Connect
← Return to Has anyone experienced pain in the back and shoulders?
Discussion
Has anyone experienced pain in the back and shoulders?
Autoimmune Diseases | Last Active: Aug 29 3:29pm | Replies (21)Comment receiving replies
@dbianchi Welcome to Mayo Connect - Many of us come here because we are dealing with pain, and it can come from a surprising variety of sources.
You are wise to have asked for bloodwork, and to be addressing your high inflammatory markers.
One thing that caught my eye was your remark "The continued pain that has radiated concerned me..."
Something to consider is that radiating pain may be "referred pain" or what we call in our home "pain buddies". When one joint or muscle hurts, we try (even unconsciously) to protect it by tensing up muscles in the surrounding area and beyond. Pretty soon, we can become just one big ball of pain.
That is something that has happened to me. After pain management evaluation, it was determined that while I had plenty of arthritis, and some torn muscles, I have spent 3 years, off and on, having specific, targeted physical therapy with myofascial and trigger point release.
Now, quite a bit of my pain can be managed by PT visits, stretching, exercise, minimal (non-opioid) medication, deep breathing and guided imagery exercise. After 2+ years, my partially torn rotator cuff is nearly healed - at 73 I will not be digging ditches or hauling straw bales & bags of manure, but I can do nearly everything I need to - as long as I maintain my health regimen.
So, if the final result of all your testing is "inconclusive" you might consider something similar.
Have you had a PT evaluation to see if there is anything they can do to help?
Replies to "@dbianchi Welcome to Mayo Connect - Many of us come here because we are dealing with..."
Hi,
I had rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder last November. The operation was done through keyhole surgery and I was home the same day, feeling so good I checked out. Had no real pain to speak of and was back to light work within a week, despite not being allowed to use it for 5 weeks!
I was refused shoulder replacement to correct miss shaped shoulder balls and sockets in both shoulders. The reasoning was it would restrict the articulation I had. Any way I now have continual shoulder pain the radiates down through my arms and back up into my neck. Fortunately, it varies depending on the work I put them through, lifting while extending the arms are the worst. The shoulder joint no longer locks in position in the most inopportune times which makes it easier to deal with.
In terms of rotator cuff, it is fixed, in terms of pain it is worse and I wish I hadn't had the surgery.
The response I get is "we've done what we could", a great help!
It appears to be not the norm as I have friends who have had the same operation from the same surgeon and been a total success, but a more painful recovery than I had.
I have the choice of loading up on pain killers or just sucking up the pain and getting on with life, I have gone with the latter.
Interestingly I never had pain while grasping money and still don't!
Cheers
Connect
Yes, I had a PT evaluation in May and thought it could help until the MRI was completed on my right shoulder. The orthopedic surgeon then informed me that it was bone on bone and that was what was causing my pain. He said that PT wouldn’t help at this point, only a shoulder replacement. I have gone along with his recommendations but because my left began to hurt also, I decided to request more bloodwork. This past Monday I received my results. I have had cancer prior and am concerned that the high inflammation numbers can point to that. My ANA was negative which seems to suggest it is not an autoimmune disease. Rheumatologists are 3 to 4 months out. I’m looking for answers now and am hoping Mayo Clinic can help me. Thank you for responding. It is helpful information. You must know first hand how debilitating pain can be. My life went from a 10 to a 1.