A shoulder to cry on

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Shoulder bursitis occurs when the shoulder bursa is impinged.Image © Medical Mulitmedia Group

It started very gradually with a sore shoulder, nothing serious that a good run couldn't limber up and that lasted for a couple of weeks. Then the soreness became a dull ache that didn't go away anymore. By last Sunday, the ache became a full blown unrelenting pain that didn't go away with Advil, Aspirin, or Tylenol.  All of a sudden, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't move my arm - I became immobilized.  No choice - must see Doctor (argh! - I don't have a family doctor so this meant hours of waiting in a walk in clinic). The diagnostic, Shoulder Bursitis.  Now, I am no stranger to pain, having had more than my fair share of surgeries, and having given birth naturally, and I can tell you that this pain is a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10.  Of course it would have to be my right arm.  For now, I am on a cocktail of meds: anti-inflammatories, pain killers, and muscle relaxant. I must make an effort to move my arm before it turns into Frozen Shoulder. You don't want to ever have that! That's when an immobilized shoulder gets so stiff that it takes months of physiotherapy to undo the damage.  So what happened, how  did this happen?  It wasn't one thing, I think it was a series of movements - washing windows, moving furniture etc  just banal stuff.  Maybe my body is forcing me to take a break.  The doctor also prescribed physiotherapy for me.  Looks like I am not out of the woods - but at least the pain killers work - I have regained just enough mobility to write this blog (with my arm firmly glued to my torso).  The pain killers and muscle relaxants knock me out totally, so I have been sleeping for the last 24 hours.  I am due for another dose now - so I will sign off and go back to lala land..... Good thing tomorrow is a holiday.