties- be assured I sympathize at least!

Ed