The pain
Around four months ago, I felt a mild pain in my shoulder
but I just ignored it as any other normal pain that would subside gradually.
I am a very active person and considering this fact I did
not give much heed to the problem, which was now getting worse. But after
around 10 days, my condition deteriorated so much that I could not lift my arm
even a bit.
Calcium deposit
The time for a visit to the orthopaedic specialist had come.
The problem diagnosed by the doctor was an eye opener for me. He said the pain
was due to calcific tendonitis of the shoulder which meant a small calcium
deposit at the shoulder-arm joint. The deposit can be formed in any part of the
body or joint. According to the doctor, calcium tendonitis results from Vitamin
D3 deficiency. The body forms these deposits as a signal to show that it needs
the sunshine vitamin which is essential for proper functioning of bones.
Vitamin D3 deficiency
Vitamin D3 deficiency can make one feel low and depressed
and can also cause irritability, apart from causing normal pain in bones and
joints.
A person suffers from Vitamin D3 deficiency due to various
reasons. But in my case, the problem was triggered by hyperthyroidism. As I was
suffering from hyperthyroidism for the past one year, Vitamin D3 was being
flushed out from my body. Things became worse because I was not taking the
Vitamin D3 supplements as advised by my endocrinologist. It all went on to make
a complete circle. Hyperthyroidism in triggers a lot of complications, but
ignoring little things can blow up the problem. So we should be careful that
hyperthyroidism doesn’t open windows to other troubles.
Line of treatment
Strong painkillers, ice fomentation and rest to my arm were
few things advised by my doctor. He said if the pain didn’t subside through medicines
and physiotherapy, the deposit would have had to be sucked out through saline
water.
So, initially the doctor put me on medicines and once the
pain decreased a bit, I was sent for physiotherapy sessions, along with ice
fomentation. But this healing touch failed to show its magic as the pain
increased once again, forcing the doctor to halt the physiotherapy sessions and
increase my doses of the painkiller. The shooting pain had brought my life to a grinding halt. I was not even able to sleep as the sleeping posture pulled the deposit downwards, thus increasing my pain. The doctors advised me to sleep in half-sitting posture with pillows all around the arm. This went on for five days.
Once the pain reduced, I resumed my 30-minute physiotherapy sessions that lasted for 10 days, along with exercises at home. By now the doctor had also put me off medication.
It was a harrowing experience but I think I had invited it myself
and that too due to my carelessness. I took my first problem very lightly and
did not take the cholecalciferol supplements to meet the needs of my body. Thankfully,
I did not need the syringe to suck out the calcium deposit. Now, it is not
posing any further problem, but it will remain a part of me forever, may be to
keep reminding me or scaring me!