Shoulder pain

I was referred to physio at our local orthopaedic hospital for a shoulder injury.The physiotherapist specialised in acupuncture.I was quite sceptical but it was brilliant.This was about fifteen years ago and I have since been back for another course.Definitely worth asking your GP for a referral.

I had this about two years ago and it was agony, I was referred for physiotherapy which really helped but warned it would take six months of exercises, it did take that long to feel any improvement.

Sallywally, I had shoulder pain for several days. I took antiinflammatories, and was referred for an X-ray, but the pain disappeared as quickly as it arrived., and I’ve had no trouble since. It was probably due to sleeping in an awkward position, but I’m not suggesting it’s the same with you. See your GP, Hope you feel better soon …

I now take amytriptyline at night and 10% ibuprofen gel which help but these would not have worked for the first 3 months. I shudder to think how many nurofen + tablets I was taking during the winter.

I had a full rotator cuff tear in 2006 caused by hauling a recalcitrant horse around. The tear occurred shortly afterwards when I broke my left humerus bone completely and used my bad right shoulder to heave myself up. It took a year for the pain and movement to improve. Then it happened again in 2016. Had MRI scan which showed the damage. Again about 9 months to improve. Last November I picked up my 2 year old GD from her pushchair to put in her car seat and she collapsed her weight as I put her down on the ground. I was truly driven mad with the pain for 3 months. It is still not better and I don’t think it’s ever going to be. I can’t iron, clean anything with my right arm or drive anything other than short journeys. I’ve become almost ambidextrous. The worst thing of all is I’m struggling to pick up and hold my 3 month old GS.

With a lot of time and patience things should gradually improve, you don’t get all the strength and movement back, but it’s not disabling. Most people get similar problems, mine a worn out rotor cuff, they can’t operate, but can if it’s a definite tear. It’s done keyhole I believe. I do muscle training to get surrounding muscles strong.

I do sympathise. I couldn’t move my shoulder a few months ago. It lasted for ages and I was struggling to dress myself: I realised how it can limit your everyday life. But it did get better. I think we can all cope with pain if we can see an end to it: if not it’s very depressing. If I was rich I’d have my very own physio or osteopath!

Had a full fhickness tear on my rotator cuff that required surgery. Recovery was very painful (much more extreme pain than that from the injury itself) but doing the right exercises helped it recover fully and has since been fine. Hopefully for you a partial tear may mean only physio is needed. I would encourage you to follow any exercise regime diligently but also not to over exert. Take care until the physio has made an assessment and wish you a speedy recovery.

The “walking fingers up the wall” exercise helped a lot of people I know with shoulder pain until they were able to get further medical intervention. Physios give it to help increase the range of movement.

OH had a rotator cuff injury and it took ages to heal. He did see a specialist who told him that he could operate but for older people he couldn't guarantee that it would be successful. He saw an excellent physio who gave him treatment and exercises to do at home and it has now recovered. It was extremely painful and he had very limited movement ie couldn't raise his arm above waist height but now he is pain free and has the full range again.

Thanks for your replies, I am hoping the physio can give the injection x

I started to have quite bad shoulder pain a few months ago.
I kept me awake at night.
Mainly because of covid and the difficulty of seeing a doctor I did nothing about it except use painkillers and massage in my cannabis ointment, or Deep Heat, regularly.
Thankfully it seems to be easing now. It doesn't wake me at night any more. So, I will never know what it was, but apparently it can just get better on it's own.
I do hope you find the answer to your pain, Sallywally.

PS.. Many years ago I had a frozen shoulder. That got better on it's own too, but it took almost a year.
You might gather by now that I actually don't like seeing doctors unless I absolutely must!

It may also be worth asking your GP for something like Amitryptiline to try rather than the anti-inflammatories, although you could also add Paracetamol to the list?

PM sent.

Shoulder pain is incredibly debilitating. I had surgery on mine for bone spurs, but then I got a lot of pain in the other shoulder and the GP said was rotator cuff strain and gave me a cortisone injection. I highly recommend that procedure. It's not a cure, but it gives huge relief and enables you to relax and allow your shoulder to heal. If I were you I'd ask my GP for it. Some physios will also give the injection.

After my accident I was in agony with a damaged nerve in my neck and also my shoulder.
I ended up suicidal sitting on the stairs in the middle of the night, because I couldn’t sit or lie down because I was in agony.
Acupuncture was a miracle cure for me. Even after the first session it had eased the pain massively and after four it was completely manageable.

I had one face to face visit with a physio pre Covid for rotator cuff issues, then I did the exercises at home, it took over a year to heal fully, but increased movement was much better after about three months.

You need to be seen by an orthopaedic consultant who deals specifically with shoulder issues.