Shoulder & Armpit Pain / Burning

[richardaj]

Hi I'm 41 and go to the gym regularly, I had S.A.D surgery 4 years ago for impingement in my right shoulder that resolved the issue and I resumed my normal activities - however they also discovered during surgery: Mild fraying of the longhead bicep tendon / Mild fraying of the Labrum / Mild scuffing of the rotator cuff / Osteoarthritis to the shoulder joint. But I have been fine for the last 3 years and resumed normal gym work...

Over the last 12 months I have had aches and pains in the same right shoulder but they tend to pass within a week providing I rest and avoid the gym, however I have had constant daily pain now for the last 3 months despite taking 3 weeks off from the gym to try and get better / NSAID's have no effect....the pain is a burning / aching deep in the armpit that also travels down the bicep and affects the pec. I have had an MRI which I can upload but this came back clear with no tendonopathy and all the tendons intact and no further degeneration of the AC joint....my surgeon cannot explain my pain and will not perform A/C joint surgery as he is not sure that the pain is being referred from the A/C joint? He has also dismissed Braxial Plexus injury as I have no numbness or pins and needles.........PLEASE HELP??

[richardaj]

Thanks for the reply. I use a lap top quite a lot and sit at a desk so I've tried to make sure my posture is right and I take breaks as frequently as I can, I find the symptoms worsen significantly when I'm seated ...driving in paricular really aggravates it..suggesting something is being compressed? Frustratingly I can train without any pain so I can't even isolate a particular muscle group / execrise that might be to blame. I'm seeing an Active Release Technique (ART) Physio who thinks I have a trapped / pinched nerve in the armpit which may not have been visible on the MRI as the burning sensation is consistent with...he's trying to manipulate it free..I've pretty much tried everything else now. I've got full ROM no clicking...it's driving me mad!

[ChitChatNine]

Just a thought .. are you doing any kind of repetitive motion that can be causing this pain?  Working at a computer, straining the right side at all ?  Just tossing out ideas in case something clicks.  NSAID's can build up resistance and stop working .. happened to me on Mobic.  My orthopedist had me stop all NSAID's for 1-2 weeks and try again and it responded.  But on the flip side, if something is really bad any NSAID sometimes won't touch the pain.  Sorry it isn't showing up on the MRI.  Wish I could help. I had a torn labrum in 2 places about 25 yrs ago .. I can sympathize with your pain.

C~