[baba222]

Hi,
Now due to posture and fetal position while sleeping, I have tendinitis in my left shoulder and starting in my right.
Any ideas or suggestions, oh, wise ones?
Tried exercises from PT. Applying heat as needed. Youtubed it to death.
Want some real life suggestions.
Pain is sometimes is sharp, mostly achy and slowly losing range of motion.
TIA

[mrsD]

Try ice...instead of heat. Heat often overused inflames nerve pain.

Try the Aspercream Lidocaine cream. I find that takes the sting
out of most tendon strains I get.

Also try carnitine supplements. Start at 500mg a day for a week, and increase by 500mg a week until relief.

[baba222]

Originally Posted by mrsD

Try ice...instead of heat. Heat often overused inflames nerve pain.

Try the Aspercream Lidocaine cream. I find that takes the sting
out of most tendon strains I get.

Also try carnitine supplements. Start at 500mg a day for a week, and increase by 500mg a week until relief.

Thank you mrsD.

Is it ALC?

http://www.amazon.com/Foods-Acetyl-L.../dp/B000QSLINE

Even though this has been going on for 2 months, still use ice?

And how often?

[mrsD]

Yes, that is the carnitine. You might find a smaller bottle with a smaller $$ to start with. That way if it doesn't work, you won't have lots of left overs. If you like it, you can get a larger one on the second round. It takes about a week or two to get going...so don't be impatient.

Yes, I use ice packs all the time. My chiro years ago cautioned against heat for more than 10-15minutes a day.

Most of the time just once a day with the ice pack is enough for me. You might have to use twice a day.

You may be developing frozen shoulder. I hope not. Google that, as it can be difficult to fix.

Also put the magnesium lotion on that area each day. Sleeping on it may be reducing circulation to those tissues.

[Jomar]

I'd try to change sleeping postures, use pillows to prop or to help keep you flat with arms to the side of the body and see if the makes for improvement.

A 3" memory foam mattress topper might reduce pressure on your shoulders , as well as a pillow that keeps neck alignment.
I found the 2" toppers did not cushion quite enough for my shoulder or hip pressures.

Gentle range of motion - leaning over to the side and letting arm dangle while doing slow rotations/swinging is a good one.

[caroline2]

I agree on changing sleep positions. I have shoulder issues, and right side of my body is a mess from hip replacement .. I find when I sleep on my right side (hip surgery side) I end up with more issues. So lately I work to NOT sleep on the right side and I'm noticing a positive difference. Training ourselves to change makes sense. C

[mrsD]

Your upper level of carnitine should be 2000mg or 2 grams.

You need not go above that.

[janieg]

I developed a left shoulder impingement a couple of years ago that I believe came from poor posture/rounded shoulders. I've been working very hard the past two years on a "shoulders back" posture improvement, and I think it's worked. I have zero pain in that shoulder now.

Unfortunately, and this is just self-diagnosis, my posture changes have now given me distal bicep tendon tendinitis. I came down with it in January of this past year while I was doing absolutely nothing. No golf, no kayaking, nothing. That's why I'm speculating it has to do with my postural changes. Like maybe it's being stretched more than it's used to. So now my left shoulder is better, but my left elbow is bad. And after 10 months, I guess it's just not going to go away on its own.

I have some quality curcumin on the way which I tried before without success, but this is a different kind. I'm not optimistic, but it's worth a try. I'll also add carnitine to the list as the next step as I've been meaning to try it anyway.

If I'm right about what caused this, I think stretching might help too, and I'm going to get on a strict regimen.

[pinkynose]

When I taught Pilates a number of my clients ended up with shoulder problems because of the hunched over (rounded shoulder) position they used in Spinning classes. Many people who don't "spin" have rounded shoulders from sitting over computers, and poor posture.

In this position the chest muscles become overly tight and the back muscles become weak and overly stretched. So, in addition to stretching the pecs, strengthening the upper back muscles is necessary.

In addition to the chest, the shoulder is affected because when the shoulder is turned inwards, the muscles at the front of the shoulder tend to become tighter that normal and the muscles at the back of the shoulder tend to become weaker than normal. Strengthening the rotator cuff can help to support better posture at the shoulder.

Baba, What MrsD wrote about frozen shoulder is Very Important. Many people who have shoulder pain stop using the joint normally and frozen shoulder can develop. If you do not work to keep full range of motion it can be difficult or even impossible to restore full range of motion.

[bluesfan]

I've had mild Osteoarthritis (OA) in my left shoulder/collarbone area for a number of years and coincidentally developed Peripheral Neuropathy (started left arm & both feet - now full body). My left elbow was tested a few years ago for a compressed ulna nerve - results negative - and the numbness and muscle wasting in my hand were attributed to the PN.

At night if I sleep on my right side I usually have my left arm either across my chest or along my body. Recently I've had increased pain in my left shoulder, extending down my arm to fingers, and frequently my arm will go entirely numb. By chance one night I stretched my arm behind my back, (somewhat awkward and uncomfortable). Within 15 minutes the pain and numbness was gone.

My conclusion is that it is a compressed nerve, but not in the elbow, instead in the shoulder (which was never tested). By stretching the arm back it releases the nerve but having the arm center or forward causes the compression. It may also be affected by possible osteophytes (bone spurs) near the joint.

I also do regular PT and recently some of the exercises (particularly Lateral Pull Downs), have caused increased pain in the arm and hand. I've added reverse arm stretches to my routine to help keep the nerve free. So far it's doable. I see my GP in a couple of weeks and will request a referral to get it checked out by an orthopedist.

Baba222 I hope you're able to get some help for the tendinitis.
Thanks MrsD and others for the supplement suggestions. I'll keep them in mind if it gets worse.