I have what doc and physio think might be a shoulder injury (although I don’t remember injuring it) or possibly rotator cuff problem or impingement.. they can’t decide.
I’m know I’m not supposed to take anti inflammatory painkillers, so what can I take? The doc is next to useless and tried to prescribe me ibuprofen which I know is a no no, what do hearties with heart disease take for painkillers and how can I tackle the inflammation without an anti inflammatory?
I know you can’t give medical advice, I’m just wondering what other people use and how they manage pain and inflammation.
I know the doc should be more helpful... sadly they are not.. I am looking to change my GP. Thanks all x
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Forestdweller
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You have my complete empathy - a serious fall (over a scatter rug, we no longer use scatter rugs!) in spring 2016 gave me what the consultant called 'injuries consistent with car wreck high speed impact', and what has been a very difficult several years recovering nearly all the motion in that arm (all of it, from finger tips to collarbone). I now have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) thanks to a real car wreck in '73 giving me nerve damage that the 2016 fall made worse and left me with TOS - and the pain when aggravated is very like the pain my microvascular angina causes.
For the pain, when the GTN use tells me the pain isn't angina but is the TOS, I take 600mg aspirin. I have a very high tolerance for aspirin (documented by annual blood gas draws+lack of symptoms indicating an aspirin intolerance) - ask your consultant (orthopaedist and cardiologist) if aspirin is contraindicated with your meds. If the consultants are not available, talk with the chemist.
If you can tolerate it, and it doesn't cause a problem with your current medications, the relief 300-600mg of aspirin grants for this kind of pain is bliss.
Ah thanks, sorry to hear about your fall and hard recovery. I did wonder about just taking more aspirin, i am already on a baby aspirin daily and tolerate it well. I will ask the doc if that’s a possible short term option. Thank you
Hi thanks, it’s definitely an injury or something’s gone wrong in there. as I have a grinding and clunking going on in my shoulder. I also cannot lift my arm above my head or put my arm behind my back. They are thinking some problem with rotator cuff injury or frozen shoulder but I need to have a scan so waiting for that and it may be some time waiting with current waiting times.
My symptoms are weakness, can’t lift my arm about my head, like it gets stuck, can’t put my arm behind me, like to scratch my back, pain and ache especially in certain positions and crunching when I roll my shoulder forward and backwards. It is only my left shoulder x
Hi, I had a shoulder problem a couple of years ago, sounds similar to you. It developed into a frozen shoulder which is extremely painful and disabling. I was prescribed amitriptyline for the pain, but the side effects looked scary, so I stuck to ibuprofen. I had a scan, diagnosed with high probability of a supraspinatus full thickness tear. Was within days of having an operation to repair the tear and decompress the shoulder joint. Then I had a slight stroke, 5 days in hospital. That put paid to the op. and the ibuprofen. For which I am now glad, as physiotherapy, rest, time, took care of the shoulder. I simply took paracetemol on a regular basis. It took a long time and lots of physio, but the pain did go away, and I have pretty much the same flexibility as before. I'm a keen swimmer, couldn't do that for a couple of years, now back to it, but not as fast as I used to be. I'm 72. Patience and physiotherapy will get you to where you want to be. Good luck!
Hi Forestdweller, Sorry to hear of your dilemma. I currently have a broken left shoulder (following a fall) and awaiting a reverse shoulder joint replacement surgery, so I definitely feel your pain, literally.The humerus bone in my arm has detached from the shoulder joint and is, according to my consultant, "free-floating" 🙄🙄🙄
I can identify with all the symptoms you have posted, I've experienced them all, it's a nightmare.
I'd strongly suggest that you get a GP or your Physio to refer you for an x-ray at the very least. That "crunching" sound is not good.
Due to "shielding" and now a high demand for hospital beds in my locality due to a resurgence of Covid, my scheduled surgery has been cancelled twice.
Because I have had to wait so long, nearly 2 years, I now have a frozen shoulder and very limited use of that arm, although you do find a way to manage the basics, eventually.
In regard to medication, I was already taking Naproxen, an anti-inflammatory for arthritis in my hands. My GP isn't crazy about this but permits it for the time being.
It didnt seem to do anything for the shoulder pain, which for the first 6 months was excruciating, my orthopaedic consultant prescribed liquid morphine, which to be honest, hardly helped at all, other than making me a little drowsy.
To be fair, I'm very resistant to most medications, including my insulin, and always seem to need meds of a stronger doseage. It's just the way I am.
I've been and done the Amitriptyline route, made zero difference for me personally but that's not to say it may help others.
With the long passage of time, the pain has gradually lessened, but if I try to do anything using that arm, the pain does flare up again. Should this be the case, I've been prescribed Tramadol 50mgs, which does take the edge off, but as a controlled drug, it's not a viable or recommended long-term solution and I'm regularly monitored by my GP.
It seems there's no easy answer to this dilemma, it's pretty much a case of trial and error, working with your health provider and trying to find what suits your situation.
I hope you get a formal diagnosis as to what is causing you so much discomfort, sooner rather than later.
I am going to ask for an X-ray, I have had nothing so far except physio which made the problem worse and they referred me back to the musculoskeletal team, but I have not heard from them yet and a scan was suggested. It would make sense to X-ray me, I’m assuming I can’t have an MRI as I have a stent in my rca
Really I wasn’t looking for shoulder advice as such, that is being dealt with by my physio and doc, just wanted to know how other hearties managed pain and inflammation without anti inflammatory pain killers. 👍
I heard some bad things about amitriptyline especially in relation to being depressed. I was prescribed it after my bypass for nerve issues but I never took them.
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