I had shoulder issues too. Within two days of starting in SJPP, I noticed an ache in my left shoulder. Over the next while, I adjusted my pack straps every which way but nothing helped and I learned to just live with the discomfort. Eventually, after 21 days I developed the most debilitating tendinitis in my left shin – was told by the doctor to bus to Leόn and rest my leg. Five days later I managed to continue my Camino, but with considerable discomfort (until I met up with a very kind
peregrina who passed along to me some of her prescription topical ointment which cleared up my tendinitis practically overnight). Even with my little day pack (I sent my big pack ahead by transport after Leόn) my shoulder continued to bother me.
Weeks later, after I had returned home and my shoulder was still bothering me, I went to my physiotherapist. It seemed that there was a muscle in my shoulder that wasn’t working right, which caused me to adjust my gait, which my physio figured triggered the tendinitis in my shin. Even now, almost a year after my Camino, I still feel a little ‘crick’ (but no pain) in that shoulder when I make certain movements. Guess I should stick with those shoulder exercises …
After I developed the tendinitis, I used my poles every step of the way to ease the pressure on my legs, but they did not bother my shoulders at all. Strange …... Guess I was lucky.