I'm not really sure if a massage therapist should discuss symptoms with their clients, or not. I just didn't want to assume one way or the other.
The thing that made me wonder about your rotator cuffs was the fact that you hadn't been able to raise your arms over your head. That's one classic symptom of rotator cuff injury. Others include pain upon reaching behind you or when turning your arms in certain ways. In my case, the thing that finally got me to talk to my doctor was that for months I'd been noticing that every time I pulled the covers over me at night it hurt enough that I'd involuntarily drop the blanket. A blanket is not that heavy!
Rotator cuff injuries can be acute, or they can result from chronic bad ergonomics. A lot of women get into trouble after years of carrying shoulder bags.
Hopefully you just have muscle tension. If it should turn out that it's something more, be warned that some medical professionals will immediately recommend surgery or cortisone injections. In some cases, those are necessary, but in others working with a good physical therapist over a period of months and correcting any ergonomic issues or bad habits can be all that's needed. IMO, it's worth trying the conservative approach first.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2010-11-27 12:34 am (UTC)The thing that made me wonder about your rotator cuffs was the fact that you hadn't been able to raise your arms over your head. That's one classic symptom of rotator cuff injury. Others include pain upon reaching behind you or when turning your arms in certain ways. In my case, the thing that finally got me to talk to my doctor was that for months I'd been noticing that every time I pulled the covers over me at night it hurt enough that I'd involuntarily drop the blanket. A blanket is not that heavy!
Rotator cuff injuries can be acute, or they can result from chronic bad ergonomics. A lot of women get into trouble after years of carrying shoulder bags.
Hopefully you just have muscle tension. If it should turn out that it's something more, be warned that some medical professionals will immediately recommend surgery or cortisone injections. In some cases, those are necessary, but in others working with a good physical therapist over a period of months and correcting any ergonomic issues or bad habits can be all that's needed. IMO, it's worth trying the conservative approach first.