Steriod Injection In Hurt Trapezius

[robblok]

Just wondering im hurt in my trapezius musle for a while now. Just like a cramp its constantly tensed. I tried massages and waiting but it does not go away. I am lucky i can still do my training but it is anoying. I have heard that sometimes they inject steriods (not talking testostorone or any other bodybuilding steriods) in a muscle to heal inflamed part. I know my dad had it done in holland when his arm "tennis elbow" would not heal. Do they do something like this in Thailand too.

[timonase]

Hello,

yes they do. I just had it done for my inflamed rotator cuff in my shoulder. Be aware that a steroid shot is to relief an inflammation, but cannot replace a resting period for the muscle. As well as, that steroids make the muscle porous if injected in too many time.

regards

Timo

[robblok]

Hello,

yes they do. I just had it done for my inflamed rotator cuff in my shoulder. Be aware that a steroid shot is to relief an inflammation, but cannot replace a resting period for the muscle. As well as, that steroids make the muscle porous if injected in too many time.

regards

Timo

I have never had steroids injected in my trapezius, am curious what kind of steroid it is.

[new2bangkok]

I think you mean corticosteroids. Corticosteroid drugs are used to relief inflammation.

[timonase]

Hello,

it varies from case to case and from doctor to doctor. In my case it was prednisilone, which is a short acting corticosteroid and has anti-infamatory purposes.

For a minor muscle ache i would not recommend injection, though....but i am no doctor and maybe you should go see a sports medicine specialist if your symptoms do not improve.

regards

Timo

[robblok]

Hello,

it varies from case to case and from doctor to doctor. In my case it was prednisilone, which is a short acting corticosteroid and has anti-infamatory purposes.

For a minor muscle ache i would not recommend injection, though....but i am no doctor and maybe you should go see a sports medicine specialist if your symptoms do not improve.

regards

Timo

I will so far its like a stiff neck.. and it is like this now for 4 days or so. Some days its better as other days. Maybe after training next time ill take a sauna and see if that helps. A massage certainly did not help.

[timonase]

I know from your other post, that you are very into your training and very knowledgeable i might add......but training through a possible injury might not be the best soulution. As i said before i am sidelined with a partial tear of the rotator cuff and its very hard for me not to do anything, but rest is the only way ......

regards

Timo

[robblok]

I know from your other post, that you are very into your training and very knowledgeable i might add......but training through a possible injury might not be the best soulution. As i said before i am sidelined with a partial tear of the rotator cuff and its very hard for me not to do anything, but rest is the only way ......

regards

Timo

I know that training might not be wise, but while training i dont feel hurt. Its more that when i sit or when i lie my head in a certain angle on the pillow that i feel the pain. I don't seem to use the muscle during training. I would never train while im feeling pain. I always say no pain no gain.. but not the real kind of pain.

[britmaveric]

Trap pain - very annoying indeed. I'd suggest you just rest. I had the same thing happen, took a week off or so off w/pain killers and muscle relaxers.

[robblok]

Trap pain - very annoying indeed. I'd suggest you just rest. I had the same thing happen, took a week off or so off w/pain killers and muscle relaxers.

I done as you said.. never to wise to take advice. I just hope it wont be a week.. or that i can just train. But anyway i just want to get rid of that nagging pain.

[maxjay]

Hello,

As well as, that steroids make the muscle porous if injected in too many time.

regards

Timo

Timo, are you talking about Corticosteroids makes the muscle porous, or anabolic steroids make the muscle porous? After many injections?

Edited September 18, 2009 by maxjay

[robblok]

Hello,

As well as, that steroids make the muscle porous if injected in too many time.

regards

Timo

Timo, are you talking about Corticosteroids makes the muscle porous, or anabolic steroids make the muscle porous? After many injections?

I think the first because i never heard of this side effect to anabolics.

[timonase]

yes the first it is!!!

actually the tendon rather than the muscle

regards

Edited September 18, 2009 by timonase

[Garret]

Traps are prone to trigger points....the Trap is also a muscle so injecting a corticosteroid into it is not a good idea. Corticosteroids injected into joints need to be mixed with lydocaine or else thsy feel like molten lava being incected into you.........Myofascial trigger points respond well to trigger point therapy and also simple saline injected into the point......Also...the average jpint should only be injected with corticosteroids 3 times...they turn the joint matrix into a mush predisposing the joint to degeneration.

Have someone lightly oil the trap and try and find any painful bumps. then apply a very hard pressure for 30 sec. due the same thing around the area....you will be able to feel a diffrence shortly.......also contionuous ultrasound with voltarten mixed into the gel works wonders......made me a lot of money anyway.

