By Annie Jacobs on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 04:59 pm:

I am 24, and am hypermobile with a history of sprained ankles, lower back and shoulder problems and bunions. For the past two years I've had a shoulder problem that won't go away- started while I was just doing my morning yoga with my arms stretched above my head, felt like a gentle pop and then tingling and pain down my arm. Xrays looked fine, doctors assumed I had tondonitis. After months of pain, inability to sleep on that shoulder or really do any of the physical things I like to do, I tried prolotherapy. About four treatments didn't seem to make much difference and I couldn't pay for any more- then a summer of working on a farm and actually asking people for help when I needed improved my condition. It really seemed like a mental "letting go" and asking for help made a big difference. Recently I've been looking forward to doing some strengthening exercises to bring the shoulder and arm back to form, but a few weeks ago an innocent tree climb brought me back to the same old pain. Any one else have a similar shoulder problem?

By Michelle Castle on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 09:11 pm:

Annie,
Where does your shoulder hurt? Is on the side of the shoulder, the front (sort of the chest area), or the back, like around the shoulder blades? The majority of my "shoulder" pain is really upper back pain, in the area between my shoulder blades. For that, I find exercise to be helpful, particularly push-ups, rows, and reverse flyes.

I've also learned that "letting go" and asking for the help I need is a huge part of managing my pain. On any given day, I could do a lot more than I do. But by restricting my activity and asking for help, I'm able to keep on going, day after day after day.

Michelle - another 24 year old, by the way

By Annie Jacobs on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 02:44 pm:

Hi Michelle
the pain is on the front of the shoulder, basically my rotator cuff where the shoulder joins the arm. I also have a great deal of popping in my shoulder blades and pain in the upper back.
My big problem is that I am really a doer and I really like to work hard physically, so this whole thing is quite a lesson for me.
Thanks for your comments
Annie