Ominous music sting for the right shoulder

[cimorene]

My right shoulder has been making itself felt with a very small uncomfortable pain since I finished the first triplet sweater last Thursday. (Or before.)

You may remember that last spring I knitted way too much and did Something to it. When I consulted the health center advice, it said that barring certain more severe symptoms, you should rest it and take painkillers and just give it time and that it could take three months to feel better. So I did, and it didn't keep hurting after that. So I haven't talked to a doctor about it.

And that's why I was trying SO HARD to not knit too much when I started knitting again last month. I tried to knit only a few hours a day, though I did get into hyperfocus and knit for five hours a couple times. A couple of weeks ago I hit upon the idea of making myself read one complete paperback book per day to constrain how much time I could spend knitting. I thought it was going pretty well, but just the last few days I noticed this minor discomfort... I hoped it would go away with a few days of rest. But I've kept free of knitting, sewing, and even drawing and writing for five days now, and taken paracetamol even though it's not really that painful, more like mild discomfort.

But it's still like this! I'm afraid to start knitting in case it sproings again! And I'm even worried that targeted stretches might make it worse instead of better!

Comments

[princessofgeeks]

HUGS

[cimorene]

😭💙💙💙

[lobelia321]

My right shoulder started to hurt in January. And kept hurting. I did physio, massage and acupuncture. The physio in September diagnosed "frozen shoulder" and (helpfully) said "There will be 8 months of pain -- the good news: these have already passed. Phase Two will be 8 months of excruciating pain, and Phase 3 six months of getting better." Hooray, I thought, excruciating pain imminent. But it just continued as normal pain. On days when I type a lot, it's worse. When I started Tai Chi, it got better. At the moment, it's very mild. I try to relax and not hunch over in the same seated posture / activity (knitting might be similar to typing?). I take painkillers. I sigh. Hope yours goes away soon!!!

[cimorene]

Oh wow. That sounds so horrible that I guess I should feel grateful my shoulder is comparatively un-painful!

I think knitting is quite different from typing in terms of what the body postures and repetitive movements it requires are, but similar in that they both tend to extended time sitting down in the same posture doing repetitive movements.

[laurenthemself]

I do remember the shoulder Something of last spring, and I'm sorry to hear it's back. Resting and pain relief are both good, have you done any ice packs or heat packs? I know usually ice at the outset and then heat later is meant to help if it's inflamed, but honestly I put ice on my knees (osteoarthritis, bleah) if they feel like they need a bit more attention and that usually eases it a bit.

[cimorene]

😭 I know this but I have actually only used heat because I just... don't like being cold. I would ice if a medical professional told me to, but trying it on my own when it's already the middle of winter, you know?

I have adhd and it's also hard to tell when a more mild discomfort appears. I just get distracted and don't notice them very well, which is why I've been trying to use time limits for knitting - I can't rely on noticing my body, lol.