Hi all, hoping that someone will be able to help or share some experiences (hopefully good!).
Back in June 2022 I injured my shoulder doing DIY on my bathroom ceiling (fitting batons and over boarding the existing plaster finish). Across my shoulder blade was painful but manageable with paracetamol and my arm was heavy and weak. Booked in to see the doctor however I unfortunately caught Covid and had to delay my appointment until it cleared. During this time the pain in my shoulder got a lot worse and by the time I could see the doctor I was in a lot of pain. Over the next couple of weeks the pain subsided however I now have no feeling in the area affected (back of my shoulder blade/scapula) nor can I contract the muscles to lift my hand above shoulder height. Drinking a cup of tea is a two handed affair now as my right hand side is too weak to lift it!
Doctor referred me to Orthopaedics with a suspected rotator cuff injury. I have since had X rays, ultrasound and finally an MRI. Rotator cuff injury has been ruled out and whilst a couple of minor issues have been identified (bicep tendon damage, mild subacromial bursitis) the main diagnosis is looking increasingly likely that I have (or still have) viral neuritis which has paralysed my supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles causing massive muscle wastage.
This has left my shoulder very weak and unable to support itself when under load (routine planks for example are off the cards) and I cannot maintain my hand position under sideways load so currently riding outdoors is off the cards. If I hit a pothole/rock in the road it is unlikely that I would have a strong or quick enough control on the bars to stay upright. On the trainer I can manage 90-120 minutes but start getting aches/pains after 45 minutes or so and have to sit up off the bars to relieve the discomfort.
The information I can find on the web doesn’t paint a great picture for treatment/recovery and I am finding it very difficult to cope with having been able to ride 600km/380 miles in a single hit a week or two before the injury to now being unsafe to ride outdoors with no clear indication as to if or when the muscles affected may recover.
Has anyone had this and if so what has your experience been? Hoping for some positive feedback but fearing the worst right now.
Ive never had it diagnosed but I have something similar down my left side caused by chemotherapy destroying my nerves and maybe a fall on that side. I have done a lot of miles in the past and I have always been able to sit up and ease it off. Its worse on a TT bikewhen there’s more weight on the arm. Its caused me too often to sit up and shake it out too which costs a lot of time. Its never get as bad on a road or gravel bike. On the TT bike its also not as bad as it was as nerves slowly repair.
Thanks @HLaB, sorry to hear about your situation and hope you continue to make progress.
Just got back from the consultant and I have been referred for an EMG to assess the nerve function in the affected muscles/area. Consultant said that it certainly looks like it is Parsonage Turner Syndrome (aka viral neuritis). No known cause, no treatment available and no definitive timeline for recovery. It sucks but I guess I need to work out how I can ride my bike safely as I am. Fingers crossed!
Hi Peter,
I realise your post was a while back, but I’m wondering how your recovery has gone?
I have had the same diagnosis since April. It’s been hard to come to terms with as a cycling obsessive. I’ve started riding again but there are many things I cannot do- riding the track being one of them.
It’s such a rare condition not many people have experienced, and I’ve certainly never spoken to another cyclist who has had it. So I’d really appreciate your reply- have you made a full recovery? And advice on what I can do to speed recovery along? Anything to avoid?
During the EMG I was diagnosed with complete paralysis of the Serratus Anterior and 50% paralysis of the Supraspinatus. The Supraspinatus is ok from the spine to about halfway along the shoulder blade and then it withers away. As far as I can tell there has been limited return of functionality in those muscles for me. From what I have read/understood some people seem to get a return of function over time but there has been barely any research or monitoring of peoples recovery and it is unknown if improved functionality is people ‘recovering’ or other muscles learning to make up the shortfall in the affected areas.
At the onset of symptoms and in the early months I was completely unable to get out of the saddle on the bike and felt that I would struggle to react well to any incident that required a quick reaction (hitting a bump mid turn etc). I ended up being off the bike for about 6 months. Once back on the bike I was exclusively on the turbo trainer for a few months and played it ‘safe’ for a few months once I started going outside. Mainly riding shorter distances, staying away from steep ascents/descents etc.
I can still tell the difference between my ‘good shoulder’ and the affected side. My right shoulder always feels ‘weaker’ and tends to tire sooner but day to day life it is basically unnoticeable.
In terms of rehabilitation I saw a phyiso once a fortnight for thick end of 6 months. Doing very basic strength work (shoulders, back & core work) and learning new motor control strategies to enable other muscles to assist where weaknesses existed. The main issue I had was that my shoulder blade wasn’t moving properly to allow me to reach my hand above shoulder height. This is no longer a problem and whilst a 3rd party probably wouldn’t notice I can still feel the difference. I could have carried on going to physio but felt that progress was starting to level off and I had learnt enough to carry on myself at home.
I hope that helps but let me know if there is anything specific I can help with and good luck with your recovery.
I am so grateful for this reply- thank you. You are the first person I have spoken to who has experienced the condition, and great to know you are a fellow cyclist. It means a lot to know that things are likely to improve.
I have a nerve conduction study booked for Monday (similar to EMG I think?) and it will be interesting to compare my results to yours. I’ve had 2 MRIs and the surgeon described the condition as ‘severe’ probably due to existing nerve damage. I can only guess this was caused by various crashes over the years, one on my head at the velodrome.
