Rotator Cuff Tear and Brachial Plexus Injury?

You might try active release technique on the lat, pec minor, scalene, brachial plexus, radial nerve. If you get a good ART practitioner they would be able to feel the restriction of nerve on each muscle and manually separate them. Also try red light therapy to help heal the damaged/strained nerves If you have questions you can private message me. take care

Based on my personal experience, I'm suspecting you've torn the rotator cuff in that shoulder. A year ago I fell onto my right shoulder, thereafter experiencing significant pain with particular movements. I waited 2-3 weeks before deducing that it wasn't going to "go away". The doctor ordered X-rays which showed no breaks, then gave a cortisone injection to which I reacted with even worse pain. PT was a 'wash' on the first visit so, ultimately, on October 1st I had a surgical repair of a full tear of the rotator cuff and bicep. Following surgery, the PT was long an arduous and I hated doing it (3x daily). However, I stuck with it for the prescribed 4 months and now have almost full use of that shoulder. Long story short: I feel you need to see an orthopedic surgeon. The surgery is a breeze and the recovery is a challenge but it's what needs to be done to get back on your feet, so to speak.
I hope you'll post the outcome of your injury. Best of luck in your prognosis!

PS: I'm not familiar with ART or Red Light therapy.

Welcome to Connect @questink.
It's great to hear success stories like yours. It's not easy sticking to physical therapy. I don't think anyone likes it. But hearing that you got full use of your shoulder after surgery AND keeping up an arduous PT program gives inspiration to others.

I'm tagging @karenamarcon because I think she would like to read your success story. Karen, how are your doing? Did you get surgery?

@questink you can read Karen's story here https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hi-im-new-to-the-discussions-i-have-been-in-severe-pain/

Colleen
Connect Community Director

Compared to others here, my upper arm aches seem mild. I have had 2 Total Knee Replacements (one excellent, the other pretty good with lingering numbness - neither were that painful overall). But now i have LEFT Shoulder impingement for which I did P.T. for months, BUT and since it hurts a little to do it, I do very little now. Weird - I can play a racquet sport LEFT handed (Pickleball) and feel GREAT. But then the pain/immobility returns. But here is the puzzle: for a year my upper arms - around biceps - ache at night and feel a tiny bit numb during the day,. This is not PAIN, but it is aches and increasing. I do have the shoulder impingement in LEFT arm and also have had RIGHT neck stenosis for years - but not much of a problem - I get rid of it by doing a few minutes of isometric exercise - an easy fix. I cannot figure out what the shoulder aches are all about. I will return to the orthopedist re shoulder impingement to determine next step. I DO NOT WANT SURGERY - since I had TKR and Gallbladder surgery this year. Enough is enough.
I also have circulatory issues in legs - but no one has a fix except "wear support stockings" and I have no problem walking or playing Pickleball. However, climbing UPstairs has become VERY tiring (never happened before) and going DOWNstairs I have to hold on and concentrate on rhythm - but no pain.
Any ideas anyone?

@tennisgolf You may want to consider a physical therapist who does myofascial release. This works wonders on the soft tissue issues where impingement interferes with proper movement or compresses nerves or blood vessels. I have thoracic outlet syndrome which causes compression of nerves and vessels to my arms, and I've had shoulder tightness and prior issues of a SLAP tear in the capsule, and in the other, a frozen shoulder. MFR is stretching of the fascia and is good when strength exercises are too painful to do. It takes patience to work through the tight layers of fascia and scar tissue from injuries or surgery, but it's worth it and by restoring normal function, it can help avoid surgery, or if surgery is needed, it makes recovery easier. In addition to TOS, I have had cervical spine surgery, and MFR helps break up the scar tissue and tightness from surgery. Here is a link to a discussion on MFR with a lot of information.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/

TOS does cause symptoms similar to what you describe and is often worse at night. A neurologist may be able to diagnose it if they are in a teaching medical center that treats TOS. A lot of doctors miss it and misunderstand it. There is surgery for TOS, but it can make it much worse by causing scar tissue, so physical therapy may be preferred as it is in my case.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20353988
https://trainingandrehabilitation.com/how-truly-treat-thoracic-outlet-syndrome/