Tendinitis....... Shoulder or Bicep

[curtisj76]

I'm hoping this is what I have and not a tear or something. But how can I determine if I have tendinitis in the upper bicep or shoulder/rotator cuff? Thanks

[SwingNorthtoSouth]

This is a very complicated joint due to the many motions its responsible for. It could even stem from a problem from the neck and shoulder blade region which eventually goes through the shoulder and down toward the bicep. Great question and hopefully an expect can answer this............

[mb6606]

My opinion it is always due to the shoulder muscles.
http://www.mypressureproducts.com/pa...ence_chart.htm
Get a hard rubber ball (lacrosse ball) and start rubbing the shoulder and neck trigger points against a wall.
The will be sore to the touch but within a week will loosen up along with the shoulder.

[Julian]

Curtis76

The long head of biceps runs beneath the rotaor cuff then down the front of the shoulder where it joins the biceps belly

Biciptial tendinitis is felt in the front of the shoulder. If yoy roll your fingers across the front of the shoulder you can feel the tendon.

Put your elbow at your side and your forearm out in front. Now flex and extend your elbow. Try turning your forearm on its axis (pronation/supination). Pian felyt anteriorly with these actions is often bicipital in nature.

Rotator cuff tendinitis is felt over the outer shoulder and upper arm. Typically it is hard to sleep on the side at night. Place your arm straight by your side and raise it sideways in an arc above your head. If you have pain as the arm goes through horizontal this is typical of rotator cuff pathology. Weakness can mean a cuff tear.

Exercise can help both these conditions (but cannot repair a tear) and Im sure Vickii will have some advice re these.

Remember if in doubt or you are getting worse see a doctor. If it is your right arm beware that cardiac pain can refer to the right shoulder so if you have a cardiac history, any chest tightness or jaw pain call an ambulance!

[curtisj76]

I assume it's tendenitis since it went away and then came back. I would think a tear would be constant.

[curtisj76]

Besides rest and ice, anything else I can do?

[dcg1952]

Curtisj76,
Rest and ice are fine and probably a little Advil/Aleve may help with the pain. The gentleman posting as Julian is an orthopedic surgeon in New Zealand (you've been "outed" Julian!). He has given you the proper advice. One thing I might reiterate is the pain felt at night while sleeping is classic for rotator cuff problems. I see this a lot in my practice (I'm a family practice doc) and my wife has had both of her rotator cuffs repaired. The thing she complained about both times was minor problems during the day but couldn't sleep at night--and as a result I didn't sleep well either! Did you do the tests Dr Julian suggested??? What were your results?? I'm sure when Vickie and/or Physioguy find this thread they can help you with some exercises/rehab. Hope you get this solved soon---the warm weather is on its way! Dr Dave

[SwingNorthtoSouth]

This is a great Thread. I too have this problem. But it stemmed from an accident 20 years ago. I was riding a motrocycle about 20 miles an hour and this lady comes out from between two cars. I brace and lock my arms straight holding the handle bars as her legs hit my engine and then her body side swipes my right shoulder. I didn't fall but she spent a week in the hospital . That same day I started to feel a tired shoulder when I washed my hair. Never got it checked out. But years later went to a chiropractor. He said that the pain in my neck through my shoulder and into my bicep stemmed from the shoulder blade. Sometime my shoulder feels fine but at times I can't bench press or do chest flys. Cab someone help???....thanks r

[Vickie]

Yea, shoulders are a tricky subject since there can be so many potential and complimentary problems. Julian is right as Dr. Dave encouraged you to try his tests. It will atleast give you a direction. I have found a common cause of shoulder pain whether it winds up being rotator cuff or bicipial in nature. It is a weakness in the lower trapezius muscle that allows for faulty shoulder position. When your scapula rides up (you will see with rounded shoulders) it also tilts anteriorly allowing the Pectoralis minor to shorten and perpetuate the problem. I recommend doing a strength training program with more emphasis on the full range of motion in proper position than on the quantity of weight. This is often tricky since I usually see people doing a butterfly exercise by opening their arms but not the chest. Take your mind to the muscle you are working and you will feel the chest opening and expanding and the arms just serve the process. Likewise a cable lat pull down is often pulled with the biceps minimizing the power you bring to the large lat muscle. Any time you do an exercise or a stretch, take a minute and engage (tense) the muscle you are focused on and then let your extremities follow the pathway.

I would refer you back to an earlier thread with Martee where a number of exercises are listed in detail. He had great results and you can too. Just bring you mind to your muscles and enjoy freedom from pain. Remember, consistency is the secret. Vickie

[SwingNorthtoSouth]

Thanks Vicki,my Chiro just gave me ultra sound on my shoulder.As he was applying the sound, he hit a nerve so to apeak and I felt a pain from my neck through my shoulder to my forearm.That whole area became weak............