(no subject)

[madbaker]

I've been having sporadic, but re-occurring, shoulder pain. Occasionally to the point where I can't use my arm to, say, tuck in my shirt behind my back because that rotation hurts too much.

I've been applying a menthol rub which seems to help. I suppose I should schedule a GP visit so he or she can give me exercises and tell me it's an inevitable part of getting older.

Comments

[beanolc]

Getting old sucks. I hope you get some relief from the shoulder.

[kareina]

Back in 2011, when I had to fly to Australia to apply for my visa to stay in Sweden, the long hours sitting on the flight made my hips ache, and after the trip I found that they hurt often--not only from sitting a lot, but from curling up to sleep (as I had been doing all of my life, with no problems). I wondered if it were one of those signs of aging that one hears about. That autumn the university sent an email to all employees asking if anyone had problems with their back, shoulders, or hips and would be willing to come in and be the patient for the physical therapy student practical session final exam for the term. I volunteered, and, after the students did their exams and offered their thoughts, the teacher explained to me that the ache in the front of the hip actually had its source from a tiny muscle in my bottom that wasn't as developed as its neighbours. He gave me some exercises to strengthen it (which were torture the first few times), and the problem went away. Since then I have returned to that physical therapist every time I have had any problems at all, and he is always able to explain just what the problem is, and how to fix it, and now I understand that it isn't age itself that makes us hurt. Many of the "normal aches and pains" of aging are solvable, and, to my mind, it is always worth checking to see if the current symptom has a treatable cause.

Good luck, may your shoulder be as easy to fix as the various problems my physical therapist has helped me with.