[SA Chris]

I have had a deep ache and the occasional pain at the top of the back of my shoulder for about a month now. Went to see physio about it and he diagnosed it as just "muscular" , gave me a good deep tissue massage and some exercises to do, which I have done like a good little freak (regularly but not religiously) and not climbed for 3 weeks now, but the pain is still there, and I am concerned it is something else. How do you go about getting someone to have a proper look at it befre I start wall sessions again? See another physio? a GP to get referred to a specialist? Not sure which way to go.

Thanks

[GCW]

Most physios worth their salt will pin it down better than that.
I'd see someone that knows.  Either a GP with an interest in MSK or another MSK physio.

[SA Chris]

Cheers GCW. Dare I ask what MSK is?

[slackline]

Cheers GCW. Dare I ask what MSK is?

Musculoskeletal?

[GCW]

Give the man a bonus point.

[Dr T]

always found the advice and diagnosis on this site very good... might help

[Carnage]

You could always get an MRI if its really bothering you. You may find you've wasted your money if nothing shows up but it'll put your mind to rest as some injuries are very hard to diagnose. Mine was, for example.

[mrjonathanr]

Might be some links to physios in your area ... or just general stuff of interest.
All the best Jon
http://www.shoulderdoc.co.uk/

[SA Chris]

Cheers, there is one in Aberdeen, but a bit far out. Willget in touch.

Thanks for the advice, hope it's not that serious.

[Moo]

I have a similar thing its a deep ache, my physio said it was caused by tightness in the muscles around the rotator cuff its hurts more during and after a session so i'm gonna rest it for a bit and hope it loosens up enough for me to train

[jed]

I injured myself yesterday on a powerful lefthand gaston and had similar symptoms (deep pain in my shoulder and top left side of my back)

However today it is all gone and I have just completed the shoulder exercises on climbinginjuries.com

I'm baffled 

Im presuming it was just a traped nerve or a spasam 

Im going to climb tonight and take it from there.

[a dense loner]

just a quick reminder to people. pain doesn't always mean injury, sometimes it's just pain

[route149]

Mine was, for example.

What did you do to yours?

[SA Chris]

So I went to physio for a while, and she reckoned it was spinators (sp?) that was torn, so I did a load of theraband and light weight routines and it took a while, but I can now surf and climb without pain. Shoulders feel a lot more stable than ever before, and possibly a bit stronger.

Odd thing though is it sometimes feels numb and/or tingly? Is this normal after an injury, ir is it possible that there is a trapped / damaged nerve? I stretch pretty regularly and do yoga twice a week.

Any ideas? Or should I go back to physio now my bank balance has recovered.

[GCW]

I presume you mean supra-/infra-spinatus.

You don't often get altered sensation in the skin with rotator cuff tears.  It may or may not be related.
Get someone to have a look at it, I'd say.

[SA Chris]

Probably sensible. Yes, google say it is spinatus and it looks about the right place no wonder I found nothing!

Thanks

[Blunk]

With many shoulder injuries a pattern of tightness/spasm can develop that will impinge nerves and cause numbness or altered sensation. Levator scapula, upper trapezius and scalenes often become very tight and cause these issues. A good physio should be able to sort it out quickly and it's relatively easily fixed.

[SA Chris]

I applied my own recovery regime - 3 days light mountain routes and 2 days fairly strenuous bouldering - feels a lot better now!