My Right Shoulder/Upper arm update

On checking my blogs it was the year 2000 since i last had serious problems with my shoulder, I have been getting pain for the past few days and i have made excuses, it is my Zumba exercises, i am reading a heavy hard backed book.

But today i can no longer kid myself, my left fingers are numb and tingling, my upper arm is painful which is restricting movement in my shoulder, if i stretch or carry the pain becomes unbearable. Something as basic as getting dressed is so painful.

It has been a difficult day at work, unable to use the computer or the till efficiently.

I no longer have a doctor i can go to, i do not know what to do, those years ago i had months and months of agony and tears, i just cannot face going through it again, but i was warned it could return.

In 2000 the diagnosis was Subluxation

 A subluxation may have different meanings, depending on the medical specialty involved. It implies the presence of an incomplete or partial dislocation (Latin: luxatio)^[1] of a joint or organ.^[2] The World Health Organization (WHO) defines both the medical subluxation and the chiropractic subluxation. It contrasts the two and states in a footnote that a medical subluxation is a "significant structural displacement, and therefore visible on static imaging studies."^[3]

Orthopedics

An orthopedic subluxation of any joint will usually need medical attention to help relocate or reduce the joint. Nursemaid's elbow is the subluxation of the head of the radius from the annular ligament. Other joints that are prone to subluxations are the shoulders, fingers, kneecaps, and hips affected by hip dysplasia. A spinal subluxation is relatively rare, but can sometimes impinge on spinal nerve roots, causing symptoms in the areas served by those roots. In the spine, such a displacement may be caused by a fracture, spondylolisthesis or severe osteoarthritis.

However it could be this, as the pain is centred on my upper arm??

Rotator cuff tear also known as Shoulder tendonitis

The term "rotator cuff" refers to a group of four tendons that blend together as they attach to the upper end of the arm bone (humerus). Normally these tendons transmit the force of muscles originating on the shoulder blade (scapula) to the arm providing motion and stability. The most commonly affected tendon is that of the supraspinatus muscle. Defects in the rotator cuff can come from an injury (cuff tear) or from degeneration (cuff wear). The degree to which a tendon is reparable depends on its quantity and quality. Degenerated tendons are often frail and retracted and may not be amenable to repair. Individuals that are elderly, smokers, or those having had cortisone injections often have weaker tendon tissue that fails without a significant injury. By contrast those whose tendon was torn by a substantial fall often have good quality tendon that can be repaired if surgery is performed promptly after the injury. The symptoms of rotator cuff disease include difficulty lifting the arm. Repair of a rotator cuff requires that the tendon be securely anchored to the bone at surgery and that the repair be protected for several months during healing. Further information that should be considered in the treatment of rotator cuff tears can be found at University of Washington School of Medicine.

Or it could be Shoulder Bursitis.

Impingement syndrome is a descriptive term of pinching of the tendons and bursa of the rotator cuff between bones. In many individuals with this problem, the shape of their bones is such that they have less space than others. Therefore, small thickenings of the tendons or bursa can cause symptoms.
Often there is an initial injury that sets off the process of inflammation. Thereafter, the problem can be self-exacerbating. Once there is an initial injury, the tendons and bursa become inflamed. This inflammation causes a thickening of these structures. The thickening then takes up more space, and therefore the tendons and bursa become are pinched upon even more. This causes more inflammation, and more thickening of the tendons and bursa, and so on.

Symptoms of Shoulder Bursitis

Common symptoms include:

• Pain with overhead activities (arm above head height)
• Pain while sleeping at night
• Pain over the outside of the shoulder/upper arm

Non Surgical Treatments

Treatments of inflammatory conditions usually starts with some simple steps, and becomes more advanced as needed. Some basic treatment steps include:

• Rest and Protect The Area
  Treatment must begin by avoiding aggravating movements. This may mean taking a break from a favorite activity for a period of time, but this is a necessary step to allow the inflammation to subside.
• Apply an Ice Pack
  Icing the area of inflammation is an important aspect of treatment. The ice will help control the inflammation and decrease swelling. By minimizing inflammation and swelling, the tendons and bursa can return to their usual state and perform as usual.
• Take Anti-Inflammatory Medications
  Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) can help reduce inflammation and ease painful symptoms. Use anti-inflammatory medications under the direction of your physician.
• Cortisone Injections
  If the symptoms of tendonitis or bursitis are persistent, an injection of cortisone may be considered. Cortisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory medication. But instead of being given by mouth, it is injected directly to the site of inflammation. This can be extremely helpful for situations that are not improved with rest.

Bob had a word with the Pharmacist  who recommended Ibupropen (nurofen) and Paraceymol.

http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/rotatorcuff/a/shbursitis.htm