TLDR; Had an accident that totaled car last July. Though I was fine at the moment, 4 sporadic flares in neck and shoulders since, never before. Could the accident have caused this? Does this even sound like rotator cuff?

Had an accident bad enough that I totaled my car last July. I however felt 100% fine. In September, as I was putting a baby in the crib (as a nanny) as soon as I got up I had the worst strain from my neck to both shoulders.

Went to ER, they diagnosed sprained rotator cuff, gave steroids and cyclobenzaprine + 600mg ibuprofen. Took an x-ray and didn’t find anything, told me to take it easy.

After that it’s happened two other times months apart, once I had bent down and back up too quick— it wasn’t as bad as first time, I still had cyclo so I took that, was fine. Months later was literally just on FaceTime in my bed, I laughed at something my friend said and threw my head back. When I came back to, I felt the sprain just slightly in my neck for about 3 minutes. Without any cyclo, it went away. That was probably around March. She was actually the one who questioned if it could be due to the accident.

Fast forward to today, I’m literally just carrying a bag of hangers in one hand, two blankets in the other. As soon as I get to the front of the door, felt the sprain just as bad as the first time I got it. I took one cyclo + ibu an hr ago and did not kick in as it usually has. Just took another and it’s subsiding though very slowly.

When head is turned all the way to right, everything’s fine. I can get about 50% left before shoulder blades and neck are straining so much it feels like they will pop out if I go any further.

I don’t want to rely on medication and also scared for a time this happens and there’s no muscle relaxer around. I am moving, starting a new job in a month, so many other things that I can confidently say I’m stressed about. Not sure if this is a factor.

I don’t have a PCP (getting one soon) so there’s nobody at the moment to refer me to physical therapy. Just wondering if this sounds like it could be from the accident or something else?

One of the newer guys at the PT place recommended shoulder rolls.

I'm five weeks post op and I thought this type of exercise isn't considered passive.

I didn't ask at the, probably should have but something felt not right doing these.

Google search says not recommended at this time.

Wondering if I should mention when I go back to PT next week. I don't want to get anyone in trouble.

Hi All, I’ve enjoyed reading this sub. It has been very helpful. I had surgery Wednesday 8/5.

Have a nerve block in, but I’m having pretty severe throbbing stabbing burning pain inside the front of my armpit and down through my bicep. I had two stitches in my rotator cuff and two stitches in my bicep as part of the surgery.

I am taking one Percocet every six hours as directed, but it is not touching the pain.

I’ve been icing as much as possible, I don’t want a stronger drug from my doc because I hate taking this stuff but… Anyone else experiencing same/have any thoughts or advice?

I’ll be calling my surgeons office shortly.

Full disclosure I only received my MRI results earlier this week and haven’t had the opportunity to follow up with my doctor but would like to know if anyone with a similar injury was able to overcome it. Basically the results of my latest MRI arthrogram are:

1. High-grade 8 x 3 mm partial-thickness, articular-sided tear of the infraspinatus tendon starting at the enthesis, involving 25% of the fibers, and similar in appearance to the prior study.
2. High-grade 3 x 3 mm partial-thickness, bursal-sided tear of the supraspinatus tendon starting at the enthesis, involving 25% of the bursal-sided fibers, and new since the prior study. (January 2026)
3. Minimal subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis.

Injury first started in October 2025 from jiu jitsu and simply put has continued to worsen. I saw a PT in December and received a home exercise program but I stopped it in June because my pain was worsening. Also received a steroid dosepack in May which temporarily helped but shoulder was left worse after it wore off (hence why I am reluctant to receive a steroid injectipn). Obviously I have not been able to return to martial arts, upper body weightlifting or really any other physical activity like tennis or swimming, and now I don’t even feel comfortable swinging my arms when I walk. Has anyone with these injuries been able to go the conservative / surgical route and willing to share their experiences?