[robblok]

Traps are prone to trigger points....the Trap is also a muscle so injecting a corticosteroid into it is not a good idea. Corticosteroids injected into joints need to be mixed with lydocaine or else thsy feel like molten lava being incected into you.........Myofascial trigger points respond well to trigger point therapy and also simple saline injected into the point......Also...the average jpint should only be injected with corticosteroids 3 times...they turn the joint matrix into a mush predisposing the joint to degeneration.

Have someone lightly oil the trap and try and find any painful bumps. then apply a very hard pressure for 30 sec. due the same thing around the area....you will be able to feel a diffrence shortly.......also contionuous ultrasound with voltarten mixed into the gel works wonders......made me a lot of money anyway.

Thanks, i learned something new here i thought it would help for muscles too. I am now on some muscle relaxants and i must say its not gone it feels a lot better as before (until the muscle relaxant is done). But hey cant expect miracles in just one day.

[timonase]

Traps are prone to trigger points....the Trap is also a muscle so injecting a corticosteroid into it is not a good idea. Corticosteroids injected into joints need to be mixed with lydocaine or else thsy feel like molten lava being incected into you.........Myofascial trigger points respond well to trigger point therapy and also simple saline injected into the point......Also...the average jpint should only be injected with corticosteroids 3 times...they turn the joint matrix into a mush predisposing the joint to degeneration.

Have someone lightly oil the trap and try and find any painful bumps. then apply a very hard pressure for 30 sec. due the same thing around the area....you will be able to feel a diffrence shortly.......also contionuous ultrasound with voltarten mixed into the gel works wonders......made me a lot of money anyway.

-that is all correct.

but the OP does not 100% know where the pain originates..... it might as well come from the shoulder blades.

regards

Timo

[Garret]

That's very true. The traps are a very large muscle and it's easy to point and say thats were the pain is coming from...another seroius culprit is the levator scapulae muscle that is attatched to the scapula and responsible for elevating it. When it becomes chronicaly strained or has trigger points it will refer pain to the sub occipatl area and pain can even be felt in the temlple area causing headache.

Muscle relaxants are just a mask and it is better to try and take care of the problem. People who train heavy are not really the type of person to lay off for a week or 2 but rather will work through the pain and take a boat load of anti-inflams and relaxants......

[robblok]

That's very true. The traps are a very large muscle and it's easy to point and say thats were the pain is coming from...another seroius culprit is the levator scapulae muscle that is attatched to the scapula and responsible for elevating it. When it becomes chronicaly strained or has trigger points it will refer pain to the sub occipatl area and pain can even be felt in the temlple area causing headache.

Muscle relaxants are just a mask and it is better to try and take care of the problem. People who train heavy are not really the type of person to lay off for a week or 2 but rather will work through the pain and take a boat load of anti-inflams and relaxants......

You are right about me hating to stop training. The strange thing is i can make all movements and nothing makes me hurt more then the pain that is already there. So i am not limited in my movement at all. I can do all the weightlifting things that i want without hurting extra (no haven't tried it with weights yet).

I am thinking i will just do a lot of cardio on the spinning bike and stop lifting for a while. This morning i thought i was good again because after a night sleep i did not feel a thing. But the moment i sat behind my desk again it hurt again. It seems that it is improving but will know more about that soon.

[robblok]

Just went out for a "special" massage and she massaged my shoulders and neck all the time. It did hurt but i hope it helps.. it feels better now anyway but I just have to wait and see.

With special i mean that i asked them to just massage my shoulders instead of my whole body. Thought id mention it because they might think i went for an other kind of massage.

[Garret]

When you sit behind your desk is your head leaning forward? Because if it is that could be the root of your problem. Hours ,weeks, months and years spent in an anterior weight bearing posostion...deforms all of the components of the cervical spine. certain ligaments become lax while othere shorten. muscles do this as well. Levator scapulae is most affected....Try not to bend your head forward while both at the desk and sleeping........the opening of your ear should be in line with the middle of your shoulders while standing straight. Most people ignore sleep posture but it is as significant as the posture behind a desk. Work place ergomics is a huge field now.

[timonase]

Hello,

first of all it is important to know, whether you have torn a tendon in one of the 4 muscles the rotetor cuff consists of. An ultra sound or an MRI can make sure. Next step is to determine, if it is a small or larger big rupture, if at all. Depending on the size of the rupture and the patients age, the doctor wil decide on the treatment( surgery or not). Most ruptures can be treated without surgery, but its better to make sure. From my experience, being a goal keeper, rotator cuff injuries are one of the most time consuming injuries to deal with and after a long resting period a long physio-therapie is needed to strengthen the muscles.

