Falling and Shoulder Pain

Posted by suzanne2 @suzanne2, Dec 12, 2020

Over a week ago I was at home bagging up unwanted clothes. I accidentally tripped on one of the full bags on the floor. I jerked my right arm trying to catch myself from falling. I have been in tremendous pain since in my right shoulder. Two days ago I was attempting to pull a sweater over my head and I heard a pop and my right shoulder popped back in place. I never knew that my daily 10 level pain was caused by my shoulder being out of socket. I thought I had pulled something in my arm. So my arm is back in socket but I am still in terrible pain. Any suggestions on what to do. I have been putting heat on it when home and voltaren gel, icy hot etc.I was going to go to the doctor but since it popped back in I figure there is no not much they can do. It is a level 8-10 on the pain scale but we know I am not going to get any pain medication.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bones, Joints & Muscles Support Group.

@suzanne2 Ouch! Reading your post made my shoulder twinge in compassion.

I haven't had that problem. All I can think of is if there is someone in your house who can massage your shoulder area, and work in the pain lotion? Also, look into getting a professional massage for muscle discomfort. Either way, I really hope it clears up for you. If you feel the need, please have it checked by your doctor.
Ginger

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@gingerw Thanks for the advice. A massage is definitely helpful. I had invested a few weeks ago in a massager from Amazon. It has heat also and it does feel really good. Painful at first but with heat it helps relax my shoulder and neck muscles. I guess since it was out of socket for a while it is going to take some babying and time to feel better. I made the mistake yesterday of knitting on a sweater. After over doing it I found that I also use upper arm and shoulder muscles to knit and was in tremendous pain last night. So no knitting today. I have to let it rest and use the heating pad on it. 🙂

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@suzanne2

@gingerw Thanks for the advice. A massage is definitely helpful. I had invested a few weeks ago in a massager from Amazon. It has heat also and it does feel really good. Painful at first but with heat it helps relax my shoulder and neck muscles. I guess since it was out of socket for a while it is going to take some babying and time to feel better. I made the mistake yesterday of knitting on a sweater. After over doing it I found that I also use upper arm and shoulder muscles to knit and was in tremendous pain last night. So no knitting today. I have to let it rest and use the heating pad on it. 🙂

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@suzanne2 Paying attention to what our bodies are telling us, is very important, and I think is a key to helping to heal. You found that out by knitting too much. If you are like me, crocheting or knitting is a way to relax, and "get your mind off things". That is, until we overdo it, and our fingers/hands/shoulders remind us! When our cat is on my lap, and I crochet, I am holding the piece and yarn differently, uncomfortably so, so that she doesn't constantly try to "help" me. My shoulders remind me that was not smart!

Your muscles got stretched out for a while, having the shoulder out of place. Please be gentle on yourself, and relish the progress of baby steps to get it back to where it should be.
Ginger

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@suzanne2
Oh my gosh Suzanne, I am sorry to hear about your mishap. Please do watch out so you don't fall again. Falling is the thing that scares me the most about my wife when I am not around. She is prone to getting dizzy and lately she says that when she turns, like even 90 degrees, her head tells her to keep turning, i.e. she doesn't stop, which means she can easily fall.

Please baby that arm, give it time to rest and heal. Hopefully it will do that on it's own. I mean that originally was what our bodies were supposed to be able to do, right? Heal themselves with some rest? Best to you, Hank

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I don't see why why you shouldn't be prescribed painkillers anti-inflammatories take for a short period even if the shoulder has popped back into place there will be some information you may need to rest your arm in a sling and or or have it taped up or wear a shoulder support to provide a bit of support while everything calmss down

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@suzanne2 You are in a lot of pain due to a fall where your shoulder was hurt and you are looking for answers.

You'll notice that I moved your discussion to the Bones, Joints & Muscles group. I did this so you could more easily connect with members like @lotsofpain @ess77 @artscaping @faithwalker007 @angelameyer @avmcbellar @happyat76 @suz55 @carolasc that may be better able to answer your question about shoulders/joints specifically.

Because of the unknown nature of your injury I have linked a few discussions below related to the shoulder.

- Tear in shoulder labrum https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tear-in-shoulder-labrum/
- Shoulder Bursitis https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/shoulder-bursitis/
- Hip and Shoulder https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hip-and-shoulder/

It sounds like you don't believe seeing a provider would be helpful because you are not, "going to get any pain medication." Besides the pain I'm wondering if you've considered that you may need imaging in order to rule out broken bones, torn muscles, the need for surgery, etc.?

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I hope you won’t do as I did and end up with a frozen shoulder!! It was horrific almost two years to get better. I’d advise seeing a doctor immediately. The less you use your shoulder the worse it will get b

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@erikas

@suzanne2 You are in a lot of pain due to a fall where your shoulder was hurt and you are looking for answers.

You'll notice that I moved your discussion to the Bones, Joints & Muscles group. I did this so you could more easily connect with members like @lotsofpain @ess77 @artscaping @faithwalker007 @angelameyer @avmcbellar @happyat76 @suz55 @carolasc that may be better able to answer your question about shoulders/joints specifically.

Because of the unknown nature of your injury I have linked a few discussions below related to the shoulder.

- Tear in shoulder labrum https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tear-in-shoulder-labrum/
- Shoulder Bursitis https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/shoulder-bursitis/
- Hip and Shoulder https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hip-and-shoulder/

It sounds like you don't believe seeing a provider would be helpful because you are not, "going to get any pain medication." Besides the pain I'm wondering if you've considered that you may need imaging in order to rule out broken bones, torn muscles, the need for surgery, etc.?

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@erikas Thanks for the connections. You have given me a lot of information that I hadn't considered. I called my PCP office yesterday and was told they have no means to x-ray or image at their office so that would mean the ER. I feel like because of COVID the ER rooms here are a zoo on weekends so I am trying to be gentle in hopes it will improve. West Michigan is having a huge increase in COVID cases, and where I teach is finally seeing cases and teachers and children are having to quarantine. I know this is off topic but I am honestly not looking forward to this coming week of teaching kindergarten. Between the virus and my shoulder I could use an early Christmas break!

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@suzanne2 can't your PCP refer you to imaging within the hospital? May I ask if you live in a rural area?

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