Shoulder injury

I've been trying to get back in shape, but I've been slacking off lately. This time I have a good excuse, though. I was horseplaying in my friends basement awhile back and ended up getting dumped on the concrete floor and hurt my shoulder. For awhile, it was hard to do almost anything without my shoulder giving me problems, but eventually that passed. Just recently I jarred my shoulder at work, and it's been starting to act up again. I've stopped my routine workout for the time being for fear I might cause more damage, but I've heard that some exercise/exercises can help with the healing process (physical therapy). Any suggestions on what exercises (if any) I should try? I've been thinking about just taking it easy for awhile, because I really want to get back in the shape I was in two summers ago, and I really don't want this to hold me back. Seeing a doc right now is out of the question unless it's an emergency. I would go to a doctor, but I can't unless it's an ermgencey untill I get my financial situation turned around.
 
Need more info...

1-how did you fall the first time?
2-where was the pain?
3-did you hear anything when you fell (snap, crack, pop...rice crispies ;) )
4-what were the most painful movements? (overhead, abduction, forward flexion...?)
5-did you get swelling, numbness or tingling in the arm or hand?
6-how long till things got better
7-what did you do to jarr it?

I will try and help as best I can ;)
 
First of all, I think I should clarify on something real quick before someone asks. I did report my shoulder problem to my supervisor, but it's not really bad enough to where it's effecting my job right now. It has the possibility of getting much worse, though. I told her I'd notify her again if/when it did.

Mogiwai, I'll try to answer your questions the best I can. Your help is much appreciated.

1. I fell back first and tried to block the fall with my right arm in the same way you would if you where falling forward. Probably wasn't the best thing to do. :)

2. In the area where the joint and the shoulder muscle is. That whole area was in pain.

3. I heard a pop. Pain ensued. LOL

4. When I first injured it, any movement I made hurt. Now it only hurts when I've been active for awhile. Usually pulling/pushing movements hurt the most.

5. It's been awhile, and my memory's not so great. I think there was a tingling. It literally felt like I had broken my shoulder, but when that was ruled out, I thought that I may have torn a tendon or something. I never really found out what I did to it.

6. Almost a month and a half before I could use my right arm as well as I did before.

7. I was pushing a vacuum cleaner, and it got caught on one of those plastic office rugs.
 
Ok, well, it would still be easier if you were standing in front of me and I could do some tests but...

A pop is usually indicative of an injury to the muscle/tendon or ligaments. The fall back onto an outstretched arm would likely have thrust the head of your humerus (arm bone) anteriorly, thus possible injuring ligaments in the joint capsule.

The fact that both pushing and pulling movements hurt you now may indicate that there is instability in the joint when performing any movements that involve the shoulder. Ligaments will heal, but unfortunately leaving a fair bit of laxity, allowing the head of the humerus to move around in ways which it normally would not were your ligaments intact. You now need to rely even more on the stabilizing muscle sof the shoulder complex fill in for these ligaments. Basic external rotation exercises are definitely a start. Begin with your arm at your side (so, 0 degrees of abduction) and progress to 90 degrees of abduction (elbow in line with shoulder). Stabilizing your body on your hands, such as in a push-up position, is also a good exercise. You can begin with your hands against a wall, progress to a "knee push-up" position, then to regular push-up position and eventually to unstable surface (for example, push-up position with your hands on the ball). Try 5 sets of 20 seconds. Let me know how you do with this, and we will follow-up ;)

Good luck!
 
Ooops. Sorry for spelling you screen name wrong in my last post. I just noticed that.

Thanks. :) I guess I'll start tomorrow. I've got one question, though. Are you a doctor? I'm just curious. I wasn't expecting to get what seems like professional help. I thought someone on here might have had a similar problem, and would be able to tell me what they had to go through.

Thanks again.
 
I am a certified athletic therapist ;)
Although I have a pretty good idea of what may have happened, like I said, it would be easier if you were right in front of me and I could do some tests, but legally speaking, that would still only be an impression of the injury. I legally cannot give you a diagnosis such as a doctor can, but since you cannot see one, I figured I would give you as much advice as I can. This is the same advice I would give you if you came to see me in a clinical setting, the difference being that you would then need a medical diagnosis for continued treatments. But keep me posted and I'll do my best online with you :) Hope it helps!
 
So far so good. :) My right shoulder does feel deferent then my left (feels a little awkward), but nothing unexpected thus far.
 
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