This happened to me, and the MRIs I got did not involve contrast. They were actually more interested in my neck because that hurt a lot but it was the pain in my arms that got to the point I had to stop lifting and that happened twice more including now, where I haven't been able to go to the gym for a couple of years. Some of that was making a mistake by having my chiropractor try to change my physical therapy, which I was just doing too much of because I also had a bad knee and a bad lower back that happened at the same time, and then I got plantar fasciitis and, well, I'm old and you're not. What I was told was that everyone gets rotator problems as they age, and the older we get the more we get them if we use our arms in our lives. Doesn't mean you need surgery. I was sent to physical therapy for everything, and ended up a couple years ago just hurting everywhere. So it might not be the rotator cuff, it wasn't for me at the time. Could be from the neck. Could be you're not lifting with proper form. Could be you're lifting too much weight for who you were genetically made to be. Remember, those huge guys are huge guys and are probably taking steroids. My advice for now is, until you see your orthopod, is to not do any exercise that hurts. Sounds simple, but if you force things your body will not like you very much. as I found out. Make sure you eat well, have plenty of electrolytes, be careful about overdoing protein because those who do don't eat enough plant food and the plant food supplies the antioxidants that prevent inflammation. Hope it goes well.
Hello Lehman300. Welcome to the forum! We're glad you found us. The good news is that this seems to painful or uncomfortable only during specific movements, correct? You are not in a chronic state of pain at this point but just when you are lifting, you have the rotator cuff pain? It's difficult to know exactly what is going on without examination but it could possibly be a tear. While these can happen due to a trauma, they can also be attritional. Some doctors are taking phone calls and practicing virtual medicine. I suggest you call and talk to your doctor about the pain. But you will likely need imaging done when we are able to get back into regular life again which will be sooner for some parts than others of the US. In patients with lower functional demands, rehabilitation therapy, including range of motion and strengthening exercises is often effective. But of course, we don't know your particular situation. Here's some ideas of things you can do at home for rotator cuff pain. https://www.healthline.com/health/rotator-cuff-injury-stretches#doorway-stretch The article also suggests the RICE method of relief as well, rest, ice, compression and elevation. But really, your best bet is that in the near future you can have this evaluated by your physician.
Regarding your question about the appropriate imaging test for atraumatic shoulder pain, the American College of Radiology (ACR) offers the following evidence-based recommendations: https://acsearch.acr.org/docs/3101482/Narrative/
You might want to think about possibly having adhesive capsulitis - otherwise known as "frozen shoulder". I've had this in both of my shoulders and it's quite painful once the shoulders get completely frozen, but when it first started, it sounds similar to what you're experiencing.
I was sent to physical therapy when it happened to my right shoulder and my doctor also gave me a cortisone shot in the shoulder. It took 3 months worth of PT and about 18 months total to get movement back into my shoulder. Before the right shoulder was back to normal, I was beginning to get it in my left shoulder. Because I'd already been to PT with the right one, I simply did the same exercises I'd been taught, which did a world of good. I struggled with it though for almost a year and still ended up getting a cortisone shot in that shoulder also. Once I got the cortisone shot, it didn't take long for the pain to go away and I've not had any trouble with either shoulder.
There are 3 stages to frozen shoulder - the freezing, the frozen and the thawing. Each stage can take months to get through. It took approximately 2.5 yrs to get through mine. As Paxiled said: "I'm old and you're not" so maybe it took me longer than it might someone younger.
As everyone else has said - you'll need to see a doctor to find out for sure.