Anyone got any experience of rotator cuff problems?

I have some discomfort in my back, around my shoulder blade. I also get slight numbness and tingling in my arms occasionally. A fellow puppeteer suggested RC. Any suggestions?

I'm aiming on seeing a doctor this week but he might not speaka-da-good-angielski.

My wife has suggested it is all because I spend too much time on FA.com

I had a pretty bad bout of Rotator Cuff Tendonitis a couple years ago. A few sessions with a physical therapist sorted that out.

It still gets tender from time to time, but if I keep up with my stretches and exercize, I'm good to go.

Yup, have exerpienced this twice with a real bad bout where I had to see a physcical therapist. This last time was about 5 or 6 years ago and after extensive work in my yard due to removing lawn and putting in tons of washed rock, as well at that time I was weight lifting hard, the darn thing tore fairly bad. I was out of doing anything for 3 months which sort of sucked a bit because in the final months I went to Cancun and it still bugged me a bit.

It's been fairly good since then and though surgery was an option at that time, it wasn't something I believe I needed. I still have problems and my shoulders are weak and it is important that I pay attention to the pains I have otherwise I could be rehabbing for longer and actually having surgery; and from what I know that isn't too good. But I believe this exta attention and good solid weight lifting with good form and technique have at least made me better then if I wasn't doing anything at all.

In December of 2004 I crushed my vertebrea and then reagrivated it in April of 2005. Both I assumed it was my rotator cuff because the symptoms were initially similar. Make sure that you get yourself checked out and identify what the real problem is and then look at getting treatment to get yourself back into a steady routine again.

Get better and good luck.

Numbness and tingling (along with the location) would indicate something more along the lines of impingement or nerve tension. It is really impossible for me to make any kind of guess without having a complete history and being able to do tests.

Go to the doctor and tell him/her you feel you need to see a physical therapist (physiotherapist).

Thanks guys.

I have had tendonitis in the shoulder and elbow areas for many years. Just have to learn to take it easy when it acts up.

Oh, that's what I'm in-tendon to do if necessary.

As a note, my collar bone and also my crushed vertebrae gave me similar pains and numbness. I hope yours is the minor of the two or even simpler then that. Get better soon and take care.

Thanks for all the info and advice guys.

I went to the docs and he did the moving thing you mentioned. Thing was it didn't hurt.

He also said 'relax' which is a crazy thing to say to a theatre person as it mean I relly relaxed my arms, so when he turned me one way my arms whipped out and sent his jar of pencils crashing to the floor!

Anyway, he reckons its some kind of tension and put me on anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants. Also told me no dynamic exercise, like TKD (I suppose it rules out the capoeira too!).

The tai chi is ok tho'.

Thanks for the description of RC pains. I don't have these so I guess I can keep doing my puppets over head.

Thanks again.

TREV:-)