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Front shoulder popping and pain

Original Post
Stephen Burns · · Telluride, CO · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 25

For almost two years I've had an achy right shoulder. I believe it started after a two week rafting trip and has persisted, on and off since.
As it stands right now,
The front of my shoulder hurts, mainly when I:
-Lift my arm up over my head very quickly (jumping jacks)
-Place my arm out in front of me and lift it up, thumb down (pouring liquor bottles (I bartend) and theraband exercises)
-Reach high up while close the the wall (slab climbing)
-kinda just aches in general.

The other issue is when it is really feeling provoked, usually from sport climbing, it seems to pop a lot. I can make it pop, without pain by placing my hand on my other shoulder and lifting my elbow up above the shoulder.

I am terrible about doing push ups.

Crack climbing doesn't really seem to bother it, nor do pull ups.
Massage seems to help a whole lot for a few days, until I do something dumb again.
Any ideas as to what specifically this may be?
Plan it to go see a pt sometime next week after a mini climbing trip (crack climbing) but until this, anyone have any experience?

marty funkhouser · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 20

You've given a classic description of impingement/tendinitis. Doesn't mean it couldn't be something else. PT is a good idea. I've struggled with this for years and dry needling helped the most. Rotator cuff exercises for maintenance.

Justin Meyer · · Madison, WI · Joined May 2012 · Points: 47

I am currently experiencing a recurrence of what sounds like the same problem that you are having. A year ago the doctor said to take it easy for a month and prescribed something like a more powerful advil. The problem slowly went away and felt like it was gone after six months but a few days ago I forgot to stretch and pulled way too hard on a boulder problem and it's back. Hopefully it will go away soon. I'm icing, stretching and taking advil now. Rotator cuff exercises with a band also seem to help once the pain goes away. Good luck!

Erik Pohlman · · Westminster, CO · Joined Dec 2006 · Points: 4,035

Stop doing thumb down theraband exercises. Good plan, seeing a PT. If you don't already have one, I know some all along the Front Range and can make some recommendations.

Stephen Burns · · Telluride, CO · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 25

Thanks Erik. Sadly I'm in the San Juan's now!

Tracey Price · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 0

Stephen,
It sounds like you have shoulder impingement syndrome. I would rest & ice shoulder until inflammation subsides. Then when pain free I would perform rotator cuff strengthening & no over head repetitive movement. Start out with light weights & progress as long as no increase in pain.

Dallas R · · Traveling the USA · Joined May 2013 · Points: 191

Shoulders are tough, according to the physicians that I have talked too shoulders are complicated. I myself have had surgery and numerous shoulder injuries, most undiagnosed. If I were 30 again I would work hard at getting it diagnosed and fixed. At nearly 60 I just deal with it and work around the shoulder malfunctions as best I can.

One of the things that I learned is that once you go with surgery you cannot go back, you are stuck with the results of the surgery. If you go with physical therapy and it doesn't work you can fall back on surgery.

My advice is to evaluate the specific weakness and lightly exercise every day to mitigate the damage and slowly, ever so slowly, build the strength back.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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