Shoulder popped. Now bicep muscle seems spasmed. Help! - Open to All Other Health Topics Message Board

marti_girl · 07-28-2007, 02:18 PM

I just picked up my upright vacuum cleaner with my right hand. When I did, my shoulder made a loud pop. Pain shot through my bicep and now when I reach forward or try to pick something up the pain is unbearable. When I hold my arm in the position a weight lifter does with elbow bent and upper arm horizontal to my body, the muscle is like a ball in the middle of my arm even when I'm relaxed. What in the world have I done???

BlueAtlas · 07-28-2007, 05:29 PM

It could be a rotator cuff injury. It would actually be at the top corner of your shoulder, but the pain is often greater in the upper arm. It's called "referred pain" because it's truly pain but the source is from a different area than where you feel it.

Make sure you don't guard it too much. If it hurts a lot, you may feel that you shouldn't use it and that may make it stiffen up. If it gets stiffer and stiffer, you could end up with a frozen shoulder.

Does it hurt to lie on that side? That's one way to tell if it's the rotator cuff. Other than that, you'd have to get an MRI for a definite diagnosis.

I hope it feels better and turns out to just be a muscle strain!

Emily