Shoulder / arm pain - so draining

I had a really sore shoulder like you 2 yrs ago. Could barely move arm / shoulder without bad pain. Was on Naproxen & omeprazole. GP arranged for scan & guided steroid injection to ease pain.
3 days before scan - Suddenly stopped hurting - went for the Scan to see what was happening. A Tendon - which was was part of the Rotator cuff- had detached completely and had retracted to the deltoid area. No pain at all remained so left alone.
18months on - slightly painful shoulder again - hope it’s not another torn tendon? Will make appt with GP for another scan. Also have a torn tendon in my ankle! Hope they’re not all giving up!!!

Steroid injections - have had these in painful areas hip, both hands/ wrists. Have worked well for me. As others had said , a few mins discomfort is worth the pain relief

foxie48

I find going to a good physio is well worth the money. OH had a serious rotator cuff injury, saw a surgeon eventually who said he could operate but there was no guarantee of it being 100% successful. He went to an excellent physio who gave him exercises to do, which he did religiously and he now has complete mobility again and is pain free. I go to a MrTimoney -Corley practioner for general body maintenance but would always go to a physio first for any new joint or muscle pain.

This was my husband’s experience as well. His shoulder pain was so bad it was interfering with his sleep, he went to the GP and she said it was probably arthritis. Our son knows a very good physiotherapist so I persuaded my husband to make an appointment with him. The physio immediately diagnosed frozen shoulder and wrote to the GP requesting he be referred for an injection, he didn’t have to wait long and had an X-ray followed by an injection which improved things a great deal.

How painful Loobs I had a frozen shoulder some years ago and it does go away on its own but not for a long time. I have you tried heat and or physio I think should help.

My shoulder pain got worse and worse over a period of years. I would wake up in tears during the night. Eventually an X-ray showed osteophytes (bone spurs) which were pushing the joint out - I had a permanently dislocated shoulder. Surgery - a partial replacement - fixed it. Had it been diagnosed earlier, an arthroscopic procedure could have been enough. No trouble for 17 years. I hope your scan will show up anything that can be remedied. Good luck with that.

Loobs as someone who has had a shoulder replacement after a fall I would say don't visit a physio or anyone until you have had the scan and results, it could be so many different things and November will soon be here. When you have a result either the GP will know the way forward or if you are left to it at least when you turn up at the physio or whoever you can tell them what is going on.

I second that luluaugust. If you took an undiagnosed shoulder condition to a physio or osteopath, manipulation could make it so much more painful.

I had surgery for a rotator cuff issue on my right shoulder in 2020. It wasn't frozen shoulder - that's a different issue. Still a bit stiff, but I do have full movement now, though I am still very careful. Post-op physio was wonderful!

I had a similar problem, which was eventually diagnosed as a torn rotator cuff. The pain was in my shoulder and my arm. It was extremely comfortable. I couldn’t reach above my waist. About ten years ago I had it operated on. It was so much better - not pain free, but it was bearable. A great relief! Hope you get it sorted.

Uncomfortable!

Sounds exact like my frozen shoulderS. The left, after the GP had originally suspected “imagination (🤬), I had physiotherapy then went private and gad steroid injections.
The right, when about to have the NHS steroid injection, (I had changed surgeries) the GO decided I needed an MRI etc, and I had an operation to decompress the joint and shave some bone. Right as rain now!
It was dreadful at the time, I used frequently to cry with pain and hardly sleep for months, in both cases.
Seek help. All the best

Loobs, I really feel for you as I have had my shoulder in this state twice now. On each occasion I did the physio, had a steroid pain injection and only got temporary relief. Each time I have had to really push for exploratory operations because they kept saying "Diabetics suffer from this and it will go eventually." Both times they have found something and been able to relieve the pain.
That said, I have to be careful after the second op (15 years after the first) because I do get days when I get those twinges but with rest it calms. I dread a repeat of this because I couldn't sleep or do anything without suffering such pain.
I think the transient pain is to do with how tense you are or the position you hold the arm. I found myself compensating for the pain with my shoulder position so the pain would move. I didn't even realise I was doing it and it was after the operation that the Consultant pointed it out.
I hope they can do something for you.

I’ve had shoulder pain since last year when I reached behind in the car for a heavy bag. I’ve had X rays and they decided it was soft tissue associated with rotary cuff. I was given exercises by the physiotherapist and it is much better but I think there will be a weakness there if I don’t keep up the exercises. For pain I use Volterol gel and also a tens machine which lessens the pain. It can be extremely painful especially if you reach up for things.

