What the title says–what kind of injuries develop slowly? I’ve got a muscle injury on my shoulder that hurts so much that I couldn’t sleep last night (even with aspirin) and I can’t turn any direction at all without getting sharp stabbling pain.
Funny thing is, it only started out as a dull ache last morning, that progressed worse as the day wore on… didn’t bother me while I was running (afternoon) and bothered me a bit but was still able to do karate (evening–and it wasn’t sparring or tumbling, just kata)… but driving home after karate, I quickly found that I was unable to look over my shoulder driving without serious pain. Then it was all downhill from there.
Probably will be fine in a couple of days… but… All the other injuries I had, it was obvious what caused it, the pain occured after I got injured (sprain, torn ligaments, etc.). So this is a factual question, what kind of injury progresses so slowly?
I’m no expert but, speaking from experience, strained or pulled tendons can exhibit pain several hours after the injury.
I’ve suffered from occasional acute tibial tendonitis (the tendon that runs behind your inside ankle and attaches to the underside of the ball of your foot) that has put me on crutches for several days and yet, at the time I experienced the pain, it was never immediately evident to me what I did to aggravate my ankle. Instead, I had to think back a day or two and make inferences from my activities.
Regardless of your particular problem, It’s a good idea to see a doctor, especially if the pain doesn’t ease up within a day or so,.
Thanks… I think the tendonitis is probably more likely than a pinched nerve since AFAIK, I haven’t been aggravating the nerve since karate last night, but it’s still bad. Will go to the doctor if it doesn’t let up in a few days. :o)
I vote for pinched nerve as well. I had a similar sounding problem, tremendous pain under the shoulder blade. I swore it was a pulled or strained something or other. Finally went to the doctor, and he diagnosed a pinched nerve (pinched in the neck and/or upper back). Confirmed by a coctail party diagnosis by a chiropractor. Damn it was painful. The doctor gave me some anti-inflammatories (I’m sure aspirin would have worked), told me not to torque my neck around. After a week or two it felt better.
Please note that ibuprofin is the medicine of choice for these types of injuries. Can be a bit more effective at settling a nerve, and has the other benefits of pain relief as well.
Aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, orudis et. al. are all anti-inflammatories. But only when they’re taken regularly for at least a week or two, if not more. And with the case of aspirin and ibuprofen, one must taken it 3 or 4 times a day for that time period to get anti-inflammatory effect. Common side effects include stomach upset, and gastric bleeding is not uncommon. They may have an untoward effect on kidneys if taken injudiciously.
Tylenol (APAP or acetaminophen) is equally effective as a pain reliever (on average; individual people vary in their response to any particular pain reliever) when used for an acute injury. It is not an anti-inflammatory, and is decidedly easier on the stomach. Excessive amounts, especially mixed with alcohol, can cause liver damage.
Some literature indicates one may be better off with tylenol for an acute injury, as the anti-inflammatories (especially aspirin) may inhibit blood clotting thru a variety of mechanisms, and actually promote increased swelling during the early phase of the injury.
Thanks for your input **Qadgop ** . I’ve always been nearly 100% resistant to ibuprofen all my life so it’s either Tylenol or aspirin. Already picked up Tylenol this afternoon, and so far it seems to have a better effect than aspirin–can run on the treadmill as long as I look straight ahead.
Can’t imagine what life is like for people who have chronic injuries/diseases… Everyone needs to go thorugh this kind of thing once in a while to appreciate their own good health and to have compassion for those who don’t have it.
Broke my back and neck in 3 places in 1980. I have good body days and bad body days. Randomly=(
Good days i can practice my yoga until i am a pretzle, bad body days my husband pretty much has to carry me into the bathroom and back to bed. I have that exact pinched nerve problem, feels like someone is trying to pry my right shoulderblade off with a butter knife, cant get comfy sitting, standing or lying down in any position. That combined with the onset of arthritis in one knee I do ibuprofin daily.
As most all chronic pain sufferers will tell you, you learn to deal with it. Some do better than others. When it gets particularly bad, I have stronger meds that i can and do take. And it has been bad enough now and then to send me to the ER.
Qualifier The comments I am about to make are not based on my medical back ground, but on my husband’s experience surrounding his shoulder injury.
My firefighter husband started out much as you describe. He doesn’t remember a distinct moment when he had pain indicating he had been injured. He first noticed it the morning after “running the tower” (That would be running up and down 6 flights of stairs in full gear) During the exercise, he and a friend did a little roughhousing and he was pushed into the side wall. It was a little blonk, nothing to be carried off the field for. It was a rotator cuff separation. He, at first, had pain with any shoulder rotation. It progressed to being unable to extend in any direction from the shoulder. He allowed it to go much too long, so it became a complete separation. He does have a memory of when the final ligiment separated. He was testing in water rescue. He had to swim a mile in Lake Washington without first warming up. A few strokes into the swim he felt a snap, with the pain becoming worse. He was able to finish and pass the test.
His recovery took over 12 weeks, where as, if he had dealt with it immediately, it would have been 3-4 weeks.
He is, as his job dictates, in good physical condition. He is, however aging. (turns the big 40 this year) The surgeon told us this is typical for this type of injury.
That said, it can happen to any one at any age. Check with you doctor. he or she may suggest a CAT scan to confirm or rule out. I would suggest having more than one surgeon evaluate it if the CAT scan is positive.
Good Luck.
