Muscle strain/sprain/tear

[Deleted]

I've never played sport seriously, so I have no real experience of these things. But I fell pretty badly a few months ago, and the full weight of the fall was taken by my right arm and shoulder.

I was in a lot of pain initially, but could still move my arm OK, so assumed no bones were broken. These things seem to take about 6 weeks to sort themselves out, so I gave it a couple of months. But, although the minor aches and pains had cleared up by then, I still had problems with fully extending the arm and with trying to lift any weight in that position. Trying to do this was also very painful.

I was just about to go to the doctor's/hospital with this when the bloody virus hit!

So, is this normal with serious muscle problems - will it eventually recover on its own? I am reluctant to bother the NHS with this, for obvious reasons.

[Deleted]

Apr 2, 2020 13:53:33 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

I've never played sport seriously, so I have no real experience of these things. But I fell pretty badly a few months ago, and the full weight of the fall was taken by my right arm and shoulder.

I was in a lot of pain initially, but could still move my arm OK, so assumed no bones were broken. These things seem to take about 6 weeks to sort themselves out, so I gave it a couple of months. But, although the minor aches and pains had cleared up by then, I still had problems with fully extending the arm and with trying to lift any weight in that position. Trying to do this was also very painful.

I was just about to go to the doctor's/hospital with this when the bloody virus hit!

So, is this normal with serious muscle problems - will it eventually recover on its own? I am reluctant to bother the NHS with this, for obvious reasons.

Sounds similar to an old football injury I had. Made a save at full stretch and landed with my full weight on my outstretched arm, forcing it back and overstretching the shoulder. Didn't dislocate and the pain went after a few days, but over 20 years later I still can't reach behind to scratch my back with that arm.

[Deleted]

Apr 2, 2020 18:32:18 GMT daveu said:

Apr 2, 2020 13:53:33 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

I've never played sport seriously, so I have no real experience of these things. But I fell pretty badly a few months ago, and the full weight of the fall was taken by my right arm and shoulder.

I was in a lot of pain initially, but could still move my arm OK, so assumed no bones were broken. These things seem to take about 6 weeks to sort themselves out, so I gave it a couple of months. But, although the minor aches and pains had cleared up by then, I still had problems with fully extending the arm and with trying to lift any weight in that position. Trying to do this was also very painful.

I was just about to go to the doctor's/hospital with this when the bloody virus hit!

So, is this normal with serious muscle problems - will it eventually recover on its own? I am reluctant to bother the NHS with this, for obvious reasons.

Sounds similar to an old football injury I had. Made a save at full stretch and landed with my full weight on my outstretched arm, forcing it back and overstretching the shoulder. Didn't dislocate and the pain went after a few days, but over 20 years later I still can't reach behind to scratch my back with that arm.

Sounds horribly familiar. I hope it's not that though, as I've already got a left arm that doesn't work properly (the main reason I fell on my right so heavily!).

[Deleted]

When you injure muscles they don't mend through replacing muscle tissue, they mend through using collagen which creates fibrous tissue. If you have not stretched the area correctly (it's usually ok to start lightly stretching after around 48-72 hours later) then you may have a muscle that can't expand properly and if you did it would re-injure (hence why your movement is restricted). TENS, ultrasound and deep tissue massage can all help with this type of problem. Stretching will also help.