09-03-2011, 02:39 PM
Space,
Go for the orthopedist and be done with it. Here's why:
Many years ago, after falling on my side, I had a terrible pain in one of my shoulders. Dull and throbbing until I tried to raise and lower my arm. Then quickly turned sharp and stabbing. I went to a general doctor who gave me pain killers, a sling and said I likely pulled a muscle. The pain worsened rather than waned and then I noticed my shoulder itself had a bump on top of it. I was at the orthopedist the next day. He evaluated the symptoms and immediately x-rayed my shoulder. Apparently, the fall managed to separate my shoulder. A couple of months of physical therapy combined with anti-inflammatories resolved the problem.
Admittedly, I've heard of dislocated shoulders but it never occurred to me you could _separate_ a shoulder. But, it definitely happens and I can tell you from experience it can be _very_ painful. Fortunately, mine was mild and healed perfectly. As is typical with joint injuries - a separated shoulder is considered a joint injury - it hurts a bit on occasion when a severe change in the weather is on its way.
So, personally, skip the general practitioner and go directly to an orthopedist. I wish I'd done that with my shoulder. The result might have been the same but at least I could have taken appropriate action from the start rather than having several days of worsening pain.
Robert
Go for the orthopedist and be done with it. Here's why:
Many years ago, after falling on my side, I had a terrible pain in one of my shoulders. Dull and throbbing until I tried to raise and lower my arm. Then quickly turned sharp and stabbing. I went to a general doctor who gave me pain killers, a sling and said I likely pulled a muscle. The pain worsened rather than waned and then I noticed my shoulder itself had a bump on top of it. I was at the orthopedist the next day. He evaluated the symptoms and immediately x-rayed my shoulder. Apparently, the fall managed to separate my shoulder. A couple of months of physical therapy combined with anti-inflammatories resolved the problem.
Admittedly, I've heard of dislocated shoulders but it never occurred to me you could _separate_ a shoulder. But, it definitely happens and I can tell you from experience it can be _very_ painful. Fortunately, mine was mild and healed perfectly. As is typical with joint injuries - a separated shoulder is considered a joint injury - it hurts a bit on occasion when a severe change in the weather is on its way.
So, personally, skip the general practitioner and go directly to an orthopedist. I wish I'd done that with my shoulder. The result might have been the same but at least I could have taken appropriate action from the start rather than having several days of worsening pain.
Robert