Having had shoulder problems for some years I finally went to the GP. First thing he ordered was an xray as I have osteoarthritis. When I went for the results he told me no sign of oa in the shoulder and no bone tumour, I hadn't thought of that one but as I've had 2 cancers my GP was on to that one quickly. I self referred to an NHS Physio at his suggestion and was seen quite quickly, within 4 weeks. He diagnosed a rotator cuff injury and gave me exercises. They have definitely helped but not yet cured the problem but I am seeing him for the third time later this month. Self referral is really easy and well worth a try. Good Luck .

Can you tell me who the physio is Bridie and if he is in Glasgow. SIL has major shoulder issues ( work related ) and her go to one has moved back to Canada .. thanks

I have the greatest sympathy with those who have chronic shoulders pain. I have had it on and off for years. I was just scrolling through the Daily Telegrapg and found this article. It may be mumbo jumbo but we can try it. I hope you do not think O am an idiot for passing this on!!!

physicalhealthdiscovery.com/worst-year/?utm_source=Niarbtuo&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=Arthritis%3A+NHS+Doctor+Reveals+3+Common+Mistakes+

I broke my left shoulder in fall, slanted break. Terrible life even hospitalised fractured pelvis whilst pregnant. Daughter expecting, hope you are okay.

I had something similar which was a trapped nerve in my neck. Physio helped. So painful.

i have a steroid injection into my thumb joint every four months.
before 2009 and my first knee replacement i was having an injection into my right knee joint every four months. after the first op i had injections every four months into my left knee joint.
after my second knee replacement in 2018 i was still suffering arthritis pain in my thumbs so my gp suggested injections into that joint.
paracetamol won't touch artgritis pain and i can't take ibuprofen after kidney cancer so the injections are wonderful.
i'm due one on 17 november and can't wait.

Good heavens luluaugust - I had no idea that it was even possible to have a shoulder replacement?? I think, as you and others have said, I will wait until I have had the scan and then hopefully I will be clearer about what to do. Thank you all so much for replying, it has been really helpful. Meanwhile I have just been to make an appointment at the GP to kick off my 2nd knee replacement and the receptionist seemed to think it wouldn't be 18 weeks from start to finish like 2019, she said the waiting list is HUGE!!

I've had a shoulder impingement on one side, which was resolved with a steroid injection and then a frozen shoulder the other side which I would not wish on anyone. Consultant wanted to operate but when I said I was the only carer for my mum who had dementia (2017) he very quickly dismissed an op as he said shoulder and arm would be strapped to my side and I'd be unable to look after mum so instead I had two ultrasound guided steroid injections and then 10 weeks of both physiotherapy and hydrotherapy plus coloured resistance bands I had to use to improve shoulder mobility. I hasten to add this was all done through my husbands work, private medical cover, would not be so lucky now he's retired and it was factored time wise around my mums twice weekly visits to her dementia club.
Good Luck

Did you ever break your collar bone that side? Sometimes the repair leaves you with joint stress later when muscles are becoming less efective in keeping the joint engaged corrctly. A physio could explain and shoulder exercises will help recover the alignment.

Sounds like you may have a issue with your ROTATOR CUFF MUSCLE
Hope its a proper MRI scan as a xray won't show it. May mean an operation like I had as mine was a complete tear. After it being in a sling for 8 weeks followed by physio it all good and I can once again reach up and behind my back etc

Anniel

I have the greatest sympathy with those who have chronic shoulders pain. I have had it on and off for years. I was just scrolling through the Daily Telegrapg and found this article. It may be mumbo jumbo but we can try it. I hope you do not think O am an idiot for passing this on!!!

physicalhealthdiscovery.com/worst-year/?utm_source=Niarbtuo&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=Arthritis%3A+NHS+Doctor+Reveals+3+Common+Mistakes+

Thought I'd check on the reviews for this and this is what I found. uk.trustpilot.com/review/activ8.online

Hi there
Sorry you are in pain, it’s awfully debilitating isn’t it?
Have you had an x ray yet? I wasn’t sure if you had fallen (awkward reach to the pavement )…
I fell and fractured my greater Tuberosity (in shoulder) which wasn’t x rated and diagnosed for 6 weeks despite attending hosp twice (no x the day it happened and x ray of the wrong site, elbow, the week after)!
No pain relief tablets helped, only ice packs and I’d been working and not had my arm in a sling as it was wrongly diagnosed as a sprain (no words I can put here).
I have never known such pain and I have had two TKR …
I still can’t do my bra up using my hands behind me and I fell first week in July.
Good luck with your scan this month and if possible I’d go back to gp this week and request a referral for an x ray.
Sending love and sympathy xxx