Hurt my arm

[osprey_archer]

Attempted to go for a hike yesterday and tripped over a rock and fell directly onto my upper left arm and shoulder, and now if I want to move that arm I have to take hold of my elbow and manipulate my left arm with my right hand. (It also works to grab hold of something with my left hand and drag my arm along behind it, but this involves dancing my hand along like a spider and is slightly emotionally distressing to watch.)

I guess I did something to the muscle? It doesn't hurt too much as long as I hold still (and my left hand works fine; I am typing normally now), and I have a reasonable range of motion as long as I'm moving the arm with something other than its own muscle power, but the arm can barely move of its own accord.

Comments

[asakiyume]

Yikes I'm sorry to hear it. Yes, that sounds like you did something to your rotator cuff maybe? I remember the thing of having to move the arm with the other arm.

It will heal, but it's distressing in the meantime. I'm sorry :(

[skygiants]

okay not to be alarmist but have you considered possibly going to the doctor with this? Last time Beth fell on her arm it turned out she had a cracked elbow bone ....

[philomytha]

Ouch! Poor you, that sounds very odd. Also, not being able to move a limb normally does sound like medical advice time, if you haven't already...

[genarti]

Yikes! That sounds both distressing and inconvenient.

Joining the chorus of those recommending you get it checked out if you haven't already made arrangements, if only to rule out anything that needs more active intervention. (As Becca says, a few years ago I fell while skating and turned out to have hairline cracked my elbow, though the location and severity were such that I didn't get a cast or anything, just advice to not skate for some weeks.)

[black_bentley]

Definitely get that looked at if you haven't already - I suffered a completely innocuous shoulder injury just over a year ago, with no major damage, and I still don't have full movement back.

[regshoe]

Oh dear, that sounds disturbing as well as inconvenient! I hope it gets better soon.

[troisoiseaux]

Oh no! I hope you feel better soon!

[ellenmillion]

Ow! Hope it feels better soon!

[sovay]

and I have a reasonable range of motion as long as I'm moving the arm with something other than its own muscle power, but the arm can barely move of its own accord.

Joining the chorus of Team Get a Doctor to Make Sure It Isn't Anything Exciting, in the meantime of which I hope it is merely annoying and boring.

[anna_wing]

You might want to see a doctor, and get it X-rayed in case anything is broken.

[littlerhymes]

Oh no, get well soon! Echoing the other suggestions in this thread...