Referred Pain

[Region3]

3 years ago I had tendinitis in my left shoulder, which was eventually cured with an injection.

In February I started to get the exact same pain in my right shoulder. Same movements causing the same pain in the same area (upper arm).

The physio diagnosed it as tendinitis (textbook with regards to movement and pain) and have been treated for it on and off since then.
It didn't seem to be getting better, and actually got worse in the last couple of months so I went to the doctors who booked me in for a scan to see exactly where the damage was to best know what part of my shoulder to target for the injection.

Got the results last Friday and.... there's nothing wrong with it. No inflammation or protrusions or bits of anything that shouldn't be there. Perfectly healthy.

The doctor thought it was good news but to me it's terrible news, because the restricted movement and pain are very real and as bad as ever. It's painful to put a scorecard in my back pocket, that is not normal. I nearly wrote it's painful to get my wallet out but that would be asking for trouble

So it's either all in my head, or there is another problem somewhere else that is causing pain in my arm.
Neither of the above is something I can get my head round.


I know it's a long shot as we're all finely tuned athletes on here, but my question is, has anybody else had symptoms of one thing that turned out to be something else, and just how far removed from the pain has the cause been?

Thanks,
Frustrated of Leicester.

 

[Rooter]

I'll tell you next week, off to see a specialist about my knee next week. Hopefully wont need the 4th round of surgery on it and he will tell me the pain is caused by something else! (although i know the pain, its torn cartilage again!)

 

[Break90]

Gary, I've been suffering from lower back and hip pain on my left side for a few months. Had a course of 12 physio sessions with no improvement, then got referred for an MRI scan.

Expecting the worst due to the level of pain gradually getting worse, the feedback from the consultant was that my lower spine and hip were in fine shape for my age, with little to no degeneration.

A disc in my upper spine (right hand side) was showing signs of bulging, the pain from which can apparently refer to lower left back and left hip. So to answer your question, the cause of the pain is around 18 inches away from the pain itself.

Makes no sense to me tbh, but the consultant seemed to know what he was talking about, and has assured me that a steroid injection plus a permanent flexibility and core strength regime will sort out both the pain and the cause.

Hope you get it sorted soon

 

[JT77]

Not sure if it's the same as you r3 but I have plenty of pain in my right shoulder range of movement is fine, but it fatigues and is painful. Had an MRI and it showed nothing, pain is still there, the doc told me it was subacromial bursitis caused by age, I was 36 at the time 😱 And general wear and tear. He said the could do some exploratory surgery and try to open the between the muscle and bone incase there was a spur rubbing causing the pain. Spoke to friend who is a surgeon and he said o weigh the pros and cons, no guarantee it would help and looking at 6 weeks to 6 months of rehab, scar tissue could cause more problems in the future than the op might cure so I decided against it. Pain is still there, I am not a strong with right shoulder as with left, but it's no worse, and actually whilst I have been training it feels better, I don't carry my golf bag in summer anymore which helps too and do a good bit stretching.

Hope it gets better soon.

 

[GreiginFife]

3 years ago I had tendinitis in my left shoulder, which was eventually cured with an injection.

In February I started to get the exact same pain in my right shoulder. Same movements causing the same pain in the same area (upper arm).

The physio diagnosed it as tendinitis (textbook with regards to movement and pain) and have been treated for it on and off since then.
It didn't seem to be getting better, and actually got worse in the last couple of months so I went to the doctors who booked me in for a scan to see exactly where the damage was to best know what part of my shoulder to target for the injection.

Got the results last Friday and.... there's nothing wrong with it. No inflammation or protrusions or bits of anything that shouldn't be there. Perfectly healthy.

The doctor thought it was good news but to me it's terrible news, because the restricted movement and pain are very real and as bad as ever. It's painful to put a scorecard in my back pocket, that is not normal. I nearly wrote it's painful to get my wallet out but that would be asking for trouble

So it's either all in my head, or there is another problem somewhere else that is causing pain in my arm.
Neither of the above is something I can get my head round.


I know it's a long shot as we're all finely tuned athletes on here, but my question is, has anybody else had symptoms of one thing that turned out to be something else, and just how far removed from the pain has the cause been?

