Shoulder Pain-Rotator Cuff
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Shoulder Pain-Rotator Cuff
Greetings gents
I am 33, a pilot for the last 15 years and with the airlines for the past 10.
I have an honest question here and before someone makes any funny comments about my motives: I LOVE MY JOB.
But, for the last 6 months I have a pain on my left shoulder, occasionally moderate. In fact I had to get 2 sick days in that period for that reason. It’s always there but usually is bearable. It usually hurts the most when I relax or when I go to bed.
I was given some medication and taken some exercise but gave me only temporary comfort.
I am booked for further consultation in a few days time with someone who specializes in that area.
Until then, I am doing some research on the web just to find out as much as I can about it.
Here comes the interesting stuff:
On a quite reputable medical site comes some information about rotator cuff disease.
I have the exact symptoms as described on the site. Interestingly enough, an American orthopaedic describes the various possible causes of the disease. Among other reasons I quote:
“Rotator cuff injury is particularly common in persons who perform repetitive overhead motions that can stress the rotator cuff. These motions are frequently associated with muscle fatigue.”
Since I am a first officer, sitting on the right hand side of a Boeing flight deck, I wonder how many times in a 12 hour duty do I raise my left hand to operate a switch or a knob on the overhead panel or (especially) the glareshield?
I do appreciate we don’t do much on the overhead panel these days. That is not the case for the glareshield (MCP) with ALL the autopilot controls though. Simply the times I have to realign the heading bug with the actual aircraft heading must be thousands in a month.
Any thoughts? Has any of you or someone you know had any sort of similar symptoms?
I am 33, a pilot for the last 15 years and with the airlines for the past 10.
I have an honest question here and before someone makes any funny comments about my motives: I LOVE MY JOB.
But, for the last 6 months I have a pain on my left shoulder, occasionally moderate. In fact I had to get 2 sick days in that period for that reason. It’s always there but usually is bearable. It usually hurts the most when I relax or when I go to bed.
I was given some medication and taken some exercise but gave me only temporary comfort.
I am booked for further consultation in a few days time with someone who specializes in that area.
Until then, I am doing some research on the web just to find out as much as I can about it.
Here comes the interesting stuff:
On a quite reputable medical site comes some information about rotator cuff disease.
I have the exact symptoms as described on the site. Interestingly enough, an American orthopaedic describes the various possible causes of the disease. Among other reasons I quote:
“Rotator cuff injury is particularly common in persons who perform repetitive overhead motions that can stress the rotator cuff. These motions are frequently associated with muscle fatigue.”
Since I am a first officer, sitting on the right hand side of a Boeing flight deck, I wonder how many times in a 12 hour duty do I raise my left hand to operate a switch or a knob on the overhead panel or (especially) the glareshield?
I do appreciate we don’t do much on the overhead panel these days. That is not the case for the glareshield (MCP) with ALL the autopilot controls though. Simply the times I have to realign the heading bug with the actual aircraft heading must be thousands in a month.
Any thoughts? Has any of you or someone you know had any sort of similar symptoms?
Psychophysiological entity
You don't say enough to eliminate "frozen shoulder". For some reason it is more often found in females but not always. If you feel that it might fit the symptoms, there is one of the best places in the world in north london. Strangely enough it's called the frozen shoulder clinic.
At this stage DO NOT let anyone manipulate it until you have illuminated this syndrome.
Our doctors ( at home in Essex ) are very interested in their results as they reduce the pain time from a typical 2 years to 4 months or so. Many of their clients are chiros, ostios etc etc learning the techniques.
If it is not this, it will probably want time to settle down without being pulled around too much, but gentle exercise with a contrived beam under the arm could help. ( Tree branch or cardboard tube even.) The idea being to ease the joint apart while moving it through a given range. "Let pain be your guide"
At this stage DO NOT let anyone manipulate it until you have illuminated this syndrome.
Our doctors ( at home in Essex ) are very interested in their results as they reduce the pain time from a typical 2 years to 4 months or so. Many of their clients are chiros, ostios etc etc learning the techniques.
If it is not this, it will probably want time to settle down without being pulled around too much, but gentle exercise with a contrived beam under the arm could help. ( Tree branch or cardboard tube even.) The idea being to ease the joint apart while moving it through a given range. "Let pain be your guide"
I don't want to be the best pilot in the world - Just the oldest
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Loose Rivets,
Thanks for your advice!
I've had what my physio has termed frozen shoulder which started back in about April this year. All the best x-rays and ultrasounds revealed no problems. At the outset it was painful to even move my shoulder to put a shirt or jacket on. It has settled down somewhat now but I still cannot bend my left arm and put my hand up my back anywhere near as high as I can with the non affected shoulder.
