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Gossamer · Oct 20, 2006, 04:37 PM

So if anyone missed my first stitches thread, I got in a bicycle accident on the 6th. Well, most of me is healing quite nicely, but my shoulder is getting worse and worse. I can barely lift my arm without the pain taking over. Putting deodorant on was excruciating, and I can't even reach a couple feet to my right to adjust the volume on my receiver.
It's totally fine in place, and I have no trouble sitting here typing. My elbow and wrist are fine, but moving my shoulder at all shoots pain all over the joint. I thought it was getting better and I managed to play for my volleyball team last Monday, but right now I can barely lift it. Putting on my coat or backpack hurts terribly.
Any ideas as to what this is/what I should do about it?

Mastrap · Oct 20, 2006, 04:43 PM

See a doctor.

probablecause · Oct 20, 2006, 04:45 PM

Yup, I would second that.

Gossamer · Oct 20, 2006, 04:59 PM

Hm, I might have to do that...next volleyball games are Monday and Wednesday, and dodgeball is coming up, I might be in some trouble.

Rumor · Oct 20, 2006, 05:02 PM

Did they take x-rays already?

Zeeb · Oct 20, 2006, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Hm, I might have to do that...next volleyball games are Monday and Wednesday, and dodgeball is coming up, I might be in some trouble.

If your shoulder hurts as bad as you say it does, I think you're missing those games. I hope you feel better though.

Rumor · Oct 20, 2006, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by Zeeb

If your shoulder hurts as bad as you say it does, I think you're missing those games. I hope you feel better though.

No way! He can play with one arm. He just needs to duct tape it to his side, so it doesn't flop around.

Zeeb · Oct 20, 2006, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by Rumor

No way! He can play with one arm. He just needs to duct tape it to his side, so it doesn't flop around.

Ouch! I'm thinking of him removing duct tape from his arm. . . .

Jawbone54 · Oct 20, 2006, 05:15 PM

No one in here can help you. See a doctor.

Or rub apple juice on it. I hear that helps.

euchomai · Oct 20, 2006, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

No one in here can help you. See a doctor.

Or rub apple juice on it. I hear that helps.

Exactly, apple juice is the key. Sometimes you can take a bath in apple juice to really speed up the process.

davesimondotcom · Oct 20, 2006, 11:06 PM

Did you break your fall by holding your hands out in front of you so that your arms absorbed the force around your shoulder?

You symptoms sound similar to mine when I fell while skiing and broke my fall like that. I ended up finding out that I had a cracked humerus (it's not that funny.)

I couldn't lift my arm up, etc. The good/bad news is that there really isn't anything that can be done if it's just a crack. Just put your arm in a sling for a couple weeks.

JoshuaZ · Oct 21, 2006, 01:56 AM

If you have health insurance, go to a doctor.

If not, drink heavily.

Gossamer · Oct 22, 2006, 07:46 PM

Well I took it easy on that arm for a couple days and it's doing better, I'll still play tomorrow and see how it goes.
The accident gave me a concussion so I don't remember anything after the initial impact up until the paramedics getting there...about 20 minutes later.
I have wounds on my forehead, back of my right shoulder, and the right side of my back/waist.
I think I flew off the bike and landed on my head, then the right side of my back hit, so probably not right on my hands.

rjenkinson · Oct 22, 2006, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by JoshuaZ

If you have health insurance, go to a doctor.

If not, drink heavily.

health insurance is no reason not to drink, my friend.

-r.

Weezer · Oct 22, 2006, 08:20 PM

You should take this seriously. If you didn't keep all of your cuts clean, it's possible you have an infection. Letting an infection go untreated can lead to sepsis and very serious complications. What does your shoulder look like? red? hot? puss? If it looks like it is healing ok, it is also possible you have an underlying musculoskeletal injury, and need to have an imaging study done. Generally speaking, you should be getting better over time not worse. Because your condition is not getting any better, it is an alarm that something is not right. Go see your doctor.

Rev-O · Oct 22, 2006, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by rjenkinson

health insurance is no reason not to drink, my friend.