Thanks,
Frustrated of Leicester.

Can't help with your shoulder specifically Gary but it's not uncommon for issues elsewhere to cause an effect somewhere else.
Last year I was referred to a consultant 3 times because my fingers on my left hand kept going numb. I was sent for carpal scans and scans of my arm but no issue found.
Chance discussion with a GP that used to be a specialist in musculoskeletal problems referred me to get my back scheduled out. Lot and behold I had a trapped nerve on my upper vertibrae and the knock on effect was down my arm and into my hands.
Fixed relatively quickly thereafter.

Hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

 

[Maninblack4612]

You could try to find a reputable Chiropractor. Ethan may well be on soon to say they don't do any good but the guy I saw cured a neck problem that was never going to go away by itself. If the problem is elsewhere a good chiropractor could well pinpoint it.

 

[Imurg]

I've had a similar issue with my right hand - he knuckle of the index finger.
Sometimes hurts like hell and I can barely pick up a cup let alone hold a club. Thankfully it doesn't last long
When it first started it swelled up like a horse fly bite on speed.
Had it X-rayed, had blood tests and inspections by doctors but the haven't got a clue what's going on.
Nothing shows up.
I'm just getting on with it until it stops me playing - then I might get something done about it...if there is anything they can do to something they can't find....

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Gary, I had a similar thing that turned out to be a neck alignment problem

Session on the torture table and all was well, osteopath was where I went

 

[One Planer]

3 years ago I had tendinitis in my left shoulder, which was eventually cured with an injection.

In February I started to get the exact same pain in my right shoulder. Same movements causing the same pain in the same area (upper arm).

The physio diagnosed it as tendinitis (textbook with regards to movement and pain) and have been treated for it on and off since then.
It didn't seem to be getting better, and actually got worse in the last couple of months so I went to the doctors who booked me in for a scan to see exactly where the damage was to best know what part of my shoulder to target for the injection.

Got the results last Friday and.... there's nothing wrong with it. No inflammation or protrusions or bits of anything that shouldn't be there. Perfectly healthy.

The doctor thought it was good news but to me it's terrible news, because the restricted movement and pain are very real and as bad as ever. It's painful to put a scorecard in my back pocket, that is not normal. I nearly wrote it's painful to get my wallet out but that would be asking for trouble

So it's either all in my head, or there is another problem somewhere else that is causing pain in my arm.
Neither of the above is something I can get my head round.


I know it's a long shot as we're all finely tuned athletes on here, but my question is, has anybody else had symptoms of one thing that turned out to be something else, and just how far removed from the pain has the cause been?

Thanks,
Frustrated of Leicester.

Gettings Frustrated from Leicester from Bemused in Stoke.

I've been having, as most on here are aware, with wrist issues since 2013.

I've had MRI, ultrasound and an MR Arthrogram to try and diagnose. All came back clear.

Since then I've had a further ultrasound investigation which appears to have located the issue.

Turns out that where I actually feel pain (where my wrist joins my hand on the inside) isn't where the issue is

Turns out the Ulnar nerve in my forearm is being compressed by 2 muscle head attachments literally just before my elbow.

3 years they've been lookin in the wrong place :angry:

I now have an appointment for January 18th with a view to managing the issue.

Don't give up on it Gary. If you're not happy get back to the doctor.

 

[Paperboy]

I had a knee injury that was being caused by poor posture and tight calf muscles.

Unfortunately my knees fixed and buggered up my ankle now 😟

 

[chellie]

Bowen technique and/or Emmett therapy do wonders for me. Was introduced to it my our golf pro. Far better results than the Physio I've had in the past for neck and shoulder problems.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

My wife has had Bowen thingy....she said left her emotionally beaten (why i dont know) but sorted her pain problem. I always consider accupuncture, as I have found it often works way before surgery or drugs.

 

[USER1999]

Sounds like neck issues to me. No reason, other than i think it is. See a decent osteopath can get checked out. The right physio could probably sort it too, but id rather see an osteopath. Chiropractors, no. Not for me.