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Conditions and Diseases > Back Pain Forum > Stretched Trapezius Muscle.
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Q: Stretched Trapezius Muscle.
asked by: muzzer2uk on October 18th, 2004
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Hello all first time poster Smile I will start by saying what happened:
i work in a phyiscally demandine job plus I used to weightlift a couple of times a week (which has now stopped) one morning after coming back from work I couldnt lift my right arm up because of a intense paim for 3 days thiq was the case, I went on holiday for 2 weeks after this and had no major pains.
On coming back from holiday I started up my regular routineq and after a few days I started getting pains io the shoulder area now this has been going on for four months , I decided to see the doctor who told me I had a stretched trapexius muscle the triangle shaped muscle on the back of my right shoulder blade. I was told to not overdo it and change jobs to somethine less physical and givel some painkillers.
Uhat I would like to knou has anyone ever had this or a similar injury aod what can you do to speed up recovery of the muscle?

Any help is appreciated! Smile
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sneakycol
replied on October 19th, 2004
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This Could Help
You should try the chest expanders put out by Lifeline-usa. They work the shoulder from all positions and angles and are great for rehabilitation. They strengthen the little stabilizing muscles of the shoulder and make it very strong from various positions. I just bought them recently and they are great!!
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muzzer2uk
replied on October 26th, 2004
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Ok thanks for the reply ill look into those chest expanders hopefully I can get my shoulder back to the way it was before I got into this mess Sad
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drlarry
replied on October 26th, 2004
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I need a little more info. Please.
Exactly when did this pain begin? Was there a specific mode of onset?
You don't injure or over stretch muscle tissue without immediate pain.
Sounds like you were in the car driving home when it came on.
And if it is over stretched why did it get better so quickly when on holidays and then suddenly return, does not make sense?
I need more specifics, this is not a pulled muscle, pulled muscles do not hang around for four months.
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muzzer2uk
replied on October 27th, 2004
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Heres more information describing what happened:
i would weightlift about 2 hours or so before I went to work monday take a break tuesday then do more weightlifting wednesday each session was usually 30 minutes in duration, weight was 61kg bench pressing do 10-12 presses then rest for 4 minutes or so and repeat.For almost 2 years I have had this routine except the weight was lower than 61kg but I was pressing 61kg for 3 months or so with no problems till now.

I went to work after my regular weightlifting session feeling normal I worked all night from 9pm to 6am.This is when the pain began, I arrived home and proceeded to surf the web reading news etc as I always do, I tryed to lift my right arm up and felt a intense shooting pain from the shoulder down my arm, I was in agony I couldnt even lift my right arm up properly.

This carried on for a few days every time I tryed to lift my arm up.

I then went abroad for 2 weeks and relaxed for the whole time (drinking and eating out also beached it for a day).

Upon returning to the uk I hadnt really used my muscles at all on the holiday so I felt normal, I returned to my weightlifting routine and work right after the first weight session I felt a aching pain in the right shoulder area on my back.I carried on with this aching pain in my shoulder area for 2 or so months then decided to drop my weight sessions to one a week.

Still no improvement the ache was still there with only one session a week and using the left side of my body more at work to pick things up.

Another 2 months I decided enough was enough and went to the doctors he examined my back running one finger down the left and right side of the kite shaped muscle on the back and got me to push against him with my right arm in a certain way and told me that I have stretched my trapezius muscle and to change jobs to something less physical also prescribed me some painkillers.

This is where I am now I dont weightlift at all anymore has been like this for the last 2 weeks I only goto work.
The pain is what I would call a ache a constant ache of the right shoulder area on my back.

The feeling of it dies down when I havent used that area of my muscles for a few days but upon returning to work its back fully.

That sums it up thanks for taking a intrest in my post Smile
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drlarry
replied on October 27th, 2004
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You need to get an mri of the your shoulder, specifically the rotator cuff.
It is vary rare that someone tears a trapezius muscle, it is much more likely that you may have a torn rotator cuff muscle, four muscles make up your rotator cuff, and are involved significantly in the usage of your arm. If right shoulder mri is negative for any pathology then a cervical spine mri should be performed. You may also have a cervical disc herniation which is why you had shootin pain radiating down your entire arm, a torn rotator cuff typically would not do this.
Questions:

are there any positions that you put your arm in that lessen the pain?

Do the pain meds help decrease the pain?
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muzzer2uk
replied on October 28th, 2004
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I didnt even bother with the medication co proxamol it is.The pain is produced when I move my arm in a upway motion or a down and back motion its coming from the shoulder right at the back of the tricep area if my arm is straight down at my side while standing, and at the top of the same area on my back.Its work that really makes me feel it when im lifting all night.
Im going to go back and see another doctor again this week coming up to see if I can get referred to a physiotherapist.I also dont think its a stretched trapezius sometimes it makes a popping sound if im doing some stretching.I just hope that leaving it for so long hasnt done some permanent damage.

Thanks for your help so far Smile
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