-r.

Absolutely. If you have to pay for your health insurance (as opposed to getting it as a bennie), it is a good reason TO drink.

Gossamer · Oct 22, 2006, 08:35 PM

Well, I'm not 21 yet so I don't drink. The skin wounds are all healing nicely, it feels like a joint problem. I suppose I'll make an appointment at the student health center soon to get it checked out.

Oisín · Oct 23, 2006, 08:52 AM

Well, I'm not 21 yet so I don't drink.

Aren't those two factors usually related in quite the opposite way, i.e., you're not 21 yet, so you spend most of your days drunk out of your mind?

(Universal 'you', not you specifically)

Gossamer · Oct 23, 2006, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by Oisín

Aren't those two factors usually related in quite the opposite way, i.e., you're not 21 yet, so you spend most of your days drunk out of your mind?

(Universal 'you', not you specifically)

Usually that is the case. But I've found I quite enjoy remembering my weekends, and knowing I've made good decisions. I'm not saying all underage drinkers don't, I'm just saying all of them around here get completely smashed most of the time.

Big Mac · Oct 23, 2006, 11:48 AM

It sounds like you worsened the injury with that physical activity. See a doctor, and take a few weeks off of sports.

Oisín · Oct 23, 2006, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Usually that is the case. But I've found I quite enjoy remembering my weekends, and knowing I've made good decisions. I'm not saying all underage drinkers don't, I'm just saying all of them around here get completely smashed most of the time.

from a fellow bandwagoner (who is, however, over 21 by now

)

Gossamer · Oct 23, 2006, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by Oisín

from a fellow bandwagoner (who is, however, over 21 by now

)

I've got nothing against having a nice imported beer every once in a while, but not til I'm 21. Either way, I live in a dry dorm right now and anyone with alcohol gets kicked out, so it's not like drinking at home is even an option.

Mark Larr · Oct 23, 2006, 01:56 PM

You might have torn your rotatro cuff.

The inflamation won't get any better without cortisone or surgery.

Rumor · Oct 23, 2006, 02:07 PM

Get one of these.

Gossamer · Oct 23, 2006, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Rumor

Get one of these.

[img]http://img.timeinc.net/popsci/images/2005/11/phealthBionic_485.jpg[img]

Oh heck yes, where do I sign up?

cjrivera · Oct 23, 2006, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Oh heck yes, where do I sign up?

Pay the extra money and get the deluxe version with enhanced sound...

http://65.24.128.15/sounds/televis/s...ion/smbion.mp3

Tyler McAdams · Oct 23, 2006, 05:47 PM

I had a similar issue with my shoulder due to a tennis accident. I took x-rays, sonograms, MRI's... everything was inconclusive. The did say that there was some scar tissue that may be a ripped rotorcuff, but not enough to operate on. I can no longer play tennis because of it. (I tried once and after the match I could not lift my arm above my shoulder for about a month) No tennis, voloeyball , baseball or any other sport that causes vibrations from hiting a ball to travle up my arm to my shoulder. Golf and table tennis is ok though.

Dale Sorel · Oct 23, 2006, 07:37 PM

I broke my shoulder once. I spent about three months going to therapy 'till it started working right again.

kick52 · Oct 23, 2006, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Putting deodorant on was excruciating...

Pffff...
You don't need deoderant!
Deoderant is a complete waste of time for people like ourselves...

Anyway, see a doctor!

Gossamer · Oct 23, 2006, 11:07 PM

Well I went ahead and played tonight, we won pretty good. I just underhand served and spiked with my left hand and everything was cool. We'll see how it feels tomorrow.

Weezer · Oct 23, 2006, 11:52 PM

I know you're young and want to be active, but from your story you just had some pretty serious trauma to your shoulder. If you in fact do have some sort of underlying injury, you are gonna hate yourself if you aggrivate it and cause further damage by not taking it easy now.

MM-o4 · Oct 24, 2006, 12:07 AM

that robotic hand isn't creepy at all!

MM