Frame issues?

Hi everyone,

I’ve been scouring the forums, but I can't seem to find anything similar to my situation. Here’s the gist: about a month ago, I took a spill on my bike and injured my shoulder. I went in for some imaging, and the results came back fine—nothing was broken. However, quite a bit of time has passed, and there's still this persistent lump on the shoulder. It aches slightly, though nothing major; honestly, the bump itself is what's bothering me more. Is this something that’s just going to stay with me forever? I should admit, I haven't exactly been diligent about resting it. Thanks in advance for any insight.

So, have you actually gone under the knife for any extra testing yet? Like an MRI, maybe some ultrasound stuff? You gotta give me the details here—is this thing actually painful when you touch it, or can you even move it around? Does it swell up or shrink back down? And where exactly is it sitting? Honestly, just grab a picture of a shoulder online and use Paint to circle the spot so we’re all on the same page about where this is happening. If you could snap a real photo, that'd be better, though I get it if that feels a little too invasive for you...

I would have loved to post the X-ray, but I tossed it in the trash on my way home. I didn't want my mother getting any ideas about my judgment calls—though she’s already realized it wasn't her brightest moment either. I did manage to snap a photo of my shoulder just now, so here it is:
I haven't done anything strenuous since the scan, and as for tenderness to the touch, there isn't any. It's actually impossible to move it.
Thanks

Alright, try feeling along the outer edge of your collarbone—you know, if you aren't sure, it's right just below that little bump there... does it hurt? If it does, how would you even describe the sensation...

hey, do me a favor and run a little test... grab something weighing maybe twenty pounds and try lifting it with that injured arm, but you’ve gotta keep your elbow tucked tight against your side... I want to know if that lump starts swelling up more as the pain kicks in.

It’s more of a dull ache than anything else. I only really feel it in my shoulder when I reach overhead or rotate my arm too far...

Could you walk me through how you actually got hurt? Like, did you trip and land on your side with your arm pinned between your body and the floor, or did you just take the full weight of the fall directly on your arm?

You can never be entirely sure how you’re going to go down, but I’d say I landed straight on my shoulder with my arm tucked tight against my side. Everything happened so fast—it was just pure adrenaline and a blur of a scene 😉

Did you ever get around to running that test I mentioned?
Just give it a shot... grab something weighing about twenty pounds and try lifting it with your injured arm, but make sure you keep your elbow tucked tight against your side. I want to know if that bump starts swelling up more as the pain kicks in...

Sorry, I missed that until now. I just tried lifting it in every way possible; there's no increase in weight and absolutely no pain when I lift.

Alright... since the X-ray didn't show anything broken, you’re likely looking at some inflammation in the joint. It usually flares up right after an injury, right? 😁 Basically, take it easy on that arm. Don't go completely sedentary, though—total immobilization is a one-way ticket to stiffness, and nobody wants that. Try this little movement: lean forward slightly and gently swing your arm side to side. Let me know your age, weight, and height, and I can suggest something more specific for the pain. For the first day, stick an ice pack on it for about 40 minutes. After that, you can switch over to a heating pad or a hot water bottle; it helps dull the inflammation and gets the blood flowing to clear out any extra fluid buildup. Also, try not to lift your arm above shoulder level. Just rest... take it slow... and let me know how things look in three days.

Much appreciated for all the help. I'm 23, 5'10", and 154 lbs.

Alright... two 300 mg aspirins should do the trick, provided you aren't already on blood pressure medication or dealing with kidney issues... Ibuprofen works similarly if that's what you have on hand.

Just checking in after a few days to say things haven't changed much. Went back to get my shoulder looked at again, and the doctor says if the Voltaren doesn't do the trick, I should probably go see a physical therapist... ugh.

Yeah... if it were just some basic inflammation, it would have calmed down by now. Unless you've been sitting on your hands again... though I really hope that’s not the case. If some Voltaren gel doesn't do the trick, you're probably looking at physical therapy or some specific rehab exercises.