Runners Question... Pain in shoulder

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fatty2begone
fatty2begone Posts: 249 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I've been running consistently for the past year. Recently, last 10 days, I have been experiencing a strong pain in my left shoulder when running. It started with just a mild pain that would go away after the 1st mile. The pain has been lasting the entire run into the day/night. Needing Advil or Tylenol as well as a muscle pain rub.

The pain is the entire left shoulder area that wraps around to the upper most portion of the left breast at about 12:00 position. I had a deep massage on Tuesday and the pain I was experiencing mostly went away with just soreness like a stiff neck when turned. The breast pain was concerning and I had a mammogram done today which was normal. (Thank God)

The pain in the shoulder and breast area has been mostly gone since the massage. The last prior run was on Monday, massage Tuesday. I ran again today. After half a mile the shoulder pain started again, was getting intense so I quit at the 1 mile mark. I walked home 1 mile. No intense pain, just a dull ache. After resting for about 2 hours now, I have no pain currently.

I am wondering if this could be related to a muscle pull from running? Is it possible my shoes may be at the end of life? I was estimating another month wear before retiring. In the past shin pains was the signal of needing new shoes.

If anyone has any thoughts, would appreciate your input. Thank You

Replies

  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,126 Member
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    Talk to your doctor. it might be nothing major, or it could be the first sign of bigger problems,
  • fatty2begone
    fatty2begone Posts: 249 Member
    edited May 2023
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    Edit to original post.. Should be right shoulder, not left shoulder. I do have an appointment with primary doctor on May 18th. Just curious if anyone has had any experience with similar experience. I am going to get new shoes between now and doc appointment to see if that has anything to do with the shoulder pain.

    Just a side note: my heart rate, blood pressure is all normal. I am not light headed or fatigued. I run at a slow pace, a comfortable pace.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
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    Are you tensing up when you run? Try keeping your arms and shoulders really loose and relaxed and that may help.

    If it continues and your doctor can't pinpoint it ask for a referral to sports medicine doctor, a lot of GPs don't have a great deal of experience with sports injuries (good example....years ago I got some really wonky liver enzyme numbers during routine blood work, my GP was baffled as there was no jaundice, no digestive problems etc and I was running about 40km a week at that point. I got referred to a liver specialist who just happened to be a runner who asked if if I was running on days I got bloodwork done. He told me to stop and the situation resolved itself pretty much overnight).
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,874 Member
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    I doubt it's your shoes. Most likely you are tensing up as you run (as mentioned) and/or you have tension in your traps and/or lats and possibly triceps. I had a similar issue for which I ended up going to a sports "clinic" that works on a bunch of the pro and amateur MMA fighters here in town. I was pretty convinced that I had some kind of internal injury...maybe rotator cuff issue, etc and they were like, "nah...your traps and lats are tight and pulling on your shoulder joint in multiple directions." Sure enough, they worked out my traps and my lats and then gave me some stretches to do at home and a lacrosse ball and I haven't had any issues since.
  • fatty2begone
    fatty2begone Posts: 249 Member
    edited May 2023
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    Thank you Brian & Cwolfman for the replies.

    Looking at traps and lats exercises to see if it is something I can resolve. If no luck, once I see the primary, get her opinion, a sports doc might be in order.

    I am going to try for another run tomorrow morning. I will keep my shoulders relaxed, posture good and see what happens.

    Happy Cinco de Mayo with lots of tacos and margaritas for all!
  • westrich20940
    westrich20940 Posts: 878 Member
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    I'll echo...might be you are tense...try to keep your upper body/shoulders loose.

    And if you feel like your GP doesn't seem confident...depending on which state you live in( if in the US) you don't need a referral for a PT in some places and can just go get an appt.
  • fatty2begone
    fatty2begone Posts: 249 Member
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    I ran 3 miles yesterday, after taking a week off running. No pain in the shoulder area today. I think rest, ice/heat, and exercises cwolfman mentioned all helped.

    Have a great weekend!
  • wetpansy
    wetpansy Posts: 2 Member
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    Have same issues but only right shoulder .. have your nerves checked coming out of your neck area .. mri .. but definitely mention it to your dr .
  • BrightEyedAgain
    BrightEyedAgain Posts: 243 Member
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    Sometimes what feels like shoulder pain can actually originate from a misalignment in the neck or upper spine. You could also have a rib contributing. The muscles keep tensing because they're compensating for the misalignment. That's why massage helps but the pain returns. A visit to a good chiropractor should be able to help if this is your issue. Mine has helped me a lot with a similar issue.

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