I was off for 2 months but now feel I have enough control to ride in the bunch on a group ride or chain gang. Cant go between drops and tops easily so will resist sprinting, and my neck is too stiff to maintain the position on the drops so no velodrome. But I do wonder how much to push it? I mean, if I pull on the bars during a Zwift sprint will I do any harm? Ive started climbing out the saddle and no ill effects, but will it cause harm?
My poor wife is always on standby as there’s no way I could fix a puncture!
Physio is just as you describe. I’m also doing Pilates, though it’s awkward having to lift my right arm with my left. As you say, other muscles have started to compensate for the loss of power in bicep and shoulder.
Seems to be all about patience. Thank goodness the awful pain has gone and I can now just get used to it.
As I said- it’s nice to speak to someone who has been in the same position. And so good to hear about your recovery. Best wishes and thanks.
Was talking to my wife about this conversation and a couple of things came up that might be of interest to you.
Firstly it might be worth you buying or borrowing an EMS (Electro Muscle Stimulation) kit. As the nerves may not be functioning correctly the EMS can be used to bypass the nerve and provide stimulation directly to the muscle. I started using one a few times a week and whilst I can’t say with certainty it helped I would certainly be using it straightaway if I experienced the same thing again. Apparently if the nerve function improves having some muscle for the nerve to operate will be a massive benefit. My physio helped with the placement of the pads and the stimulation program I used.
I got a Med-Fit Rechargeable Dual Channel TENS & Muscle Stimulator (EM6300A) which was like £35 and had 2 outputs so could go at both affected muscles at the same time. Looks like this unit has been superseded by newer models now.
Secondly one of the physio moves that was a ‘breakthrough’ moment for me was using a physio loop band around my hands. So standing with my arms down by my sides with my palms facing each other and the band looped over my hands. I then try to spread my arms a little putting tension into the band and feeling the sides of my arms tense up. At the same time make a conscious effort to squeeze my shoulder blades together. Whilst maintaining the tension in the band and the squeeze in my shoulders I lift my hands to my shoulders and then drive the hands up to vertical.
First time I did it this felt like witchcraft! Definitely helped me a lot.
It sounds like the study you have will be the same sort of thing I had (electromyography). In mine they connected electrodes to different parts of my arm and shoulder and passing an electric current through them. The machine measured the time for the signal to pass between the pads. They would do it on one side then the other to measure the difference between the good and the bad sides. The last test they did involved them putting a needle into different muscles in my arm and shoulder. This was attached to an oscilloscope with a speaker. Once the needle was put in I would be asked to tense and relax the muscle. The noise and readout was like radio or TV static. Once I tensed the muscle the noise and readout would get much stronger. Obviously the muscles that were identified as affected had virtually no noise/readout regardless of anything.
I had exactly the same thing with moving from the hoods to drops and with taking a drink from a bottle. I am right handed it was my right side that was affected. For quite a while I had to consciously take a bottle with my left hand. Now I don’t even think about it and use my right hand no problem.
Re the causing harm I absolutely don’t believe that you can cause damage to the affected muscles. I had the sensation of my shoulder joint being loose and that none of it was properly attached to my rib cage any more which kept me away from outdoor riding for a while. I also felt that the biggest risk for me was that the issue would prevent me from reacting quickly enough to a situation. For example needing to grab a handful of brakes whilst being on the hoods. The motion of moving hands from the hoods to the drops and the grabbing the brakes was no longer a subconscious movement for me at the time and took a lot longer. Again not a problem now.
The pain was horrific in the first few weeks but since then I haven’t experienced any pain as such. Just the aches of tired muscles etc.
I hope everything goes as well as it can at the study tomorrow and wish you the best in your recovery. Again if you have any questions or whatever then please reach out. Likewise you are the only person I have ever spoken to who has suffered the same thing!
Thanks for the detailed reply. It’s so valuable and comforting to speak to someone who has had the same condition.
One complication I have is that I damaged my left arm on a cattle grid in the Yorkshire Dales 6 years ago. Needed lots of metal work and a bone graft. It functions okay now but I was heavily dependent on my right- and that’s the one with nerve issues. I was delighted to be assigned to the same physio who helped my left arm recovery but this time he is much more cautious. He’s rightly scared of the damage a fall could do, but Im so keen to prove I can function as normal. Wary of the need to change hand position in an emergency situation but I judge I’m able to ride the chaingamg safely and am even considering the club hill climb in a few weeks. Can’t reach my back pockets and yes, drinking with my left hand, but problems I can overcome.
A private physio suggested a TENS machine (Auvon) and I was using it. But my NHS physio dismissed the idea so I stopped. However, after your recommendation I will continue. I will also do the loop band exercise you suggest. Up until now I’ve been using a stick for various arm raising exercises, and pulley on the door.
By the way, my only theory on how this came about was stress caused by a sprint at the end of a group ride. That was Tuesday and the pain arrived Thursday. There was no other trauma so it’s the only cause I can think of.
I’m looking forward to the nerve study tomorrow. It’s been a very log wait to get the appointment. I have a good surgeon so hopefully he can interpret it for me and provide some hope.
If you want to follow my progress, and warn me off from certain things (!) I’m on Strava, Chris Howie, Edinburgh- same profile photo as Trainer Road.