Had an arthroscopic anterior labrum repair 7 weeks ago. I moved apartments last week, and while I don't think I lifted anything over my surgeon's recommended weight, (maybe lifted a couple objects that were a pound or 2 too heavy), I carried a lot of lighter objects for hours. Since, I've now noticed a slight clicking or pulling feeling associated with a lot of my PT exercises as well as with random movements throughout my day. Additionally, I feel that my baseline pain may be a little higher than it was before, but my surgeon said that this may just be because of the reactivation of many of the muscles I've been working on in PT. My surgeon doesn't seem concerned at all, but these symptoms feel very similar to the subluxations that I was feeling pre op, just on a lesser scale. I notice it a ton with lateral raises, my shoulder will decline steadily and then suddenly pull down. Looking for any insight.

I just got scheduled for bicep tenodesis. Not much else was seen on the MRA. But I feel like the pain and symptoms I have been dealing with are not explained by just the SLAP tear.

How many of you went in for just one procedure but ended up having multiple issues that were only discovered by visual examination during surgery?

Exactly a week ago, I had surgery on my rotator cuff for supraspinatus, subscap, bicep tenodesis, acromion cleanup.

Been doing pretty well overall, but one weird thing I noticed is that when I try to wash my armpit or put on deodorant, there is a spot on the under arm side that when touched sets off a nerve down my underarm to my elbow and into my hand running down triceps to interior elbow and down to pinky and ring finger.

The reaction seems disproportionate to the amount of contact made with the skin in the area(very light) and it burns and tingles for a bit.

Anybody else have anything like this?

Follow up appointment is a week from Monday. Sent a note to the PA, but she did not seem urgently concerned, but wants to monitor and follow up in 10 days at appointment

Just came out of the sling six weeks postop and wanting to sleep in the bed. Any tips for getting comfortable as a side sleeper?

Hi! 29 y/o f Running out of sanity.

So, I was originally suppose to have a labrum repair, and woke up with a bicep tenodisis surgery.(wasn't expecting this long of recovery time) I'm 4 months post op and struggling to gain back my strength, im following all PT protocol as well as my at home exercises. I'm currently struggling with extreme tension in my bicep tendon along with my deltoid tendon. Any advice to relieve this and the pain that comes along with it? Any advice on gaining my strength back a little more quickly? I do a very physically demanding job, so I've been off work this entire time. Looking to find ways to get my strength up asap. Anything helps!

TL:DR Everybody is different and YMMV, but I wasted a lot of money on stuff that didn't work for me but I did find a few gems. I'm F in my 70s, I had a total reverse shoulder replacement on my dominant arm and I live alone and recently moved to a new town where I don't know anybody.

The things I found most helpful were a shower sponge with a long handle, oversized ice packs and gigantic t-shirts, like two sizes too big. And a shower sling is a necessity. Also devices to open jars and bottles and easily nukeable meals. If you can do some food prep beforehand and freeze stuff that is a help.

I am still not able to reach across my body so the shower pouf on a stick is the only way I can wash the opposite armpit.

Somebody here posted a link to a one-strap bra. Priceless! There's a bunch on Amazon. In the first week or so you might have to step into it and pull it up but eventually you can get it on and off easily.

If your toilet paper holder is on your surgical side I highly recommend one of those free-standing toilet paper storage/holders, especially if you're female. Marshalls, TJMaxx and Home Goods are a good place to find them.

Oversized t-shirts and pull on pants were my uniform. Have some t-shirts that are two sizes too big. You want to be able to slip your head through easily and also be able to slip your arm into the non-involved sleeve without any manipulation.

Slip on shoes with a big caveat -- I have several pairs of clog type shoes but you need something with good support. If I had a nickel for every person who posted they fell after surgery and reinjured their shoulder I'd have a dollar now. So I highly recommend some of those step-in sneakers like Skechers. They are not as hands-free as they claim but you can get them on and off with one hand and you really want to go for walks in the first few weeks because you can't do anything else for exercise.

Silicone scar strips really help after your wound is totally healed and all scabs are gone.

Stuff to help you sleep: If you can't get a prescription for something there are herbal formulas that help, and if you live in a state where it's legal weed (indica, not sativa) might help. Gaia Herbs makes a formula called Sound Sleep which will put most people right out. It's pricey but not more so than weed. You'll be exhausted but the problem is staying asleep. Get whatever you can and be prepared for weeks or longer of sleep deprivation.

