Fighting the Pain – Impingement Syndrome

For the last four months I’ve been suffering from acute pain in my left arm as a result of a shoulder bursitis or shoulder tendonitis. The best terminology for these symptoms is ‘impingement syndrome.’ Impingement syndrome occurs when there is inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons and the bursa that surrounds these tendons.

The bursa is a soft, fluid-filled sack that covers and cushions the movement between the bones, tendons and muscles near the joints.

Impingement syndrome is a descriptive term of pinching of the tendons and bursa of the rotator cuff between bones. In many individuals with this problem, the shape of their bones is such that they have less space than most others. Therefore, small thickenings of the tendons or bursa can cause symptoms.

After two visits to my internal medicine doctor, Carlos Tam, a ten day physiotherapy session, and several pain killers, the problem was still there.  In fact, the pain was getting worse and the movement of my left was severely hampered.  I can only move my arm about 25 percent without pain.  At night, the pain is so intense, I can’t sleep at all.  Driving is also affected, since I can’t keep my left hand on the wheel without feeling pain.

Yesterday I was referred by Dr. Carlos Tam to an orthopedist.  His name is Rubén Russo Yau. He diagnosed my problem as “capsulitis adherente con bursitis.” In order to kill the pain, he applied a cortisone injection or steroid shot, into the area of inflammation and prescribed three Arcoxia 90 Mg pills to ease the pain and the swelling.  Arcoxia tablets contain the active ingredient etoricoxib, which is a type of medicine known as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

The cortisone injection places medication to treat the inflammation directly in the problem area. The most significant downside is that cortisone injections can weaken tendons, and repeated cortisone injections should be carefully considered.

To solve the adherences problems, Dr. Russo recommended several arm exercises using a three pound weight.  He said the problem was not severe and once the inflammation had subsided the pain would disappear.  The regular arm exercises should return my left arm to its normal condition.

While typing this post, I can feel the pain, but its sufferable, if you know what I mean.  However, just to play it safe, I’ll keep away from the computer as much as I can.  (Hard to do, though.)

I should start the physical therapy three days from now, after the inflammation has subsided.  Aging is good, but it also brings excess  baggage.  Good Day.

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