Shoulder Impingement

emilybeaver
emilybeaver Posts: 365 Member
edited November 21 in Health and Weight Loss
So....something always happens whenever I want to start doing exercise or something good for myself! I've been C25K now for almost 4 weeks. And I also wanted to start doing Strong Lifts 5X5. I woke up one day and my left shoulder felt like I slept on it wrong. It kept bothering me, so I went to the chiropractor. He said I have shoulder impingement and to take ibuprofen and ice it daily. Ugh. So when do you think it would be safe for me to start lifting? This probably happened 3 weeks ago.

Replies

  • CooCooPuff
    CooCooPuff Posts: 4,374 Member
    I would probably get checked out by the chiropractor again and see how he feels.
  • pzarnosky
    pzarnosky Posts: 256 Member
    Talk to your chiropractor about it. Get a professional opinion. It's a lot safer that way.
  • rmyers14
    rmyers14 Posts: 14 Member
    Don't mean to scare you, but I had impingement in both shoulders that eventually required surgery. Now, I was an idiot and didn't rest after my injury, so I'm sure I caused more damage. I would ice it and do light exercises with resistance bands and see how that feels. Once you're done stretching and exercising I would ice it immediately. Also, if you have any pain during the movements I would stop. Any sign of pain in the shoulder joint means something is wrong. You don't want to keep inflaming the area.
  • emilybeaver
    emilybeaver Posts: 365 Member
    It feels better than it did 3 weeks ago and I haven't taken ibuprofen in about two days. Sometimes after I run it flares up. It also doesn't help I have a 2 year old who I have to wrestle and manhandled. He did tell me if I don't be careful it could lead to surgery for the rotator cuff muscle. Do you think I should go see my regular Dr who also does manipulation and maybe would be able to give more of an answer?
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Huh. For the last 18 months, when I wake up on my side, that shoulder hurts. I always start on my back and don't know how to prevent myself from turning over to my side.

    It's not like a muscle pain where you can't exercise, so I've been doing yoga and swimming despite the pain. Now @rmyers14 has scared me :(
  • emilybeaver
    emilybeaver Posts: 365 Member
    Mine felt that way like I slept on it wrong. But then my upper arm muscle (whatever that is) is in constant spasm and will not release. It also hurts to use it constantly and I can't lift over my head. I can also tell I've lost strength and mobility in that arm. It does not help that it is my dominant hand/arm.
    It does feel slightly better and it seems like the spasms in my arm have decreased a little. But I can tell if I overuse it. I just want to start lifting!
  • allysonvb
    allysonvb Posts: 236 Member
    I have a shoulder injury right now too, started feeling like a pinched nerve, and has gotten progressively worse, and I'm using my other muscles incorrectly to try and avoid shoulder use so all the muscles in that area hurt (bicep, tricep, delts, underarms)... Suggestions would be great, but my real question was, what's an impingement?
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,996 Member
    Go to an orthopedist and get it checked out. It may be a shoulder impingement, but it may also be a strain or tear. Shoulder joint is very complex and common injury to it without right diagnosis can be wrong approach to healing it.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png
  • maxit
    maxit Posts: 880 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    Go to an orthopedist and get it checked out. It may be a shoulder impingement, but it may also be a strain or tear. Shoulder joint is very complex and common injury to it without right diagnosis can be wrong approach to healing it.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png

    I agree - get it checked out. If it turns out to be impingement, it might help you to see a physical therapist. Turns out I have "loose shoulders" and dealt with impingement in each of them. The physical therapy was so helpful. I had to modify my lifting some but I feel like the weight training still has been doing me some good even so.

    I would not do ANY lifting until you are pain free and have seen a medical provider of some sort.

  • pollypocket1021
    pollypocket1021 Posts: 533 Member
    A chiropractor is not a shoulder specialist. The suggestion to see an orthopedist is a very good one. Most orthopedists specialize by joint, so if you may be able to find one who just does shoulders.
  • Mr_Stabbems
    Mr_Stabbems Posts: 4,771 Member
    its more than likely secondary, its possible you might have instability in the shoulder joint. Essentially the rotator cuff has to work a little harder and eventually weakens and becomes inflamed, when the rotator cuff stops functioning normally you end up with the humerus travelling up into the sub-acromial space and you end up with Impingement.

    This weakening is usually due to repetitive overhead movements, too heavy a weight, over training. Your eagerness to get back into lifting is great but it will work against you in this case. A physio will be looking to restore things like full range of motion, rotator cuff strength, scapulohumeral rhythm etc etc.

    Try not to rush back too soon.
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    emilybeaver wrote: »
    So....something always happens whenever I want to start doing exercise or something good for myself! I've been C25K now for almost 4 weeks. And I also wanted to start doing Strong Lifts 5X5. I woke up one day and my left shoulder felt like I slept on it wrong. It kept bothering me, so I went to the chiropractor. He said I have shoulder impingement and to take ibuprofen and ice it daily. Ugh. So when do you think it would be safe for me to start lifting? This probably happened 3 weeks ago.

    That is why you go to a orthopedic specialist. Nothing about drugs and ice that will help long term. As others have mentioned you may need PT to improve movement patterns/strength or may ultimately need corrective surgery.

    Best of luck

  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    Mr_Stabbems wrote: »
    its more than likely secondary, its possible you might have instability in the shoulder joint. Essentially the rotator cuff has to work a little harder and eventually weakens and becomes inflamed, when the rotator cuff stops functioning normally you end up with the humerus travelling up into the sub-acromial space and you end up with Impingement.

    This weakening is usually due to repetitive overhead movements, too heavy a weight, over training. Your eagerness to get back into lifting is great but it will work against you in this case. A physio will be looking to restore things like full range of motion, rotator cuff strength, scapulohumeral rhythm etc etc.

    Try not to rush back too soon.

    Actually you don't have to be lifting heavy. Too much desk/keyboard/texting with poor posture is hell on the shoulders.
  • Mr_Stabbems
    Mr_Stabbems Posts: 4,771 Member
    edited July 2015
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    Mr_Stabbems wrote: »
    its more than likely secondary, its possible you might have instability in the shoulder joint. Essentially the rotator cuff has to work a little harder and eventually weakens and becomes inflamed, when the rotator cuff stops functioning normally you end up with the humerus travelling up into the sub-acromial space and you end up with Impingement.

    This weakening is usually due to repetitive overhead movements, too heavy a weight, over training. Your eagerness to get back into lifting is great but it will work against you in this case. A physio will be looking to restore things like full range of motion, rotator cuff strength, scapulohumeral rhythm etc etc.

    Try not to rush back too soon.

    Actually you don't have to be lifting heavy. Too much desk/keyboard/texting with poor posture is hell on the shoulders.

    To clarify, should have said repetitive overhead movements, too heavy a weight, OR over training. I did not mean to imply all of the above.
  • jayjay77777
    jayjay77777 Posts: 5 Member
    Yes, please see a doctor. I came down with frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) last year. It started as very minor pain and got progressively worse until I couldn't move my arm at all. I went to my regular doctor who referred me to a specialist who got me started on PT. Now it is almost completely back to normal.
  • emilybeaver
    emilybeaver Posts: 365 Member
    Thanks everyone! It definitely feels better but it still acts up every once in awhile. I'm down to just taking ibuprofen maybe 3 times a week if that. I do still think I want to go the my regular doctor and see what he says or recommends.
    To clarify. I haven't started lifting yet but now this sets back because now I can't do it for awhile yet. I think it was due to over lifting my son and dealing with him. And also it could be my desk job as well!
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