Don’t bother a Doctor with a movement issue!

I went to the Doctors today. I have an issue with my shoulder. This is not why I went to the Doctor.

I had to get a form signed to say that I was fit to climb Mount Kilimanjaro next year. That is a separate blog altogether……and yes, alcohol was involved in the decision making process!

For the past 3 weeks I have had a twinge in my shoulder, mainly when I am am moving my arm upwards. I’ve rested it, stretched, done a few rehab exercises but it is still niggling. So while I was at the Doctors I thought I would ask for advice, maybe see if I could get a referral?
Anyway, this is how it went:

Me: I have acute pain in my shoulder when lifting my arm.

Doctor: Ok, lift your arm for me.

Me: *lifts arm gingerly*

Doctor: Ok, so it looks like you have full mobility so it “might” be tendonitis.
I will prescribe you some anti-inflammatories and after a few weeks if that doesn’t work I will inject you with steroids (I presumed she meant Cortisone).

Me: I don’t want tablets or injections. What about Physiotherapy?

Doctor: Well…….I could refer you but it will take you 4 months to get an appointment.

….and it happened that quickly!

Now my understanding is that pain is referred and I know that Tendonitis is a condition of over-use.
My diagnosis is that somewhere else is my body is tight, strained or blocked and as a result (if it is tendonitis) then the root cause of my issue is elsewhere.
So on that basis I would worry that anti-inflammatories could cause more damage, and as for Cortisone injections…….no chance.

I wish I manufactured anti-inflammatories because Doctors seem to dole them out like sweets.

So the moral of this story is that if you have pain through movement don’t waste time at the doctors surgery, head straight to a professional Physiotherapist, but not an NHS one because you will probably be crippled before you get to see one.

In my opinion finding a good Physio, Chiropractor or Osteopath is worth the investment. I like the idea that if you had a Ferrari you wouldn’t put the cheapest possible fuel in it. You would be looking after the engine with good ingredients to make sure that engine purrs.

So my next port of call is the treatment table for some Active Release Therapy (ART). It won’t be the most comfortable of hours but I know from previous experience………IT WORKS!