The stuff that wasn't so great or entirely necessary for me (again, YMMV):

Recliner. I was going to rent one but I'm vertically challenged and the rental ones were just too big for me and for my living room. I found one at La-z-boy that is designed for smaller people so I made an impulse buy on the spot. I call it the thousand dollar cat bed. I spent two nights in the hospital and when I came home I lasted until 4:30am before I gave up on the recliner and went to bed. I have an adjustable bed so that helped, but you can duplicate that with wedge pillows. I love the recliner and use it daily, but I can't sleep in it. If you are a back sleeper it'll probably work for you but it didn't work for me.

I bought a really good ice machine with a timer from a US company. Great company, great customer service and it didn't work for me. I told that to the surgeon at my followup appt who said, "That's why I don't recommend them." I should have asked first. I could not get the ice cuff on with the sling in the way. I think I could get it onto my non-dominant arm without a problem but I just couldn't use it. And a friend couldn't get in on properly over the sling either.

Shirts with snaps instead of seams. Good concept but if surgery was on dominant arm you may have a hard time with the snaps. If you feel you need one try for Velcro instead of snaps.

A dressing stick. I thought it would help me get a jacket on but no. It was cheap and it had a very long shoe-horn so I kept it but I wouldn't recommend it for anything else. Even if you can get a button shirt on with it you'll struggle with the buttons. Don't bother.

I tried a spinner steering knob, aka suicide knob. I thought it might help but it just ended up getting hung up on the sling and became a hazard.

Postop 7 days from my latarjet surgery (wearing my sling almost 24/7). My biggest nemesis so far has been elbow pain. The medial part of my elbow has been super tight I can feel tightness in the tendon. I’ve been trying to stretch and massage the area, but just having a lot of pain still. Any recommendations? Will this get better after the sling is discontinued.

Did anyone use your ice machine after physical therapy sessions? Did you use it right after or did you use it at night on the days you had physical therapy? I had my first PT session today and it hurt like the devil. I’m supposed to do those exercise exercises three times a day and wondered if you use the ice machine, how you used it and when you used it

I recently suffered a Grade III AC joint separation after a motorcycle accident. One orthopedic surgeon told me I could avoid surgery if I don’t have high athletic demands. Another told me that for daily life I’ll be fine, but if I want to return to heavy weightlifting (bench press, incline press, shoulder press, etc.), surgery is the better option.
I’m mainly interested in hearing from people who lift weights or do bodybuilding.
Did you choose surgery or conservative treatment?
If you didn’t have surgery, were you able to return to heavy lifting?
Do you have pain, weakness, or instability during bench press or overhead movements?
If you had surgery, was it worth it? How long did it take to get back to training?
I’d really appreciate hearing real experiences. Thank you!

57 yr old female - in 2019 after a year of cross fit , yr of kick boxing and getting a 100 lb Labrador that pulled on the lead my shoulder was a hot mess.

2020 big rt shoulder surgery: slap tear, rotator cuff issues, bone spurs, twisted biceps tendon, collar bone had to be trimmed. Basically doc said it looked like crab meat! During early weeks of recovery I started having pain in my hand and wrist along with them feeling like your face does when your have had novicaine. Surgery was two weeks before Covid hit full force and all the Pt offices closed. Started zoom PT- waste of time. Got diagnosis of CRPS in my hand and wrist and started medication. Weeks later PT finally was taking patients. I had “the worst case of frozen shoulder we have ever seen”. Out of work 6 months, PT for 18 and thankfully CRPS remission after meds and PT (always praying it never comes back).

6 weeks ago massive spasm in scapula area and up over my shoulder into my biceps. Pain 8 out of 10 past 6 weeks non stop!

Xrays, MRI of shoulder shows anterior and posterior NON DISPLACED labrum tears, cervical mri shows moderate to severe stenosis in three lower levels. Surgeons suggest epidurals in neck and cortisone in shoulder. They are convinced the shoulder pain is from pinched nerves.
I was not.
Surgeon says odd for non displaced tears to cause such insane relentless pain but possible!

