is it just age?

I had this problem in my left shoulder mostly. I had 6-8 wks of weekly physio and it's improved but not completely gone. My GP said it was "probably arthritis" but didn't suggest further investigation. The physio asked me if I'd been diagnosed with arthritis and raised his eyebrows when I told him what GP had said. Ibuprofen helps and voltarol cream but not together.

I had the same problem with my right shoulder I had several sessions of physio with my Chiropractor it helped a little but after 3 goes at it he said I can feel the Arthritis in the joint it maybe that you will need your shoulder joint operated on and to see my GP. I already take a high dose of Naproxen for my Osteo-Arthritis and am waiting for a hip-replacement so I haven't done anything about the shoulder. I do try to do ROM excercises given to me by the physio but certain movements including sleeping on my side hurt quite a bit and it hasn't really improved.
You could ask your GP for anti-inflammatories they may help.
The joys of ageing eh?

I found Aquafit classes massively helped my general flexibility. Unfortunately they exacerbated my knee problems (too much jumping). I do miss the classes and hope to return after my knee replacement is better.

Pilates perhaps?

It is years since I did up my bra at the back!
Frozen shoulders often come up insidiously. I know, I've had two, one on each side... nothing helped sadly, so see your doctor, but don't hold your breath.

I was taught to fasten mine at the front so always have find fastening at back awkward I also suffer with frozen shoulder grandmattie?

I agree with Izabella - try Pilates. If you check out the programmes The Doctor who Gave Up Drugs (BBC) there's a woman who had been taking pain killers for 20 years (!!!) so he took her to a physio and she learned to do exercises and got rid of her pain.

The Man Who Knows About Shoulders said that more people over the age of 60 have a tear in the rotator cuff than don't . I had an injection ,steroids I think ,and it seems to have lasted two years but it's coming back. You have to do lots of physio after the injection to benefit .

There are lots of kinds of arthritis and many causes, and various remedies help different people. People will suggest things, food to eat or not eat, prescription or non-prescription medications and just because it helps them it doesn't mean it will help your kind of arthritis, although it might .

I think swimming, or exercise in water anyway, is good for many. Also tai chi is a very gentle exercise that is good for many people. The old and young do it in China. If there is a suitable class in your area. I also went to a wonderful over 55s chair-based exercise class some years ago when I lived in a different area. Some was seated but some was very active. The teacher did a jazz dance class too and used some of the routines. We had enjoyable 60s music and I had trouble keeping up with some of the ladies in their 80s in the dance routines . They'd been doing it for a while and got pretty fit.

I seem to get ALL my exercise now from looking for stuff.......my glasses, purse, keys, tv remote.........plenty of stretching and bending there and yet,most of me is seizing up. had to get the front opening bras.

Old age is not for cissies.

In case this information may be useful : my husband has been losing mobility in both his shoulders. We consulted an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in shoulders, and he found (after an MRI scan) that there is a slight bony excrescence that rubs against the tendon; on the left shoulder the tendon has actually been damaged, so my husband will be having an operation in early December to file the bone a bit and repair the tendon (very minor, apparently, and he won't even need to spend a night in hospital). He has had an infiltration on the right shoulder to reduce inflammation and shrink the tendon, but that will need to be operated on early next year - just scraping the bone there, the tendon is still intact. Both operations can be done through a keyhole, with an x-ray showing on a screen so that the surgeon can see what he is doing.

See your GP, and don't let them fob you off. I saw my GP twice about a very painful shoulder and restricted movement. She told me on two occasions that it was "wear and tear". The second time she advised physiotherapy. On my second physio appointment it was noticeably worse, and he wrote to my GP advising her to refer me too a consultant. It turned out that the problem was my rotator cuff, and I needed an operation.

Probably Rotator Cuff problem. I have had it in both arms. The first one was operated on - an arthroscopy-& the 2nd one I had the cortisone injection at my GPs (which did NOT hurt at all & I'm needle phobic!)They do this as a first option I believe now. I did see my Osteopath & he advised to see GP as he knew the injection would be the best option.Excellent results & I can do my bra up with no problem & still rub sun tan cream on my own back!

BTW I had no physio after injection. It took about 2 weeks after injection to totally sort out the problem but it started to feel better the day after it was done.

