The words for today are 'degenerative' and 'painkillers'

Cafewanda

I've had shoulder pain for years, Low-level and ignored for the most part then had steroid injections and physio.

Pain level increased to the point where I can no longer sleep on my right side and the pain is constant, so finally toddled off to the GP who arranged for an x-ray. Got the results this morning. Along with the words 'degenerative' and 'painkillers for the time being' were other words like 'sit up and beg bike WITH A BASKET' :shock: 'more injections and/or physio'.

My GP didn't think the roadbike was a good idea due to the geometry and road conditions, but he didn't say I should get rid of it just yet either.

Just as well I didn't tell him about my right hip and knees :roll:

lost_in_thought

Oo-er. Sorry to hear that CW... Did they say what was actually up?

rjsterry

Maybe time to start working on those core strength exercises, so you don't take too much weight through your arms (I am rather guilty of this, having a rather stretched out riding style, with a longish stem, set quite low).

Also, some doctors know more about cycling than others (don't know which yours is obviously, I just mean they are General Practitioners, not sports specialists), so may make some erroneous assumptions about what cycling does/doesn't do to you.

jonginge

Oh no! Not good at all. Poor you.

I've also had low-level shoulder pain. Mine is definitely caused by sitting at a desk for long periods. I've mostly got rid of it by doing some upper body exercises, something I would normally tend to neglect. Press-ups (yuck) and plank seem to work well for me. Obviously, YMMV

Jay dubbleU

Sympathy - degenerative and painkillers not good in the same sentence

Cafewanda

LiT - I suspect the other word should have been 'arthritis' which wouldn't surprise me as it's a popular word in my family.

My main activity is running. Done that for about 20 years as well as weight sessions in the gym and am very familiar with 'plank' and full pressups, but I'll have to downgrade to pressups on knees or, as we used to call them back in the day - lady pressups

I've made another appointment to see if I can have a bone density scan. Now that I'm a woman of a certain age :roll: I'd like to know how my bones are holding up and what I can do to slow down/get rid of any problems as I would be a tad unhappy about curtailing my activities. I've already planned my marathons for 2 years ahead

I'll have a word with my running club as a few of them are physios/sports therapists.

itboffin

Jeez girl that sucks

deptfordmarmoset

I have no physio knowhow but I wondered whether you tended to ride with locked elbows, thereby transferring shocks along the bones. If so, would a little give in the elbows relieve the strain by giving a little bit of ''suspension?''

cyclopsbiker

hey, sorry to hear your news CW. As you know I'm a Sports & Remedial Massage Therapist so just drop me a line if you have any questions.

ex-pat scot

How about "recumbent"?

Cafewanda

DM, I've ridden like that since I took up cycling. It was only when I had my bike fit back in April that I realised the importance of the top tube length. With the exception of the Trek I recently bought, all bikes I've ridden to date have been too long for my arms. With Babygirl I've changed the bars to one seen on 'lady bikes' so my arms are finally bent and more relaxed and I now deliberately relax my body when riding over bumps.

The arthritis began years back but I've been notorious for not looking after myself until things get really bad :roll: It will take more than bad shoulder pain to stop me running and cycling, but I'll do what I can to minimise any worsening joint pain.

Cafewanda

ex-pat scot wrote:

How about "recumbent"?

Only if Doc and any sports medic say joint replacements are not an option

Cafewanda

cyclopsbiker wrote:

hey, sorry to hear your news CW. As you know I'm a Sports & Remedial Massage Therapist so just drop me a line if you have any questions.

Will do. A consult over beer and chips in September to be arranged

itboffin

That's the spirit recumbent are for xxxxxxx fiddlers

cyclopsbiker

just say when CW and I'll be there.... (promise not too many hills this time )

crankycrank

Try some Glucosimine (1500mg day) & Chondroitin (1200mg day). Use close to that dose to start and can take 2 weeks to have a noticeable effect. Usually can be found in Vitamin stores and combined in one tablet. The latest info I've seen claims that possibly the Chondroitin, which helps the body take in the key ingredient of Glucosimine, is not necessary but I've not tried my daily doses without it yet so don't have any personal experience of Glucosimine by itself. I have the same degenerative thing in my shoulder and now am basically pain free where before it was quite painful. Increase the dose if needed. Plenty of info about this stuff in vitamin books (and for what it's worth) the internet.

linsen

Sorry to hear that CW - you have my empathy.
Please be kind to yourself

Cafewanda

linsen wrote:

Sorry to hear that CW - you have my empathy.
Please be kind to yourself

Cheers Linsen. Finally I am.

CC - thanks for the tip. Funnily enough a few of the runners in my club take this but I'm not sure what their dosage is. I'll probably give it a go.