C5 shoulder problems

[Larsen]

I just want to know if anybody else out there who has a C5, C6 complete injury, has any problem with their C5 shoulder and discomfort.

On the side with the C6 injury, I really don't have any pains or discomfort, but my right side with the C5 injury, drives me insane. I can never sit comfortably. My natural posture tends to lean in favor that side. I have laterals that are in really tight, but I still am applying a lot of pressure to that side, and also the area where my neck goes to my shoulder is extremely sore. The only time it feels somewhat okay is when I'm laying down. And even when I laid down I cannot take the arm at my side, because my shoulder blade sticks out. So, I have a table with a pillow right up against my bed so I can put my arm out to my side.

Is this a common type of shoulder problem with C5 injury? It pisses me off so bad to have this pain, because the C6 side doesn't bother me at all. I feel as if my C5 side is dragging me down so much. I noticed that this arms it's closer to my body, and is not as broad as my C6 side. My doctor also said he noticed some scoliosis.

Anybody else have these problems? If so any tips?

[rybread]

The probs i have w mine r they r pinned together because all the muscles r really tight on both sides and especially on the left which does get much more sore. as long as i'm in decent shape, it doesn't get too bad jus being held up w/o support

[David Berg]

Do you have any scoliosis?

Alan is a member here who has some symptoms similar to what you describe. He's still fighting some nasty pain that seems to defy treatment with anything he can tolerate, but thankfully he's still hanging in there.

Edit, I just re-read your post and you do say you have some scolisis. DOH! Does your doctor have a strategy for dealing with it? I'd suggest trying to treat it to see if it helps your symptoms.

[alan]

I'm C-5, with scolioisis (curves in several directions. )My shoulder blades pop because they catch on bones, plus I have all sorts of pain sensation in that area, including bones feeling broken and sticking through skin, skin being scraped off, skin and muscles ripping when I move, etc., plus the pains in the rest of my body. No fun.

[Larsen]

Sorry for not responding soon enough. My cushion when flat on Monday, and since then I've been in bed because the area I had a flap surgery on a year ago is the originated right now. The redness and bruising is starting to go away, and I'm going to see my doctor on Wednesday to see if I can get up and out of bed.

As for what I'm doing about the scoliosis. I asked the doctor what I can do, and he said that in my case they really don't like to do any surgery for scoliosis because it is a very risky procedure and it takes a very long time to heal. He said my curve wasn't significant also.

But it just feels so weird for me because my right shoulder rests right next to my chest. As for Alan... I do have the same pains you have. I have very bad neuropathic pain.