What Vickya says is perfectly true, and every suggestion above may be useful to you.
While you are waiting for your appointments to come through, if you know your own specific blood group, I would urge you to research and try out the Blood Type diet..... "Eat Right for/4 your type".
In general terms it may well help to make dramatic cuts in your consumption of chicken, tomatoes and wheat, but if you know your type and can be entirely specific that would show better results I am sure, because it definitely works for me.
If anyone wants to PM me, no charge, I will be glad to help.

I also take naproxen for my back (since surgery) and it's made a huge difference in my other joints as well. I also take Glucosamine & Chondroitin, as did my late dad did for his hand/finger stiffness, so am happy that helps me too. He was still playing piano at 90!

Swear by pilates but try and find a class aimed at the older generation!

Not just me then!
After doing some research I'm going to try a course of devil's claw.It has good results on humans but what has convinced me is the results on dogs and horses, it can't be the placebo effect on animals.
turmeric with black pepper and coconut oil has also been recommended.I have seen the difference it makes to horses and a few women at the stables swear it has eased their aches and pains.Maybe a new addition to my diet in the new year!!
Oh to be able to take off a jumper without pain.

If you could still fasten your bra at the back till recently, you're doing well. I haven't done that for decades!
For back or joint pain try tai chi. It's brilliant. It's very gentle, you stretch as far or as little as you want but do actually build up flexibility and stamina. My husband was recommended it years ago for a frozen shoulder that didn't respond to anything else and it worked in a matter of weeks. Most areas have several classes with regular beginners courses and they're all very friendly.

I am so glad that the injections seem to work so well and are not really painful. I put off seeing the GP for 5 years but my right shoulder has been really painful and I started worrying about lifting/carrying my 3mth granddaughter, so I took the plunge and went to the GP a couple of weeks ago. X-rays confirmed arthritis and calcium spurs (I am only 50!) so I am on the waiting list for jabs. I was really worried about having them but I have been reassured by several posts and now can't wait for them!

I went to gp because most of my joints started stiffening up especially after sitting still for a while, I'm 60 fairly fit do a physical job where I'm on my feet most of the time and only take thyroxine.I was Diagnosed with fibromyalgia,there isn't any test for this just process of elimination and no treatment either,just painkillers ( which I try to avoid at all costs).So I've learned to live with it, until however, I went to the gp for something else and I happen to mention to him I had fibromyalgia, he told me it was doubtful that was what was causing my stiffness and he reckons it's osteoarthritis.Because it's not painful just stiff,I've not bothered requesting a more thorough diagnosis I'm dealing with it through diet and keeping active.Im going to try your remedy of turmeric etc tho.

I agree with the Pilates suggestion. I go to a class organised by my local hospital, uses their premises but I have to pay. Teachers change but are all trained physios.

It is making me more supple. I never believed people who said how good Pilates is, but they are right. Worth a try in my opinion.

I broke my shoulder and upper arm badly two years ago and have a metal plate rather high on my arm so the tendons can get pinched which is painful. To take off sweaters or tops I now do as most men do and pull them up over my head from the nape of the neck with my good arm. Maybe you could try that. I was taught by a bra fitter in my teens to always fasten my bra at the front and then twist it to the back. Then to bend slightly forward as I slip the straps over my arms. It is supposed to make the bra fit better. I hope you soon get relief from your pain.

I have had the same issue and do up my bra from the front and scoot it round, its just habit now. It got so I could no longer do up my seat belt or put my arm behind me to put on my coat. I didn't waste time or money at my GP for this and just saw a Myotherapist. My problem is my shoulder rotator cuff and my Myotherapist presses 'trigger points' which release the effected tight muscles and or tendons around and within. He also does dry needling. It is working, albeit slowly. He says age does not have to be a factor and to stay active. They can tell you what you need to be doing and taking in terms of movement and medications. Daily warm ups and the right stretches are working for me and I have started working with a trainer with light weights and gym equipment to build the right muscles in the right areas, rather than the wrong ones which is what I was doing - especially when lifting and nursing the GC! I found Pilates too hard, too painful and too expensive. I gave Bowen Therapy a go once too and it was really good for overall muscle tightness, but having a specific condition requires specific treatment or therapy. Getting the right diagnosis in the first place is ideal, even if a Myotherapist can't fix your problem they can help diagnose it. My condition has improved so much and this has improved my overall mood, which in turn makes we want to do more and so on. Good luck.