Shoulder Pain Question

lalalauren started this discussion · 6/30/2011

So, my shoulder has been sore for a few weeks, I just thought it was sore muscles.....but it seems to hurt more than that? My right shoulder hurts whenever I lift my arm. The pain is around my shoulder and soreness extends down to my shoulder blade and I guess part of the neck area. Is anyone familar with this type of pain? Should I go see my doctor and have her do x-rays? The doctor would be my last choice since I don't have the money to pay for multiple x-rays and doctor visits.

10 replies

chemgoddess1 · 6/30/2011
Welcome to pole dancing!! Shoulder injuries are probably the #1 or #2 injury we deal with. XRays will do nothing. Your money is better spent going to see someone whole specializes in sports massage. I bought a year's worth of massages and go about every 6 weeks to get my shoulder worked on. I get horrible knots usually right under the shoulder blade that cause all sorts of issues. When I start to have trouble falling asleep I know it is time for another massage.
lalalauren · 6/30/2011
My boyfriend said he could feel knots around my shoulder blade. Should I stay off the pole? Will dancing with all of this pain/soreness make it worse? I have class tonight and I was wondering whether I should still go. Thanks for the massage tip, I will definitely look into the sports massage :)
lalalauren · 6/30/2011
I guess I was just worried that it could be a rotator cuff injury since it hurts when I lift my arm or lie on it or sometimes lifting objects.
chemgoddess1 · 6/30/2011
I personally feel better when I use it but that is me. The next day though I am right back to being in pain. In the mean time spend a few $$ on a tennis ball. You would not believe the relief you can get using a properly placed tennis ball and your wall.
Aviva · 6/30/2011
Your issues could be rotator cuff related. Everyone who poles should also be on some sort of rotator cuff training/strengthening regimen. The rotator cuff consists of four different muscles and since any one of the them all by themselves can be the issue, the best thing to do is look up each individual muscle, research what it does, how you can test for an injury in that muscle and what is done to treat or what exercises are specific to that muscle. The rotator cuff muscles are: Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularus. I wish I could give you more information but everyone is different. My friend/student is nursing an injury in her shoulder but her symptoms are totally different than mine so I gave her different exercises to work on than I do. Please do not ignore shoulder pain do something about it before some doctor tells you surgery is the only way to fix it.
brockley31 · 6/30/2011
It sounds similar to what I have, thought it was serious and it's been really bothering me thinking what if I can't do pole etc etc, so went to physio yesterday and he said because of what we do we need to make sure we increase strength and flexibility in the shoulder and I must have tried doing something just a little too much and now it's sore. I can still do stuff (not the move I did obviously because I don't want to make it worse) but it aches lots the next day, put an ice pack on it after training for 20 mins, have to allow the inflammation to settle but use it wisely and try various shoulder stretching and flexi exercises and strength with light weight, he got me to do the sit flat back against the wall with arms up at 90 degrees to see if I can get my wrists on wall (I can't) to increase shoulder flexi, also working specificically on one of the small rotator muscles by doing the elite swim team plank lean and push away from wall very hard can't do it with left arm (sore shoulder) can barely do it with right, but they get the swimmers to do it! Must listen to body really important not to over do it! x
NikkiP20 · 6/30/2011
I've been working with a shoulder injury similar to what you are describing. Although my main point of soreness was under the trap muscle and around the neck but it also ran along the shoulder blade. I've been going to a chiropractor it has worked miracles. Of course I don't know if your injury is exactly like mine but it couldn't hurt to get evaluation. Good Luck!
Poleluver · 6/30/2011
I would get those painful knots there even from stress and maybe posture. I did messages, tried heat or ice and it would help. To be honest it rarely comes back anymore since I've been working out my shoulders like with boxing. There must be something to better posture and muscle strength around that area.
lalalauren · 6/30/2011
Thanks for the responses everyone :) I will get it checked out and see what is going on!
pegasusaerialfitness · 7/1/2011
Ice Ice Ice. And Some anti-inflamm's. if you take those. The only way it can heal is if the swelling goes down. ice a few times a day. If it hurts don't use it heavily, you don't want to tear a muscle. That takes a REALLY long time to recover from. After it is on the road to recovering you can start your rotator cuff exercises, make sure you also work the muscles in the upper and mid back to get upper quandrant to be more balanced and stabilized. I'm sure Veeena has some great tips on this site. And after it is better Ice after you do use it.