Need A Neck/Shoulder Muscle Expert

[Christine]

My maladies just go on and on.

Last Friday, I had two moles biopsied in my mid-back. As a result, I have to keep band-aids on the biopsy sites for awhile. Over the weekend, I had help at home to attach the band-aids, but starting on Monday, I was alone while getting dressed and had to get these bandages on and off myself. It wasn't easy AT ALL. I was quite the contortionist and, based on the location of the moles, I could only seem to use my left arm/hand to place the band-aids.

On Monday evening, I noticed that my shoulder was a bit sore. When I woke up Tuesday morning, the top of my shoulder and the front of my collar bone (just the *knob* part of the collar bone) were so painful, it felt like a knife was sticking in there. When I touch that knob part of the collar bone, it was very tender. So, I threw on a Thermacare heat bandage and popped some Ibuprofen and went to work. As the day wore on, it seemed to be a bit better. This morning it was still okay. But, by the time I got to work it seemed like it was hurting more. Oh, and I stopped putting the band-aids on, so I didn't reinjure it.

Now, this evening it is KILLING me. It hurts to touch the front of my collar bone (left side) and the top of my left shoulder and left side of the neck are tender and sore. There is no swelling, but it hurts like HECK.

What did I do? Do you think this is muscular? Which muscle? Or is it a group of muscles. It hurts really bad.

I'm just so dumb when it comes to identifying what this area is. I've NEVER pulled a muscle where it actually hurt to even touch it.

Any ideas?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Could be you pulled something while reaching to do the bandaids. Could be a neck strain (which can cause shoulder problems) or it could be something in the shoulder that you pulled. (edited--misread your post, so my guess does not apply).


I have neck and shoulder problems (12 years now ) and the pain when it comes can be excruciating at times. I am not an expert so only gave you my guess based on my years of problems and what PT's and docs have told me.

I'm at the point in my life where I may start begging for muscle relaxers so that I have something to make it relax immediately.

You may wish to go to a doctor to have it checked out and get something for pain relief. Rest and time should make it better. The muscle relaxers and/or pain killers make it more tolerable.

For non-medicinal treatment--once you are diagnosed, you may be able to see a chiropractor or massage therapist for assistance. Or ask for a referral to PT--they can use electric stimulation that will cause the muscles to relax as well as treat you for your ailment.

I hope you get better! The pains in my shoulders when they are in spasm are the worst.

 

[Christine]

Could be you pulled something while reaching to do the bandaids. Could be a neck strain (which can cause shoulder problems) or it could be something in the shoulder that you pulled. (edited--misread your post, so my guess does not apply)..

Yes this is what I did. Putting those bandaids on made me put my left arm behind me, bent the arm the elbow, and then tried for force my hand up above the area where the bra strap lies in order to get the bandaid on. It was even worse when trying to pull the bandaid off.
[/QUOTE]

The top of the collar bone (center) is what hurts the worst. Wow, when I touch it, it is just awful. My husband asked if maybe I could have broken my collar bone but I think they are more likely to crack in the center of the bone versus that top portion. I'm guessing there is some tendon connected right at the knob of the collar bone? God, it hurt so bad I lost my appetite for dinner. The ibuprofen seems to be kicking in a bit and taking the edge off.

Any idea how long these strains hurt for? I am NOT an athlete and hardly ever hurt myself. I just don't know what to expect.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

without knowing the reason for the injury (i.e. what is actually injured) hard to say.

I had muscle spasms this weekend and I used shiatsu and hubby hands to get them worked out. Today is the first day I noticed that the feeling of muscular spasm and ache was dissipated. And that is just b/c I know what to do and can tell when it is coming on. For a fresh trauma--I have no idea. I had actually injured my neck--but the problem ended up involving my shoulders. I didn't go to PT for a year and when I did it was 2 months before I saw any significant improvement.

At the time of my injury I wasn't an athlete either. Just jumped feet first from a 10m high dive in a water fitness class in college. Basically had the equivilant of whiplash. The doctors affectionately termed it water lash. Unfortunately I think part of my issues were improper treatment (They didn't send me to PT for 1 year).

It would only serve helpful for you to see an urgent care doc tomorrow. If your pain gets worse or your range of motion becomes less---then don't even question seeing a doc--just go.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

wanted to add that I was given some strong meds when I first had my injury.

Ibuprofen helps with inflammation--but if you are having muscular issues, it will not help that any.

(hence why I am ready to ask for a minimal dosage muscle relaxer just to have it on hand for my shoulders when they decide to misbehave).

 

[heart4pooh]

I'm a massage therapist. You would have to see a doctor to rule out anything more serious, but it sounds like you pulled a muscle. Yes, there are tendons that attach in that area. Personally, I would ice it for 10-15 min every hour and gently massage where it is tender. You would want to increase the circualtion in the tendon. But, do it gently. No sense in inflicting more pain in the area (that would be my job ). Muscle pain can be real painful, but other than muscle relaxers and anti inflammatories like ibuprofen there isn't a lot a doctor could do. If you can get in for a 1/2 hr therapeutic massage to your neck and shoulders it would probably get better faster. It's too early to say if you will need PT. Just one massage could do wonders. Remember of course that I am not a doctor nor should I play one on the DIS

 

[Christine]

Thank you heart4pooh. I'm definitely trying to AVOID a doctor visit. I've been there so many times since January, I think he's sick of seeing me. But if I get really bad, I'll just have to go. But I suspect that there's not much he can do for me or would do for me at this point--just determine that nothing is broken, and then probably put me on pills for a week and if it didn't get better, he'd probably send me for PT.

I'm just such a ninny. I can actually tolerate the pain as long as I know things are "probably ok." I just constantly worry that I've done something horrendous to myself. I know that most people wouldn't worry as much as I do.

I did use to see a chiropractor last year for my back. I'd almost prefer to go to him. He did use a massage therapist but, apparently, she was so good and so busy that it took weeks to get in with her.

 

[ohiominnie]

I pulled something last summer in my neck/shoulder area. Usually a little rubbing would help my muscle pulls, but I was at my mom's and she rubbed it a little harder than I would have rubbed it. The next day I could not move. Literally. I could not get out of bed without crying and falling back into bed. ANY movement made it spasm. It was AWFUL. Luckily my mom had had muscle injuries in the past (and with dh being a doctor I felt ok taking some medication) and I took one of her muscle relaxants. That was the only way I made it through the next week or so.

Now I have a supply at home b/c I tend to pull muscles in my upper back and neck easily (poor conditioning, poor posture and I hold all of my tension in my neck) Literally I can pull a muscle putting on a shirt.....luckily it usually doesn't amount to much more than a little soreness, but I won't be without my muscle relaxants in case it goes as far as it did last July!

Oh, yeah, and I won't let my mom rub my neck anymore!!!!

I'd say see a doctor. Rule out anything bad, although muscle pulls can hurt pretty badly and I'd venture to guess that's what's causing your problem.
Good luck!

 

[ohiominnie]

I did use to see a chiropractor last year for my back. I'd almost prefer to go to him. He did use a massage therapist but, apparently, she was so good and so busy that it took weeks to get in with her.

I know a LOT of ppl go to the chiropractor, but let me just add....
a friend of ours (who was the best man at our wedding) went to a chiropractor a few years ago (he was 35.) He ended up having a stroke b/c he had a disecting verterbral anneurysm. He was told he was LUCKY he was alive and he should NEVER go to a chiropractor again!

FWIW, YMMV, IMHO (for what it's worth, your milage may vary, in my humble opinion)