Thanks for your advice!
I've had what my physio has termed frozen shoulder which started back in about April this year. All the best x-rays and ultrasounds revealed no problems. At the outset it was painful to even move my shoulder to put a shirt or jacket on. It has settled down somewhat now but I still cannot bend my left arm and put my hand up my back anywhere near as high as I can with the non affected shoulder.
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My symptoms do not match the “frozen shoulder” symptoms at all. It matches perfectly though the rotator cuff ones.
I am not trying to “diagnose” myself at all. Simply trying to familiarize myself, firstly and secondly whether anyone else has a similar story.
I would be very interested on your thoughts about repetitive movements in the flight deck. Does it make sense or is it an exaggeration?
I am not trying to “diagnose” myself at all. Simply trying to familiarize myself, firstly and secondly whether anyone else has a similar story.
I would be very interested on your thoughts about repetitive movements in the flight deck. Does it make sense or is it an exaggeration?
Psychophysiological entity
Hi again,
I had a quick look, and in my unqualified opinion http://www.scoi.com/cuffdise.htm#1 seemed a particularly good site. Have you looked through this one? This type of repetitive irritation often gives more pain than a non sufferer would expect. I see that an MRI is again considered valuable.
"With repetitive impingement, the tendons and bursa can become inflamed and swollen and cause the painful situation known as "chronic impingement syndrome." " is one comment made. They go on to explain why this is related to your problem.
Perhaps (and I'm guessing here ) one important factor relating treatment of your problem to frozen shoulder syndrome, would be the overall improved level of fluid within the entire encapsulation – which as I understand it, is one of the clinic's main philosophies.
I had a quick look, and in my unqualified opinion http://www.scoi.com/cuffdise.htm#1 seemed a particularly good site. Have you looked through this one? This type of repetitive irritation often gives more pain than a non sufferer would expect. I see that an MRI is again considered valuable.
"With repetitive impingement, the tendons and bursa can become inflamed and swollen and cause the painful situation known as "chronic impingement syndrome." " is one comment made. They go on to explain why this is related to your problem.
Perhaps (and I'm guessing here ) one important factor relating treatment of your problem to frozen shoulder syndrome, would be the overall improved level of fluid within the entire encapsulation – which as I understand it, is one of the clinic's main philosophies.
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Seems pretty common - have heard of it/experienced it associated with refueling from drums. One bloke I know needed cortisone injections after his first year.
A search on shoulder pain on Google will get some pretty good results and advice.
A search on shoulder pain on Google will get some pretty good results and advice.
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I sympathise with your problem as I had something similar about 4 years ago. I don't recall any specific trauma to my shoulder which caused it, and gradually my other shoulder became almost as bad.
I went to the doc who gave me a cortisone injection but there was no improvement. I tried acupuncture also with no results. I then went to an osteopath who had treated me in the past for lower back pain (with miraculous results), and in one half hour session with gentle manipulation I was as good as new.
I don't know what my problem was, I referred to it loosely as frozen, but don't think a rotated cuff thingy was mentioned. I guess there are good and bad osteopaths, this one is fantastic, and if you want his details let me know and I will pm them to you
I went to the doc who gave me a cortisone injection but there was no improvement. I tried acupuncture also with no results. I then went to an osteopath who had treated me in the past for lower back pain (with miraculous results), and in one half hour session with gentle manipulation I was as good as new.
I don't know what my problem was, I referred to it loosely as frozen, but don't think a rotated cuff thingy was mentioned. I guess there are good and bad osteopaths, this one is fantastic, and if you want his details let me know and I will pm them to you
gonso, you really need to establish a diagnosis first. The shoulder is a large, complex joint, prone to injury, but your doc / specialist / physio, should be able to make a diagnosis on the story you give and a simple examination alone.
Treatment is usually relatively effective and simple, depending on the nature of the problem. (although you may find "rest" being one such treatment.
As regards repeated movements and ligament problems, most medics recognise a link, although you may have some difficulties swaying the lawyers. I seem to remember some judge recently staing that rsi only exists in the mind of the patient, but hopefully things have moved on since then.
If you want to have a look at the research, have a look at papers such as this , or search the database using keywords such as repetitive AND rotator.
cheers.
PS you could try sitting in the other seat !
Treatment is usually relatively effective and simple, depending on the nature of the problem. (although you may find "rest" being one such treatment.
As regards repeated movements and ligament problems, most medics recognise a link, although you may have some difficulties swaying the lawyers. I seem to remember some judge recently staing that rsi only exists in the mind of the patient, but hopefully things have moved on since then.
If you want to have a look at the research, have a look at papers such as this , or search the database using keywords such as repetitive AND rotator.
cheers.
PS you could try sitting in the other seat !
