Sore shoulder and continuous pain.

[thetruebatman]

I'm a wide reciever for a local high school here in Texas. Last Friday, I had to dive in order to catch a pass during a game. I think that my left elbow hit the ground wrong or something, because it felt like it somehow jammed my shoulder in wrong.. That sounds dumb, but just the next day there is a horrible pain at the very top of my shoulder where my "socket" is, right where my arm meets my torso. Its extremely tender to the touch and very sore for me to reach backwards or over my head, or to push anything to the left away from my body.. What could be wrong? Am I just being a hypochondriac?

[thetruebatman]

Both of my arms were fully extended when I was reaching for the ball, but my left elbow just felt different when it hit the ground. I hate to whine, but I think its getting worse. I've played two games since then, and the pain is undescribable after I get done playing. For instance, last weekend after a game on Friday, I could be carrying as little as my cell phone in my left hand and it was enough to make my shoulder slide out of place everytime I swung my arm back or forward when I was walking. That kind of scares me. In the weightroom, it is near impossible for me to do hang clean or power clean, for it pops out of place on every rep. But I can do bench and incline with almost no pain. Oh, and thanks Cyclingmaniac.

[Cyclingmaniac]

Hey thetruebatman!   I'm relatively new to sports injuries. After 51 years, I've never had a broken bone, stitches, or a sprain....I'm an Ironman Triathlete.  I, myself, am experiencing overuse shoulder issues.   So please put my comments into context....i.e., I'm not an expert.  

To me, it sounds like you have damaged the rotator cuff in some way.  First thing you may want to consider is RICE.   Rest, Ice, Compression (although the shoulder is difficult) and Elevate.  Ibuprofen will help keep any swelling down.....this is typical approach during any muscular/skeletal injury...but, make sure you talk with your doc, too.  

If you are experiencing pain still, see your primary doctor or team doctor.  You might need to have an orthopedic surgeon take a look at it.....and just because you may see an orthopedic surgeon does not translate that you are going to have surgery.   You may a traumatic injury to the shoulder or possibly a rotator cuff tear.  One of the four tendons was torn when you went down.  Out of curiosity, was your arm fully extended when you finally landed?   Your elbow may have taken the blunt of the contact with the ground but in the process fully extended the arm and ripped the tendon.  Did anyone land on your shoulder?  

I know that things happen very quickly in football, but if you can recall exactly what happened when you experienced the pain, it will help your doctors access possible injuries.  

Good luck and keep us posted.  

Cyclingmaniac