How I healed my shoulder with help from my AI Doctor, Cody.
CodyMD
Published February 10, 2026
Hi, I'm John — 41, software developer by day, adventure junkie by heart. If I'm not coding, you'll probably find me out on the trails hiking, climbing, or biking. But a few weeks ago, something as simple as reaching for a coffee mug stopped me in my tracks.
It all started one chilly autumn morning. I was getting ready for a weekend hike, packing up my gear, and boom — a sharp twinge hit my right shoulder. It wasn't a big deal at first. I figured it was one of those "oh, I just slept on it wrong" moments. So, I powered through.
But it didn't go away.
Days went by. Then weeks. Typing at my desk became uncomfortable. Reaching up to grab a plate from the cabinet? Nope. Even tossing on a jacket was starting to feel like a mini workout. Something was definitely off.
The old me would've ignored it longer, but I had plans — a big hiking trip with friends — and I wasn't about to let shoulder pain take me out of the game.
That's when I remembered something a buddy of mine told me about — CodyMD. It's this AI health assistant that helps you figure out what's going on with your body. Normally, I'd be skeptical, but he swore it was legit. So, I decided to give it a shot.
I hopped on my phone and opened Cody. Super simple — it just asked me to describe what I was feeling.
"Where does it hurt?" "Right shoulder," I typed.
"How long has it been bothering you?" "About three weeks."
"What makes it worse?" "Reaching up, lifting things, sometimes just typing."
Within seconds, Cody hit me with this:
Top 3 AI Diagnosis List
1️⃣ Rotator Cuff Tendonitis — (50% probability) Inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons, often due to repetitive overhead activity, leading to pain and weakness, especially noticeable with activities like hiking, climbing, or lifting.
2️⃣ Rotator Cuff Tear — (30% probability) A tear in the rotator cuff, which can cause pain, weakness, and sometimes tingling. The weakness I felt while lifting my coffee mug definitely fit this description.
3️⃣ Impingement Syndrome — (20% probability) Occurs when shoulder tendons are intermittently trapped and compressed during shoulder movements, causing pain with overhead activities. Reaching up to get something off a shelf? Yeah, that hurt.
At first, I was a little surprised. I'd never heard of "impingement syndrome" before, but I'd definitely heard of rotator cuff injuries. But here's the thing that made me trust Cody — it didn't just throw out medical terms and leave me hanging. It told me what to do next.
Cody's advice was straightforward:
Rest it: Avoid anything that makes it worse (goodbye, heavy backpacks).
Ice it: 15-20 minutes at a time, a few times a day.
Pain relief: Over-the-counter NSAIDs like ibuprofen to reduce inflammation and pain.
On top of that, Cody suggested I see a doctor if it didn't improve in a week or if the pain got worse. Honestly, that little nudge made a big difference. I wasn't guessing anymore — I knew I had a plan.
So, I booked an appointment with a doctor. By the time I walked into the office, I felt like I already had a head start. I told him, "I think it might be rotator cuff tendinitis, but I'm also aware it could be a tear or impingement syndrome." My doctor was impressed. "How'd you know that?" he asked.
"Cody told me," I said. He just laughed.
The doctor did some strength tests, and I got an MRI just to be sure. Turns out Cody was spot on — rotator cuff tendinitis. The treatment plan? Exactly what Cody had told me: rest, ice, NSAIDs, and a few sessions of physical therapy to build back my strength.
Fast forward a few weeks, and I'm back to doing the things I love. My shoulder's stronger, I'm smarter about how I use it, and I didn't have to spend weeks lost in the fog of "what's wrong with me?"
I know AI can't replace a doctor, but Cody didn't need to. It gave me clarity and control when I felt stuck. And sometimes, that's all you need to get back on track.
If you're dealing with a random ache or pain and wondering if it's serious or just annoying, try asking Cody. You don't have to guess anymore.
— John (hiker, climber, adventure-seeker, shoulder pain survivor)