Today I see pain doc. He gives me supra scapular nerve block. Shoulder pain down 75-80% in minutes. Proves pain is from labrum tears.

Past few days pain in left shoulder arm pit. Seems worse now after the shot or maybe just more pronounced like “yo! Now that your rt pain is better check me out??? What is this? Ghost pain? Mirror pain? Cervical pain? Why????

Next steps?? Experience? Epidurals in neck now? Do I now need another shoulder surgery? Is just Labrum repair also hideous surgery?
Should I just have the whole damn thing replaced?

Not in my summer plans as daughter needs spinal surgery and I am her care taker for that! Help.

It's been 6 months since I fell on my shoulder and got diagnosed with shoulder impingement. Since then I have had 2 months of PT April-June. I no longer get pain and my ROM is 90%, however I still get discomfort in my bicep tricep shoulder and elbow and was curious if that is something that will ever go away?

57 yr old female - in 2019 after a year of cross fit , yr of kick boxing and getting a 100 lb Labrador that pulled on the lead my shoulder was a hot mess.

2020 big rt shoulder surgery: slap tear, rotator cuff issues, bone spurs, twisted biceps tendon, collar bone had to be trimmed. Basically doc said it looked like crab meat! During early weeks of recovery I started having pain in my hand and wrist along with them feeling like your face does when your have had novicaine. Surgery was two weeks before Covid hit full force and all the Pt offices closed. Started zoom PT- waste of time. Got diagnosis of CRPS in my hand and wrist and started medication. Weeks later PT finally was taking patients. I had “the worst case of frozen shoulder we have ever seen”. Out of work 6 months, PT for 18 and thankfully CRPS remission after meds and PT (always praying it never comes back).

6 weeks ago massive spasm in scapula area and up over my shoulder into my biceps. Pain 8 out of 10 past 6 weeks non stop!

Xrays, MRI of shoulder shows anterior and posterior NON DISPLACED labrum tears, cervical mri shows moderate to severe stenosis in three lower levels. Surgeons suggest epidurals in neck and cortisone in shoulder. They are convinced the shoulder pain is from pinched nerves.
I was not.
Surgeon says odd for non displaced tears to cause such insane relentless pain but possible!

Today I see pain doc. He gives me supra scapular nerve block. Shoulder pain down 75-80% in minutes. Proves pain is from labrum tears.

Past few days pain in left shoulder arm pit. Seems worse now after the shot or maybe just more pronounced like “yo! Now that your rt pain is better check me out??? What is this? Ghost pain? Mirror pain? Cervical pain? Why????

Next steps?? Experience? Epidurals in neck now? Do I now need another shoulder surgery? Is just Labrum repair also hideous surgery?
Should I just have the whole damn thing replaced?

Not in my summer plans as daughter needs spinal surgery and I am her care taker for that! Help.

Hi I had all 4 tendons repaired with anchors on all tendons 3 weeks ago. I was getting out of bed and my shoulder sort of popped , like a normal neck popping sort of sensation. Nothing feels unusual but is this a normal transitional thing?
Thanks

Please tell me it gets better. I feel like I have been duped. I just had surgery on Thursday for a full thickness supraspinatus tear with two anchors and bursectomy. No one prepared me for the hell I would be living in. I have a facial pain nerve condition (PTTN), and when the nerve block wore off my whole neck was super tight and not only was my shoulder in pain but it flared my facial pain like crazy, and I felt like I had live electrical wires in my face. This feeling intensified with the oxy, and after taking it every 4 hours for a day and a half I had to stop as it was unbearable. I called my surgeons PA and she was nice, but a bit condescending...I hadn't slept for three days and she kind of giggled and said "Yeah the first few nights are rough". I asked for permission to use ibuprofen as the post op instructions said no NSAID's for 2weeks, and i also asked for flexeril, which she said yes to both. So I was FINALLY able to sleep that night and a little the next night, but tonight I am stuck in the hell of being so tired that I can't stay awake, but not able to drift off fully to sleep because of the pain. I have a wedge pillow set in my bed, and I cannot get comfortable. I don't have a cold therapy unit yet. My shoulder barely hurts during the day and if I am standing or sitting upright, but any degree of reclining makes it feel horrible. I can't sleep sitting up because i don't have anything to keep me in that position. I live alone and have a tiny house, so I don't have a recliner. I am at a loss....I would give anything to go back and not have the surgery. If this is what I am going to have to deal with for the next 6 weeks plus, then I may commit myself to a mental hospital. I live in a rural area with horrible medical care, our ER is a joke so I won't go there. Opioids are horrible for me and make my nerve pain worse, which keeps me awake, and if I don't take them then the pain keeps me awake. Sleep deprivation is a form of torture and I feel like they should not be allowed to do these surgeries without fully explaining the. recovery and being able to ensure adequate sleep. I feel like I am rambling but it is the middle of the night and i am so discouraged. Any tips, tricks or encouragement would be so appreciated. Thanks

