Shoulder pain, but not where you might think. Advice?

[longbow fanatic 1]

I've been shooting all winter and spring without any issues. Recently, I've begun working to lower my string hand elbow, which really engages my rhomboid muscles better. I've noticed tenderness in an unusual location. The pain is located near the outside end of my clavicle, near the inside, top of my deltoid muscle. Kinda where the deltoid connects to the clavicle. Has anyone experience this? If so, what are the causes and cures?

I'm a few credits short of my MD degree (LOL), but I'll add this. I watched a video concerning front (anterior) shoulder pain. While there are a lot of causes of shoulder pain, the area I' referring to would be the end of the clavicle, between the inside edge of the rotator cuff and CA ligament. Has anyone experience pain in this area?

[M Beach]

I too have been dealing with anterior shoulder pain. I can not tell if mine is from the pectoralis or bicep tendon attachments.

 At first I would think you could be dealing with some AC joint issues. Just a thought since you were saying at the end of the clavicle.

[Pete McMiller]

Sounds like the area of the Thoracic Outlet.  I have been struggling with this for the past year - BUT in my bow arm, not string arm.  In my case both massage therapy and acupuncture have been a big help.

[kuch]

lf1, PT for 20 yrs.  never seen pain where you describe. I assume you are RH and ant sh pain is
L sh.   possible AC joint arthritis , assuming you are old like me !. I have never seen RTC nor bicep tendon pathology cause or radiate pain to that area. I would really video and take pics of form of L sh from above ....what is the alignment of AC and GH joint? i.e. bad alignment, too much bow, a little AC arthro= pain....Good luck

[kuch]

Consider subacromial bursitis ....Hawkin's sign  due to changing sh elevation ...???

[mahantango]

Sounds like you are not using the rhombooids enough in your draw. The only time I had pain there was during a brief foray into the compound world. Drawing a 65#bow where all the weight was right up front screwed me up bad. Try a rotational draw with the hand, forearm and shoulder relaxed like a link in a chain, loading all the weight on the back muscles.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Originally posted by kuch:
lf1, PT for 20 yrs.  never seen pain where you describe. I assume you are RH and ant sh pain is
L sh.   possible AC joint arthritis , assuming you are old like me !. I have never seen RTC nor bicep tendon pathology cause or radiate pain to that area. I would really video and take pics of form of L sh from above ....what is the alignment of AC and GH joint? i.e. bad alignment, too much bow, a little AC arthro= pain....Good luck

Thanks. I'm old, so could be arthritis... I'll ice it if it continues and rest it a bit. I'm right handed and it's my right shoulder. In retrospect, the pain is more located on the top, inside edge of my deltoid nearest my clavicle.

[UMLarcher]

I had something that sounds like that after a football injury back in high school. I have no idea how/when the injury initially happened, but my surgeon said it looked like the shoulder had partially dislocated and never popped all the way back in. It would have been something as simple as catching myself when I started to fall. The misalignment wreaked havoc in and around my shoulder joint, which hurt right at the end of my clavicle. It ended up creating a bunch of bone spurs which made it very painful to raise my arm at all. Naturally, being 17 and bulletproof at the time I waited way too long to get it looked at.

Hope you find a solution!

[DanielB89]

This may sounds crazy, but, I have had l"oose joints" my whole life and even as a 26 year old I have some pretty bad joint problems. I have felt that same pain and I couldn't ever figure out what it was.

I finally figured out it was how I slept on it. I try my best to sleep on my back all night. If I happen to sleep on my right shoulder I'll be in pain for several days.

Joint a little bit rotated from repetitive movement?  A safe place to start would be a chiropractor that is trained to use an actuator.  I get that when I get lazy and don;t do my dumb bell butter fly workout.

[BWallace10327]

I get the same type of pain if I shoot too much with my string-arm elbow too low.  It seems like when I shoot this way I keep my shoulder relaxed, but can't quite engage my back muscles in the first 1/2 of the draw.  I just raise my elbow a touch and the problem goes away.

[smokin joe]

Look at the possibility of a partial thickness tear of the tendon insertion of the supraspinatus muscle. Could also be tendinitis of that tendon.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Thanks to all for your insights! Much appreciated!

[Scott Barr]

I had pain in the same area last year for six months.  Chiropractic helped as it seemed to be related to rib in that area of the spine getting dislocated.  Of course, making sure to strengthen right and left rhomboid muscles for balance is now in my routine.

[jess stuart]

Not suggesting this as a cure or anything like that.  On the PBS website there is a thread about shoulder stretching I assume as a preventive measure.  I have been doing the stretches for a couple of weeks now and it seems to have helped.  My pain is in my bow arm shoulder.  Just thought I would throw that out as it might help someone a little.

[Toxon]

With all due respect to some very knowledgable archers here, this is the wrong place to get your shoulder problem diagnosed.  I have graduated medical school, and spent time in orthopedics (although admittedly not for several years), and I wouldn't waste my time or yours diagnosing a problem on someone I haven't examined in person. There are already some interesting takes on applied anatomy above.

If this is causing you a significant problem, back off what you are doing and see a specialist. If it's not causing a significant problem I would still back off, and spend some time on common sense shoulder stretches and exercises.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Originally posted by Toxon:
With all due respect to some very knowledgable archers here, this is the wrong place to get your shoulder problem diagnosed.  I have graduated medical school, and spent time in orthopedics (although admittedly not for several years), and I wouldn't waste my time or yours diagnosing a problem on someone I haven't examined in person. There are already some interesting takes on applied anatomy above.

If this is causing you a significant problem, back off what you are doing and see a specialist. If it's not causing a significant problem I would still back off, and spend some time on common sense shoulder stretches and exercises.

You're right, Tox. I agree and wasn't looking for a diagnosis. We archers experience shoulder pain for a variety of reasons for sure. I just wanted to hear if others have experienced similar pain and wondered what remedies helped. I'm going to rest it and see if it continues. Thanks for the info everyone.

[Toxon]

Actually, LF1 you've helped me a lot - re-reading my post and examining my own hubris has caused me to spend some profitable time with an anatomy textbook challenging my knowledge of the area.  Best wishes, and I hope the pain resolves quickly.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Thanks, Evan. You're completely correct. Some people would read these posts and attempt to self diagnose and treat themselves. Bad idea. So, your input was invaluable. Thanks for your contribution!

[steve helstowski]

Im no doctor, but what your describing almost sounds like an AC joint seperation.. Ive experienced this a few times, nagging injury.. Ice., nsaids and a visit to a bone /joint specialist are order if rest doesnt  alleviate the symptoms.. Good luck