Shoulder / arm pain - so draining

Mine was caused by bony outgrowths from arthritis rubbing on the tendons in my shoulder. A keyhole operation to clear them was very successful. Ask for a referral, so that you can find out which of these problems you have.

I had a rotator cuff injury a few years back, after a day throwing logs into a pile after a tree was felled in our garden. The pain was excruciating, I had to switch to a front fastening bra, and couldn’t put on a coat or jacket on my own. Eventually, after dicking about with painkillers, I got GP to do Cortisone jab: it hurt like Hell, and for a few days the pain seemed worse, and I was livid with “clumsy fool of a GP…” Then, 10 days later, all pain had gone, and never returned. I recommend the injection!

Sounds like you may have Polymyalgia Rheumatica, (PMR). Symptoms, blood tests and CT-PET scan will confirm. Steroids are the only successful treatment.

Bought heated pad three times as broke. However help

I too suffer with chronic shoulder pain , it started around 10 years ago, simply reaching for my towel after a shower. I've since developed arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. One day my shoulders not too bad , then the next day , the pains unbearable. Co codamol take the edge off but can make you sleepy

Loobs Have you had shingles? My DH had shingles about 5 years ago. The pain started a few days before the rash appeared and so it was thought he'd pulled a muscle. He went to A & E as soon as the rash appeared, where it was diagnosed. He was given the necessary treatment but the pain has not gone away. He usually gets it in his upper arm but sometimes moves down the arm. He uses cold packs and has a tens machine which give him some relief. Some days he's OK and others not.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica could be your problem and that can be quite debilitating . A friend describes it as ‘one morning could hardly move on waking up’, muscles in shoulder area very stiff.
On a lighter note, I had a very troublesome shoulder, the one I put my bag on. I decided to try a back pack, stylish of course, hey ho, problem disappeared!

Should have mentioned I thought my pain also originated from weakness caused by twisting and lifting children badly years previously and triggered by a fairly minor reach into the back of the tumble dryer at an awkward angle.

I went to an osteopath for a similar problem. He spent about twenty minutes looking and checking my whole body, (fully clothed) how it moved and stretched and bent then another half hour gently pulling pushing and stretching me and some massages. He left me with some very simple five minutes a day exercises and a video link to remind me how to do them properly.
I felt worse straight after, but about two hours later I felt so much better with the pain almost gone then I just improved until I woke up next morning pain free. It cost £45. I had one further hour at £35. I’m thinking I might need another hour two years later. I’ve rarely needed the painkillers for the last two years.. Sounded expensive at the time but I have saved a lot more by not needing painkillers and being able to move and do things without pain!

Your symptoms sound similar to mine. My diagnosis was Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR).
Definitely go to your GP for blood tests.

LJP1, that's interesting. I have just remembered that I fell from a rope at school and severely jarred my left shoulder but everything was concentrated on my left wrist as I had broken that. Both operations I have had have been on my left shoulder so I wonder if there is a correlation there.

My husband had shoulder pain and I got him a TENS machine from Boots or similar. He said it definitely helped. His was from an injury that gradually healed, but pain is pain, whatever the cause. It might be worth getting one to see if it helps you.

I have had same shoulder and arm issues After an ultra sound scan my physio found I had calcium deposits on the top joint He gave me a vibration type treatment to breakup the deposits which worked along with stretching and massage helped no end
Also I took advice from the YouTube men called Bob and Brad they are very knowledgeable and helpful online physios with humor Tske a look and enjoy them straight talking and informative xx
Mumstheword

Hi Loobs. You’re post really resonated with me. I too am suffering with arm/shoulder pain. I apologise if other posters have said similar- I do usually read the posts before commenting but I’ve been really busy these last couple of days and wanted to answer you. I was signed off by the physio in May who told me it was all better but I’d just had a freak accident and a complete hip replacement after a broken femur so firstly the pain from my hip had taken over and secondly I’d not been able to do any household chores, shopping etc, so my arm had been well and truly ‘rested.’ As I’ve recovered from the hip op, the pain in the arm/shoulder has come back big time. The physio had told me it was my rotator cuff but the MRI scan I had last December was just on my neck and spine which is where we thought the pain was coming from, so
I don’t really know what’s going on in the arm/shoulder. Fast forward a bit and I’ve been seeing a massage therapist who is using ‘cold laser’ on me. I’m certain it is helping whilst I wait to get back into the NHS system. Apparently you can buy these cold lasers - not cheap - to use on yourself at home but I think I prefer to have a professional use it. It’s useful for bursitis as well for those who mentioned them and which I’m suffering from in the hip after the op. Hope you get some relief soon - it’s very dispiriting isn’t it to have the pain every time you lift it for an everyday activity and sometimes just aching and hurting when you’re not even using it!

I had a fall when walking the dog in the woods 3 years ago. Eighteen months ago I had surgery for a Rotator cuff tear and it’s been a 100% successful. no more pain.
I needed to have it done as it was my right shoulder and eight weeks ago I had a hip replacement. That too is on my right side so I had to regain the strength in my shoulder to be able to cope with my hip and thank goodness I had it done.

Loobs……could you not see a consultant privately and get a proper diagnosis.

LJP1 Yes, I did brake my collar bone that side when I was 8 years old (in the gym on the ropes at primary school) - I never even considered that.
Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to reply and for all your best wishes, it's lovely here on gransnet.

I have suffered pain nearly all my life. When I was three fell from the promenade to stony beach at Hastings. Guys Hospital said there was nothing wrong with me. At school I couldn’t do a lot of the exercises without pain. Until I was thirty I had back pain and was told to lie on a board and then a hard mattress. Hospital then gave me a steel corset and advised against playing tennis and swimming. Then I was recommended a physiotherapist who said to bin the corset as the problem was a twisted spine. After working on me for a year it was straight and I no problem until I was seventy five when I developed arthritis in my knee. Over the years the arthritis has progressed until at a hundred every joint in my body is stiff and agony. Have to take so many painkillers that I get sleepy.

I have shoulder pain too, along with other joints as I have arthritis.
I get quite a bit of relief using Ninja balm from these people.
www.herbalhealth.org.uk/product/ninja-for-people/

With the added bonus that, as it’s best to massage in a few times a day, my aching hands feel much better too.

I have it too and it is agonising. GP said to stop naproxen due to my gastritis. Might try the capsicum if it works

I’ve got left shoulder pain and doctor says arthritis ….I take one ibuprofen at night and I swim three times a week ….seems to be keeping it at ‘bay’ for time being!
Mine was acquired from daily lifting my 12 stone husband from floor 1-2 times a day for two years….until they ( social services) decided my health was suffering too much, and he went into full time care!
Find out what could be causing it ….if you can , and you might be half way to stopping it in its tracks!

I’ve had frozen shoulders on both sides at different times, I found the excruciating pain to be sporadic but when it came it knocked me off my feet. A random arm reach had me on my knees with it. Arm and shoulder pain is horrendous, my sympathies to you xx

If its shoulder impingement or rotator cuff issue/frozen shoulder issues.
Then definately try going to phyiso, but also try exercising 3 times a day with a decent quality medium strength resistance band. There are only 2 exercises to do, and you can find them on U tube or similar. They worked for me in 2 weeks after suffering 3 months or so of pain. Apparently as we age, the space through the shoulder joint that carries the nerves/tendons to the arm, gets narrower due to calcification and the fact that we start to get round shouldered.
Now every so often, if I feel a twinge - I get the band out again and the problem goes. Oh and I also make a determined effort to walk tall!

X ray and mri as mentioned helpfully by Shazmo24

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

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