Rest rest rest, sorry but thats the key for it to heal. If you continue to train through the injurie a partial tear can become a complete tear......

regards

Timo

[Chris Lawrence]

Acupuncture? Gets the blood flowing in damaged areas of the body. Someone good may help.

I did an abductor muscle, felt like my nuts dropped to my knee for a split second; couldn't walk properly for a week and had trouble for about a over a month.

Just thought I would drop another option in.

Good luck

[BrownEyeGirl]

Hello,

first of all it is important to know, whether you have torn a tendon in one of the 4 muscles the rotetor cuff consists of. An ultra sound or an MRI can make sure. Next step is to determine, if it is a small or larger big rupture, if at all. Depending on the size of the rupture and the patients age, the doctor wil decide on the treatment( surgery or not). Most ruptures can be treated without surgery, but its better to make sure. From my experience, being a goal keeper, rotator cuff injuries are one of the most time consuming injuries to deal with and after a long resting period a long physio-therapie is needed to strengthen the muscles.

Rest rest rest, sorry but thats the key for it to heal. If you continue to train through the injurie a partial tear can become a complete tear......

regards

Timo

Vibe,

Timo is giving you good advice. Seek medical attention for proper diagnoses and faster healing.

I hurt my rotator cuff after returning from a three month visit to Thailand. I resumed my workouts when I came home as if I never stopped. After a few weeks of weight lifting, pull-ups, chin-ups and power heated yoga, I woke up in the middle of the night with shooting pain over my entire upper back. The next day, I couldn't put my arm on the floor in child's pose. Instead of seeking medical help, I rested, rested and rested. The pain did not go away. I started seeing a massage therapist weekly. The only time I felt relief was during a massage, and yoga stretches after warming up with steady state cardio like jogging. I always iced my shoulder afterwards.

After a couple of months, my ROM (range of motion) for abduction was decreasing and sleeping on my side was painful. I went to see the top orthopedic surgeon in the Philadelphia area who diagnosed me with tendinitis, bursitis and partial frozen shoulder from overuse. He took an X-ray to rule out bone spurs. (Calcium deposits show up on X-rays.) Because I still had some strength and ROM, he was able to determine that the best treatment for me would be physical therapy. In the past, treatment was surgery.

My PT also conducted active and passive ROM tests. My PT sessions included: ultrasound therapy, hydrotherapy, cardio, stretch, strengthening, and myofascial release. I felt relief from pain after the very first session. My ROM returned to normal in about a month. I saw the PT 3 times a week for six weeks. My sessions lasted 2 hours since both shoulders were affected.

I still incorporate the rotator cuff and rhomboid exercises into my workout rotations. The pain from poor posture comes back if I don't keep up with the exercises. I continue to get massages... I would be very careful about using a massage therapist who focuses on massaging only where you feel pain. It is very common for a person to feel pain in a stretched muscle (think of a taut rubber band) instead of a contracted muscle (think of antagonists). If the therapist uses a technique which elongates an already weak, stretched muscle under constant spasm, it might feel good in the moment but, it will make the situation worse in the long run. I'm not saying to tell your massage therapist to not touch your painful muscles. Just that you might want to find a therapist with enough knowledge to use the correct techniques that will aid in your healing. Massage can only do so much. If there is a weak muscle or muscles, you need to work them or they will atrophy from disuse. In my case, the combination of regular chiropractic sessions, massage and rehab exercises keep me pain-free with full ROM.

Best!

[timonase]

Hello,

first of all it is important to know, whether you have torn a tendon in one of the 4 muscles the rotetor cuff consists of. An ultra sound or an MRI can make sure. Next step is to determine, if it is a small or larger big rupture, if at all. Depending on the size of the rupture and the patients age, the doctor wil decide on the treatment( surgery or not). Most ruptures can be treated without surgery, but its better to make sure. From my experience, being a goal keeper, rotator cuff injuries are one of the most time consuming injuries to deal with and after a long resting period a long physio-therapie is needed to strengthen the muscles.

Rest rest rest, sorry but thats the key for it to heal. If you continue to train through the injurie a partial tear can become a complete tear......

regards

Timo

Vibe,

Timo is giving you good advice. Seek medical attention for proper diagnoses and faster healing.

