Rotator Cuff injury

Yes - very painfully. Couldn’t even pull car seatbelt from behind and friend had to help me wriggle into swimsuit on holiday last year. I struggled to pull pants and trousers up!
I’d say it took a year to get better, but movement behind is still a bit limited compared to other arm.
Used painkillers and did some exercises found online.
I didn’t seek professional help, which I avoid unless desperate.

Indeed I have ziggy. I think you’ll find many of us have. Painful isn’t it? Also restricting. With exercises as advised by our surgery physio it gradually subsided to a grumble before disappearing. It did take time though. I’ve had one recurrence which also cleared eventually. At the first twinge I begin the exercises now. I was advised to go back if it happens again to be referred for an x-ray. Hope yours settles soon, it is definitely a pain!

It took my shoulder about 2 years to finally settle.

I think patience is the word

Thank you for replies, seems it's going to take a while

Yes, I’ve had it and sympathise with you. It’s a miserable and debilitating pain. I struggled on for a year with physio exercises while I waited for an appointment with a hospital specialist physio. The hospital physio injected it with hydrocortisone and it was miraculous. I was pain free within 24 hrs.

I had it again a few years later and this time I bypassed the health centre physio and consulted the GP. By this time I was a full time carer to a family member and needed to be fully mobile. The GP referred me to another doctor in the practice who was able to do the joint injections and it was done the following day.

I’d suggest asking if you might be a candidate for the injection. It really was a game changer for me.

I did something to mine, no idea what? Physio said a lot of people have no idea how it happens.
She said it could take months to sort, that's true. It's especially painful in bed, some nights worse than others.

I had this a few years ago, it was sparked by my throwing a load of logs onto our woodpile. I couldn’t fasten my bra or put my coat on. My GP gave me a steroid injection which hurt like Hell At first I thought he’d made things worse, as the pain seemed stronger. Then 4 days after the injection- all pain gone. No recurrence. Ask for the injection!

It took a year for my damaged rotator cuff to heal. A combination of a few simple exercises from a physiotherapist and just plodding on as best I could with my pilates class. According to my physiotherapist it's the repetitions where the magic happens and I must say when I really started to do exactly as he said I started to notice an improvement. Patience and exercises. Good kuck

Steroid injections for rotator cuff syndrome are sometimes given, but the official advice suggests the relief may only be short-term.
It's the physio that will make the difference - but steroid injections may make doing the excercises more possible when pain would otherwise prevent you doing them.
If you do get injections, do your physio as well!
Strengthening the muscles really does help the joint return to normal, and non-painful.
I've had frozen shoulder, bad shoulders are the awkwardest things to lie on, particularly if you're a side-sleeper. I used to prop my upper arm up with special pillows.

I had a rotatorcuff injury years ago. At work reached for phone and that was it, couldn't return arm. Couldn't lift my arm for weeks, trying to get a jumper on or off was hilarious. Referred to surgeon, usual injections in shoulder did nothing to help. Surgeon felt to operate couldn't result in leaving problems so left to persist with exercises. Took years to be able to reach up to a shelf but at least it works now but still not as strong as other arm.

Should read surgeon...... could leave

I had it few years ago and I needed a neck collar and some physio but it disappeared after a few months. This was in France and the medical help was immediate and first rate despite being a rural place.

Ah I already posted I had an op for prolapsed disk on the sciatica thread so just to say I had a rotator cuff injury some years ago and a scan revealed the tendon was torn and I had an op to repair.

My shoulder has been perfect every since no problems at all lifting or rotating arm.

Sad to say it was through private medical insurance through work so I suppose the NHS wait would be years.

Anyone out there still working and has medical insurance benefit get your ops in while you still can!

It takes time and is painful. You might consider, acupuncture, homeopathy, Craniosacral therapy, or any other natural therapy that appeals to you, as I believe many can be helpful.

I had a steroid injection which helped but it still took a year to heal fully

I had surgery 3 years ago for a rotator cuff tare. I fell on an outstretched arm when out walking the dog. I was advised by my consultant to have surgery.

It took some weeks to recover. I had physio and loads of exercises to do for several weeks after. I still have to be a bit careful and not overdo things like carrying very heavy stuff or doing too much gardening. I remember how good it felt to be able to do up my bra and to be able reach the overhead cupboards and not have any pain.

I think you need to have a scan as only then will you know what you’re dealing with.

I think on reflection I did this about ten years ago. I fell, how I don’t know but for about six weeks after I could not raise my arm. I went to see my GP, who laughed and said ‘a rugby injury?… said it would get better in its own time. Offered no physio or any advice at all. Well it has got better, my shoulder clicks alarmingly sometimes and often aches. But I am used to it now.

Yes, had this with physio in person for the assessment and a plan of exercise, then phone follow-up calls for several months, to tweak the plan. It did take a good 4 or 5 months to massively reduce the pain, but it went and hasn't returned. 🤞 My exercises including a lot of finger walking up a wall and back down. I'd definitely go again if anything similar occurred.

Very painful injury that I suffer from. I was involved in sport my whole life,mainly swimming,athletics and all racket sports. I am a retired PE teacher so you can imagine. It is so debilitating and takes ages to heal as I now have a weakness their. Tried to play piclkeball in Jan. set off rotator cuff injury,again! Took till June to improve. I also now cannot swim front crawl because if a previous RC injury. It will take a while. You have my sympathy...

I am suffering with this too I think mine came on after I took down several pairs of curtains and hung new ones up and was stretching up that's all I can think I have done. Had it around 3 years ago and that was from using a hedge cutter. Not been to doctors but been doing some exercises and rubbing some gel on it. Seems to be more painful at night when I am trying to sleep, cannot get comfy. Hopefully it will go in time

Have had a Rotator Cuff injury for several years now. Doctor wanted an operation but when I was told the arm would be strapped so that I could not use it I declined! Living alone how would you cope? So lots of exercises which I still do when the pain flares again. Sometimes difficult to decide what is playing up when RA or OA Flares start. It is just one of the pleasures of growing old so I was told! So I’ll take that as it does beat the alternative!

Have you tried an ultrasound massage machine at the physio, they are really good and although painful at the time, they help heal much faster. I paid £ 90 for 30 minutes so not cheap. I had 6 treatments before the severe pain subsided, but I still have reduced movement in the shoulder. It will heal eventually with care. I can't afford to have any more.

I found that doing physio recommended exercises with a rubber band was the most beneficial and it was a last resort attempt from her too I think! At the first hint of pain, I now do an action replay, and up to now it works.

Thank you for your replies
Lots of useful ideas