Shoulder Pain...

[BadMotherVaulter]

I used the search function, but didn't find anything too helpful, so here goes.

My right shoulder started hurting pretty badly yesterday. I did 5-6 sliding box drills from my full approach and 4 vaults, but i didn't really notice much wrong with it then, just a little zing in it if i planted late... nothing too out of the ordinary. Then as the afternoon/evening progressed it started gradually getting worse and worse. Today, when i woke up it was KILLING me.

The pain is muscular, i'm pretty darn sure. Its coming from the front portion of my shoulder, just low of where the actual joint is. I honestly think its from throwing a frisbee, because that is the motion that hurts it the most. And raising my arm above my head is pretty bad too, some serious pain. Does anyone have an idea what this could be? The delay in pain makes me think its a REALLY sore muscle.

It just happened yesterday, so i've been using heat on it and rubbing it down with icy-hot. I'm going to take some ibuprofen (haven't yet, got an empty stomach still lol) But i plan on giving it a few days; i'm going to keep heating/icing it and try not to stress it. If its not improving after 3-4 days i'll go see a doc.

This bums me out because this past Monday i put in the best jumps of my life, and i'm all fired up about getting out on the runway... but i gotta be careful now.

[BadMotherVaulter]

And now, the more i research into it... the more its looking like a torn rotator cuff

[vault3rb0y]

I dont think it's torn, because a straight up tear would let you know as soon as it happened. you would KNOW.

I've had some rotator cuff problems from bench pressing wrong before. Same thing, just very painful to move over my head the next day.

I would suggest a doctor, and a PT, because thats what i had. This is what they had me do.

Ibuprofen 2X2 a day (im 160 Ib's) and icing 20min as much as i can throughout the day.

As far as rehab, first it was mobility. They got me able to moving my arm in circles over my head. Then it was simply raising my straight arm to parallel with thumbs up, palms up, thumbs down, palms down, and holding for approx 30 seconds 2 times each way. As i got stronger we added 1, 2, 3, 5, 7.5, and 10 Ib weights, and only moving to parallel and back down, very very slowly. That was over the course of about a month. Combined with a ton of stretching each day, i was cleared to vault again but i still try to keep up with rotator cuff stretching and strength at least once a week. It will get better, but go see a doctor if you think it's torn because thats totally different than what i had!

[powerplant42]

I'm NOT a doctor in ANY sense of the word, but I'll throw this out there for kicks and giggles...

Pinched nerve? Maybe?

Definitely find a good PT and orthopaedist.

[vault3rb0y]

This bums me out because this past Monday i put in the best jumps of my life, and i'm all fired up about getting out on the runway... but i gotta be careful now.

When i was a junior in high school, i had just started training with my new coach and i had made huge improvements in a short time. On of these being how well i finished my take off. The very first meet of the indoor season i came from 5 rights and smoked over some 13'6" bar while my current PR was 14'. I didnt take good shots at 14' because my take off leg quad/hip flexor were feeling pretty terrible. Turns out I strained them, and obviously at take off it is essential that they be healthy. I got on cortoco-steriods for a 5 or 6 week recovery plan, and the 6th week was reno. I felt MAGNIFICENT and ready to jump 15' and make my "big break" onto the high school scene, get scholarships, etc. It absolutely killed me, but my dad would not let me jump at reno. I went and sat there the entire time. I felt like i would have been fine, but then again, maybe i wouldnt have been. The steroids mask any tearing pain until it's too late. Anyway.... feeling really upset, the next week i came for the arkansas invite which got cancelled for weather. The ONLY indoor meet i had left was the state meet, and i PR'ed by 8 inches and jumped 14'8" for second place. The very next meet was an outdoor meet where i jumped 15'6". The waiting and pain of not jumping only made me think about the vault and made me hungrier for big bars. The moral of the story- don't be discouraged. You have plenty of time for big bars, and use the injured time to get even hungrier. It will pay off.

[BadMotherVaulter]

Guys- thanks for the replies!

I went to a doc... he messed with my arm/shoulder for a bit and concluded it was most likely the group of muscles around my rotator cuff... he was pretty adamant that it was a muscular injury though. So he put me on an icing regimen... a muscle relaxer, prescription strength ibuprofen, a painkiller that is pretty damn strong, and rest.

Its already starting to feel better which is good, but i'm definitely not vaulting for a bit. I'm registered to vault on June 27th in a street vault... so we'll see how it goes til then and i'll make my decision whether or not to vault there closer to the date. But as is, i'm just going to keep resting, take my meds and start doing rehab stuff after my meds are out.

Anyone else have a suggestion?

[powerplant42]

Definitely vault once or twice before the competition to see if you're up for it... Short runs and stuff, then a few full runs. You don't want any 'suprises', do you?

[BadMotherVaulter]

Definitely vault once or twice before the competition to see if you're up for it... Short runs and stuff, then a few full runs. You don't want any 'suprises', do you?

Indeed. Its feeling a lot better already, i'll just do my best to take care of it.

[BadMotherVaulter]

and... by the way... the pain meds and muscle relaxers they gave me for this DEFINITELY do the trick. and then some. I've been all goofy since friday, lol.

[BadMotherVaulter]

And... its not getting much better. I get shooting pains whenever i lift or lower my arm... I think i'm going to have to go back to my doctor and schedule an MRI.

[BadMotherVaulter]

UPDATE

So i went to an Orthopedic doc, had some x-rays done. He diagnosed what was going on with my shoulder as impingement, due to muscular imbalance. So, basically the front of my shoulder is way stronger than the back of it. Thats causing my shoulder to pinch my rotator cuff and aggravate the crap out of it. And all i can really do for it is physical therapy.

I was supposed to be going weekly to my physical therapist but my health insurance blows and i can't afford it, so for a while i just went into self pity mode. I haven't done much physical therapy. Then last weekend i threw out my back while loading some band equipment before a show. I was on bedrest for 2 days from that. Basically, i feel like my body has been deciding to let me down lately. It can't keep up with my ambitions.

So, this is my public resolve to quit being a whiny little punk about it and do my physical therapy. I'm off to go do that right now.

[vault3rb0y]

dang.... they always say that if you do bench press, you gotta do rows as well. For any push exercise, do pulls also. I guess maybe this is proof of that importance? I cant be sure. Good luck with it man, be patient and you'll come out on top.