I hurt my rotator cuff after returning from a three month visit to Thailand. I resumed my workouts when I came home as if I never stopped. After a few weeks of weight lifting, pull-ups, chin-ups and power heated yoga, I woke up in the middle of the night with shooting pain over my entire upper back. The next day, I couldn't put my arm on the floor in child's pose. Instead of seeking medical help, I rested, rested and rested. The pain did not go away. I started seeing a massage therapist weekly. The only time I felt relief was during a massage, and yoga stretches after warming up with steady state cardio like jogging. I always iced my shoulder afterwards.

After a couple of months, my ROM (range of motion) for abduction was decreasing and sleeping on my side was painful. I went to see the top orthopedic surgeon in the Philadelphia area who diagnosed me with tendinitis, bursitis and partial frozen shoulder from overuse. He took an X-ray to rule out bone spurs. (Calcium deposits show up on X-rays.) Because I still had some strength and ROM, he was able to determine that the best treatment for me would be physical therapy. In the past, treatment was surgery.

My PT also conducted active and passive ROM tests. My PT sessions included: ultrasound therapy, hydrotherapy, cardio, stretch, strengthening, and myofascial release. I felt relief from pain after the very first session. My ROM returned to normal in about a month. I saw the PT 3 times a week for six weeks. My sessions lasted 2 hours since both shoulders were affected.

I still incorporate the rotator cuff and rhomboid exercises into my workout rotations. The pain from poor posture comes back if I don't keep up with the exercises. I continue to get massages... I would be very careful about using a massage therapist who focuses on massaging only where you feel pain. It is very common for a person to feel pain in a stretched muscle (think of a taut rubber band) instead of a contracted muscle (think of antagonists). If the therapist uses a technique which elongates an already weak, stretched muscle under constant spasm, it might feel good in the moment but, it will make the situation worse in the long run. I'm not saying to tell your massage therapist to not touch your painful muscles. Just that you might want to find a therapist with enough knowledge to use the correct techniques that will aid in your healing. Massage can only do so much. If there is a weak muscle or muscles, you need to work them or they will atrophy from disuse. In my case, the combination of regular chiropractic sessions, massage and rehab exercises keep me pain-free with full ROM.

Best!

spot on description of how to make an injury worse, by continuing to work out and the struggle to repair it afterwards......as for acupuncture, though it being a valid point and the shoulder being a good spot in the body to use it, if a tendon is injured acupuncture can only help a little to make the bloodflow better in the surrounding muscles. The tendon itself doesnt have a strong supply of blood. In my case ultrasound therapy and PT semms to help.

regards

Timo

[MrHammer]

I was out 2-3 weeks with a muscle sprain in trap/pec. Never got offered more than painkillers and muscle relaxant (didnt take) and it hurt like hel_l, though I had bruised a rib, but no. I think training trough the sprain would have been a bad idea. Why dont you do some heavy cardio for a few weeks.

[Garret]

The Seven Minute Rotator Cuff Solution..........A fantastic soft covered book that is all the information one will ever need to both prevent and help a person with rotator cuff issues. Filled with the do's and don'ts of weightlifting and the simple exercises that strengthen the complex.

[FBN]

Steroid injections for muscle injuries related are never indicated. These are reserved for well localised "tendon friction points" such as tennis elbow etc or chronic joint inflammatory conditions and then also only used as a last resort.

Infrared treatment at a physio or gentle but very frequent massage should provide relief; NSAIDS at the acute stage of the injury (with RICE treatment) may help but will be of little use once chronic muscle spasm has set in.

Gentle exercise, within pain limits, will also be fine.

[robblok]

Steroid injections for muscle injuries related are never indicated. These are reserved for well localised "tendon friction points" such as tennis elbow etc or chronic joint inflammatory conditions and then also only used as a last resort.

Infrared treatment at a physio or gentle but very frequent massage should provide relief; NSAIDS at the acute stage of the injury (with RICE treatment) may help but will be of little use once chronic muscle spasm has set in.

Gentle exercise, within pain limits, will also be fine.

Are you saying i could train as long as it doesn't hurt ? Maybe i should ask the ladies to massage more gentle.. it hurst quite a bit while they are busy with me. I must say i have a lot of relief after the massage but later it feels bad again.

I must say i don't hurt if i do exercises for some reason it hurts when im sitting down now when exercising.

[FBN]

An injured muscle will go into spasm as a protective mechanism and this is the cause of the pain. The contracted muscle should be clearly palpable by an experienced masseur. Application of heat or gentle mobilisation will help the muscle to relax if done within pain limits. The muscle tenses up again once movement stops but this should gradually get better.

Treat it the same as stretching or warming up before doing vigorous exercise. Continuous pressure or stretch rather than sudden movement or repetitive "pulls" or jerks which have the opposite effect.