Shoulder pain

[carlton23]

I get very painful shoulder pain due I believe to my PC. I rub in Voltarol and/or Algesal Creams but nothing works. I am wondering about an injection of Cortisone but I have been told its very painful. Has anyone had it, and does it work.permanently ?

[LoftyLottie]

It works for quite a while but is not permanent - it can however give your shoulder a chance to heal. Yes it is painful but not unbearable.

If your shoulder pain is due to your PC, then I would get your seating position sorted out so your posture is absolutely correct. If it's a computer at work, then your Company is legally obliged to sort this out for you!

Good luck with the shoulder.

[Lil O'lady]

Carlton is spot on. Take a cool look at how you are sitting when you are on your PC - are you leaning on one elbow, for example? It seems such a little thing but it makes a big difference. And the point is, you can relieve the pain all you want but if you aren't tackling the cause it won't go away.
Try these stretching exercises:
http://www.pc.ibm.com/ww/healthycomputing/stre ching.html

[Lil O'lady]

sorry, that should read Lofty not Carlton!

[carlton23]

Thankyou Lottie, I`ll try it as soon as I pluck up the courage, I don`t mind blood tests but cringe at muscular injections, also I am a pensioner and spend most of my day at my PC.

[carlton23]

Lil O`lady, what a very helpful link, many thanks, I`ve printed it off and pinned it to my wall.

[LoftyLottie]

Carlton, I am a pensioner too, with back problems!! I am lucky enough to have had a special chair made to my requirements (funded by the Department of Employment through my last employer). It really is essential that you get your computer work place set up properly.

[LoftyLottie]

Found it!! I have been searching for this for you. Hope it helps:

http://www.ds-healthandsafety.com/pdf/J0712DSD ownloadWorkstation.pdf

[daffy654]

You can't just go to a doctor and ask for cortisone injections,your GP would have to refer you to the hospital pain clinic and it would be up to the consultant there to treat your pain in whatever way they think is best.
I had cortisone injections in my chest wall a while ago and they are very painful (might not be so bad in the shoulder). I cried out in pain when I had mine done and I have a very high pain threshold,also they didn't actually work for my pain so they may not work for you either.

[Scarlett]

You need to look at the cause of the shoulder pain, not mask it by having an injection. I suggest you switch your PC off and unplug it and spend a week not using it! I have had similar problems and when I had a week off work and went on holiday (away from computers) it gor much better. It sounds like repetitive strain, and by continuing to use the PC you are making the problem worse.

Do you have a mobile phone? If so, get your provider to enable internet on your phone so you can still check your email, but won't be sat in the position you are now. Also maybe find other things to do? Computers totally eat our time, and there are lots of other fun things to be doing outside etc.

[thugulike]

I had a persistent upper arm pain which I thought was due to my PC. Doc did tests and found it to be fibromyalgia. Magnesium Malate keeps the pain away. Worth checking out with the doc.

[terambulan]

How can a pc cause shoulder pain? Is it a desktop resting on your lap with the monitor & printer on each shoulder? Reaching for the keyboard & mouse on your head could be the cause?

Get a lappy ;0)

[terambulan]

no no no

http://media.photobucket.com/image/funny%20pc% 20pictures/MrCkp/funny_pictures_The_Portable_P C.jpg?o=2

[happy_face]

I used to get terrible shoulder pains and almost frozen shoulder until I linked it to using a pc mouse. I did some investigating on the net and found this
http://www.posturite.co.uk/PosturiteSite/produ ct/4401101.htm

It's absolutely wonderful as I no longer sit with one arm out to one side. Both elbows are tucked at my side.

I got my company to buy this as it is quite expensive. I told them it was cheaper for them to buy this than paying me sick pay to which they agreed. My sister also uses it as she's got tendonitis in her wrist.

[carlton23]

Many thanks to all.