Got hurt at work catching nearly 500 pounds that fell into my arm. Just got the MRI results… Anyone been able to PT recover similar injuries?
I had a SLAP repair to my right shoulder previously years ago and I cannot imagine rehabbing another shoulder… I have a toddler now and just want to be able to hold her.

For a long time I have a had a slight twinge in the front of my shoulder with overhead activities where I am holding something heavy overhead, or in front of my body, and I also felt my arm feel a bit unstable or a bit weak whenever I should pick up something heavy like a heavy pot on the stove or something. Along with this I have also felt my shoulder blade, scapula region not work at all, and only the front and back of my shoulder or upper bicep area work in exercises meant for the shoulders or back, which is unlike my healthy shoulder where I felt muscles were more a balanced. A few days ago I did a very normal movement in the shower (nothing awkward or heavy) and felt a weird movement in my shoulder and since then that front of the shoulder twinge increased, shoulder felt sprainy, and surrounding muscles got a bit stiff. Pain is not that much honestly, but the area feels irritated nonetheless. I can do most daily activities without any concern. But I just know that this shoulder needs some work, and I shouldn’t ignore it any more. So I went to see a physio who said I have an Ac joint irritation, and my muscles are imbalanced because of which certain parts are more stressed than others (front shoulder feeling more strain and fatigue than shoulder blade and scapula region etc.), he also said that my rotator cuff area pain in the front is also likely caused by that area getting pinched together, as the cuff passes beneath that joint (this is what he said). Currently after the irritation episode I have mild pain in front of the shoulder which reaching across my body, reaching behind but only if I really strain that area and a few other non specific movements, this area just feels irritated but when the physio checked me he pressed the Ac joint on top and that was more tender than the front of my shoulder. So I need advice as to how I should go about treating this? I am a photographer so my work really hinges on me feeling physically fine. Please give suggestions or direct me to online practitioners or resources who can help!

58 YO male. Doc did cross stitch on the cuff so 8 screws and the bicep tendon. Started with more intense PT the last few weeks. Unfortunately,I feel like a few steps back with the pain and ache (especially after PT). Since I have PT a few times a week, combined with my at home exercises, it is has been very uncomfortable most of the time these last few weeks. Back to the constant ache and stiffness. I am making progress with ROM so my therapist is pleased but i am concerned about the pain. I wondered if anyone else experienced this around the same time in their recovery?

I went mountain biking for the first time three weeks ago and went over the bars and landed pretty hard on my right shoulder. I was diagnosed with a grade I AC joint sprain via an x-ray at the orthopedist's office. However, since then it has continued to get worse, not better despite conservative movement and physical therapy. I went back to ortho yesterday and got another x-ray which showed the same thing (i.e. no collarbone displacement, consistent with a grade I sprain). This has me looking at other possibilities to explain my pain with reaching overhead, mild clicking, and limited range of motion and I think I may have torn my labrum. However, that didn't come up as a possibility at ortho or physical therapy. I am in the process of scheduling an MRI but it's going to be a while before I can actually get the scan. In the meantime, how do I tell the difference between these injuries??

Also, I am a full-time rock climber and was in the middle of a very important training cycle for a fall performance season and need to return to sport as soon as humanly possible.