shoulder pain

Hi everybody, I was wondering if anyone is experiencing what I am. My surgeon put me on a walking schedule starting at 3 min. and adding 1 min. every three days. Since I got to 5 min. I notice a lot of pain in my shoulders. I no longer have pain in my back or knees which is wonderful, but my shoulders hurt something awful when I walk. Today was a beautiful day, and I actually took two 10 min. walks outside. Again, it was the shoulders that hurt. I am baffled by this. Any ideas why this could be? Thanks! Rosa

Rosa, is it your shoulders, like on top, or kind-of in the back, more like your shoulder blades? Emily

It's actually more on top of the shoulders. That's what I don't understand. Rosa

I am no doctor and I don't try to pretend, but do I have a lot of experience with shoulder pain as a former swimmer. Being heavy can change or alter the physical structure of your bones and the way they interact with one another causing problems in the ligaments and cartilage. If it is a soreness I would think that you are either working muscles in a way that they are not accustomed to (ie: now you are standing more upright while walking and so the muscles are being integrated differently). You may want to try some OTC remedy like IcyHot or the like. If it is a pinching type of feel that you get upon movement of the neck or head it may be something else, but as long as you don't get tingly arms or fingers it will most likely resolve itself. Try to strech out the shoulder area, remembering to stretch the neck area as well by tilting the head slowly to each side trying to touch your ear to your shoulder without raising your shoulder. It may be very hard or impossible at first. But if the pain does cause numbness or tingling you should see a Dr. I recommend a chiropractor as a MD will not be much help at all. Emily

Thanks Emily, makes a lot of sense. I will start the stretching exercises tonight! I do so appreciate your counsel. Hugs, Rosa

My intense pain is more of my upper back shoulder blades. I have no idea what in the heck it is but I hurt daily too.

I get an intense pain in my right shoulder blade during exercise and for a little while afterwards as well. I believe it is from me working the muscles as I swing my arms and concentrate on posture (I normally have poor posture, so that part of me is weak). I have also heard of people having pain in that vecinity soon after laproscopic surgery as the gas they pump into us redistributes itself before being absorbed. My info is that when it goes to the shoulder blades it is much worse than if it remains in the stomach area. As I said earlier above, you can try to use an OTC like IcyHot, and if you have someone willing and able, massage can work wonders, nothing fancy, just have somone rub in the cream for you. Also, hot showers with the water on your blades could help as well. And if it continues, gets worse or is associates with numbness or tingling in the arms, seek help, but maybe from a chiropractic Dr. instead of an MD. Emily

This may sound strange... but are you normally a belly sleeper? The reason I ask is because I am and when I was newly PostOp I had to sleep on my back with pillows proping my up a bit. No one mentioned that if I do that, I must also put pillows under my arms or else my arms will be essentially behind my body core all night long, and thus cause upper arm/neck/shoulder pain. So it maybe that and not the walking.

I agree, i am also normally a belly sleeper and i have been sleeping on my back. I have had some shoulder pain on and off and i definitely think it is from the way i am sleeping.

Well, I am normally a belly sleeper, but this shoulder pain is actually not new to me; I have had it before while exercising. I have a lot of shoulder issues though, rotator cuff problems, impingement, tendonitis in the front and back and possibly bursitis, so I'm used to it, plus I see a chiro weekly. BUT, I don't know how many of you have tried, but I have been sleeping on my stomach for a long while now. I am only 3 weeks out but have been on my stomach since just over 1 week out from surgery. I just love it! It was a bit uncomfortable at first, while getting into position and then when getting up, but while laying there it really didn't bother me at all. Now it doesn't really hurt at all, just a teeny bit of discomfort if I hit the wrong spot. I told me Dr. and she said it was no problem. Give it a try! Emily