Trapezius weakness after shoulder surgery

by John
(New york)


Noticed supraclavicular swelling after shoulder surgery. Surgery included biceps tendonesis, distal clavicle excision, acromioplasty, subacromiom decompression, rotator cuff debridement, with inter scalene block.


Hello John,
That's pretty radical stuff you've had done to your shoulder, so some post surgical symptoms are to be expected. Hopefully it's temporary.

The trapezius is innervated by a cranial nerve, so it's unlikely that the nerve supply was damaged.

The are two kinds of weakness of muscles.

1. Wasting due to disuse, either because of pain, or in your case after surgery.

1. Wasting because the nerve supply to the muscle has been damaged.

I'd get an assurance from the surgeon that this is something temporary.

Ask if a shoulder exerciser like the one above might be helpful. You can make it for a few dollars. Type "arm exerciser" into the Search function at Chiropractic Help.

I hope this contributes.

Dr B

Dr B

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