Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Shoulder rotation?

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Shoulder rotation?

    Hi all. I am 42 and had fusion from t3-t12 a dozen years ago, correcting my S-curve to ~35-40 degrees from about 60. I'd say that by all accounts I'm a success story - very active, little/no pain, I exercise regularly, I xc-ski, scuba dive, etc. I do stretch a bit and do yoga once in a while, but on the whole I'm able to pretty much ignore my back most of the time other than some increased discomfort in my low back/hips while sleeping in the last year or two (which could just be pending middle age). I do have somewhat of a rib hump on the right, and my right shoulder has always been slightly curved forward/dropped relative to my left.

    In recent months, I feel like the right shoulder rotation is worse, and the rib hump a bit more so as well. Most of the time it's just that I have a feeling that my shoulder is curving in, so I try to pinch my shoulder blades together to bring it back. But I occasionally get some numbness/tingling in my right arm - and it always falls asleep if I lay on that side for even a few minutes. I have more right shoulder blade pain now, too - not really bad, mostly just a near-constant ache. I assume this is partly because those muscles are trying to hold things in place and they get tired, and partly because I'm always trying to adjust how I hold my back, pinch the shoulder blades back, etc.

    I do plan to go see my doctor this fall to check it out. But I'm trying to prepare myself a bit for what it might be. Any thoughts? I hear about thoracoplasties, but it seems that's usually more for cosmetic issues or for pain related to the rib hump specifically, not the shoulder rotation. Does this mean my spine is rotating somehow? Is there anything that can be done for it? Should I pursue physical therapy or muscle strengthening for my upper back, and would that help?

    Thanks for any advice/insight -

    Diane

  • #2
    Hi Diane...

    It could be a lot of different things, but I'm guessing that your neck is somehow involved. You should definitely get in to see a specialist.

    Regards,
    Linda
    Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
    Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

    Comment


    • #3
      Why my neck?

      Comment


      • #4
        Hello,
        Many of your shoulder muscles attach there. I have trouble with my left shoulder and have a very high upper left curve starting at T1. I would take Linda's advice and see a specialist. It could be something related to your fusion as well. I hope you get it figured out. I'm also 42 and wondering if my aches and pains are scoli related or just plain age related. I think we are a bit young to have age related things, at least I hope!
        Be happy!
        We don't know what tomorrow brings,
        but we are alive today!

        Comment


        • #5
          As I learned recently, the nerves for your arm map to the neck. So if you are having numbness/tingling of an arm, that is neck. I suspect that is why Linda mentioned it.
          Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

          No island of sanity.

          Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
          Answer: Medicine


          "We are all African."

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by diane2628 View Post
            Why my neck?
            Your symptoms sound like they could be from cervical radiculopathy. If you Google DERMATOMES, you'll see the map to which Pooka referred.
            Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
            ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
            Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

            Comment


            • #7
              Diane--
              I can relate to some of your problems. I will be 3 years at the end of March. I definitely have a right shoulder that rotates in. My rib hump has gotten worse also--since my last appt. in April I know it has popped out more. The doctor wasn't too concerned about what had already increased the last 2 years. When I asked Dr. Lenke thru Kelly a year and a half ago about thorcoplasty--the answer was No! In April they thought it wouldn't continue. This movement has been faster than before which is what concerns me. A therapist who hadn't seen me since April said it had worsened when I asked him if he saw any changes in my back. This was a couple weeks ago. Thankfully, I don't have numbness and tingling. I've continued to have lots of neck issues but knew that might not change with surgery. I think I'd follow Pooka's and Linda's advice and check it out. It's good to know that over the years you have done so well though. Janet
              Janet

              61 years old--57 for surgery

              Diagnosed in 1965 at age of 13--no brace
              Thoracic Curve: 96 degrees to 35 degrees
              Lumbar Curve: 63 degrees to 5 degrees
              Surgery with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis--March 30, 2009
              T-2 to Pelvis, and hopefully all posterior procedure.

              All was posterior along with 2 cages and 6 osteotomies.

              Comment

              Working...
              X