right dominant front of shoulder

[Lizzy]

I have been an exerciser for 40 years and have done everything (racquet sports, swimming, light weights, all type of classes) and was even doing aerobics with jane fonda. I have an arthritic ac joint but this gives me no grief at all. I now have an injury to my right shoulder (dominant). I have no painful places to touch, no pain raising my arm above my head, no pain keeping my arm close to my body (eg bicep curls) - my problem is only when pulling my arm back eg putting my arm into a jacket, tricep presses - it's seems to be when I stretch the whatever which joins my chest to the top of my arm. I am had 1 cortesone jab but not much better and am now waiting for some phsio. any suggestions please.

[Heidi]

Which AC joint is arthritic? Or is it both? If its the same arm, are you sure this is not contributing?

Was there any incident which caused this pain, or has it just come on over a period of time?

Who gave you a cortisone injection and what was their reason for this?

Sorry for all the questions, but it might help to determine what is going on!

[Lizzy]

Heidi, thanks for response.
the right a/c joint is arthritic and was diagnosed about 18 months ago after months of discomfort with some movements and trouble sleeping because of pain resting my arm. I was x-rayed. treatment by doctor was a jab in the joint and this sorted the problem 100%. all the discomfort went and I got full mobility back in the arm.
Then after about 8 months I started with different discomfort now at the front of my right arm almost as if I could poke in where the arm meets the shoulder. it is not painful other than at the extreme of a backwards rotational move eg getting arm into jacket. the doc says is rotator cuff tendonitis. I have had a cortesone jab but it is still there. nothing I do seems to improve this - I have been avoiding lots of my usual exercise - eg swimming and some specific weight exercises but it does not seem to be improving.
Hope this helps.

[Heidi]

Hi
Rotator cuff tendinopathy sounds possible yes.
This is usually caused by some kind of movement dysfunction, muscle imbalance or postural issue.
I think this may be linked in a way to the ac joint as the discomfort you experienced in your shoulder may have caused you to carry the shoulder differently. Over a period of a few months this can easily lead to postural/muscle length changes.
Obviously I can't say this for definate without seeing you, but this is a thought and something to consider.

[Lizzy]

heidi, this seems spot on because part of the physio I had after my arthritis diagnosis was because my shoulders are not level (after years of racquet sport etc) and I was given exercises to do to try to correct this postural problem.

what I really am desperate to know is - is this something which time will heal (being an exerciser, loss of mobility is dire!) or am I likely to always feels this amount of discomfort.

I appreciate you cannot guarantee anything but in your humble opinion.......?

[Heidi]

Well if it is a rotator cuff injury, these can be treated. But the main thing is to correct the cause - in your case, possibly posture.
Unfortunately, posture is something which is increadibly slow and tedious to correct, but it is possible.