What could cause a painful shoulder, weak hand, and arm after a shoulder injury?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 27-year-old female and 180 cm tall. I injured my shoulder during a seizure, but I do not know what happened. I had multiple seizures over the last few months and reinjured them each time. Seizures are controlled, but the shoulder is still very painful to move. I also have trouble using my hand, and my hand and arm feel weak. Everybody thought I had torn something in the rotator cuff, but the ultrasound showed no tear. The report summary is as follows:

There is fluid within the biceps tendon sheath.
The long head of the biceps is normal in appearance within the bicipital groove.
The subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor defines normally.
There is a thickening of the subdeltoid bursa, which measures up to 3.3 mm.
The humeral head and the acromioclavicular joint defines normally. There is a limited reduction in the dynamic assessment.

Currently, I am taking Oxycodone for chronic lower back pain due to degenerative disc and Sodium valproate for epilepsy. I want to understand the results of my shoulder ultrasound.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

The shared ultrasound reports (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity) mentioned a thickening of the subdeltoid bursa, which measures up to 3.3 mm. It needs to be reduced through icing and immobilization of the joint using a splint. Therefore, you can consult an orthopedician for medicines needed to reduce the fluid. There are two options for removing the thick fluid causing pain, either by inserting a needle and removing the fluid or through surgery which will be done only in chronic conditions. First, you must wear a splint to avoid pressure on the joint by immobilizing it. Icing thrice a day will also help reduce pain and fluid deposition. A physical assessment will help assess the range of motion of the shoulder joint. You can hire a physiotherapist and take ultrasound therapy for two weeks. Later, exercises will be suggested to strengthen the shoulder to get back to the normal activity of the joint. Finally, you need to give proper rest to the joint to get healed without surgery, which takes about three to four weeks.

Thank you.