Shoulder pain

Hi all,

Another question but I figure it’s best to go to my appointment having an idea of what I should be talking about.

I’ve noticed a few people say they’ve had shoulder pain in the run up to their period. I went for a massage as I suffer form general pain due to my M.E, and when she was massaging my left shoulder blade and general left shoulder area the pain was excruciating. However the right side was totally fine. My masseuse thought this was odd, and got me thinking back and I’ve always had an achey left shoulder blade in the week during my period, almost like I need to stretch it out but can’t. I’ve never made these connections before and they’re all odd pains that I’ve just ignored.

What is odd though is I have terrible right ovary and lower back pain, I very rarely get it in the left hand side.

What are your thoughts on this?

Xx

[DEvangeline]

I sometimes suffer with aching and painful collar bones and I believe it’s to do with the endo sitting on your nerves further down! Can be so uncomfortable and weird! Xx

[BrightLights88]

I suffered from shoulder, left thigh, lower back, pelvis, ovary and bowel pain when I had endo. After my first lap surgery the left thigh, shoulder and lower back was more prominent whilst recovering. But now after 3 months I am all clear. I used cocodamol for the shoulder pains, deep chest spray for the lower back and thigh pain. I am still continuing with physio session once a week for my lower back and shoulder. kt has made a huge difference. x

[Hidden in reply to BrightLights88]

Physio is something I should look at actually. I do yoga which helps to some extent, as does massage, but it helps for a day or so then I’m back to square one xx

[BrightLights88 in reply to Hidden]

Yes for me I have always been an active person since being diagnosed last yr sept I have struggled to be active instead felt more fatigue.So doing physio sessions once a week has really made a difference. I go one through work which is private but free. As I only get a few sessions free i have asked my gp to refer me via nhs and he has done so I will attend my first nhs physio in jan.

[jasne77]

Hi, I hope something I write might help you. I have a defect of the immune system so even without endo it would be weaker. But if I get sick it almost always happens around my period. The endo itself is inflammatory which sparks and amplifies not only viral but also all sorts of bacterial infections and inflammatory processes in the body.

This year I was in such bad health shape I thought I'm going crazy. I wasted away and doctors did nothing but talking nonsense. Chocolate cyst, abscess, inflamed wisdom tooth, inflamed bowel, flue-like symptoms whenever I tried to push myself too much, insomnia and on top of it heavy exhaustion with the feeling of walking in a cloud so bad that focussing became almost impossible. It went on and on I became like a prisoner of my body and almost tight to my bed.

I have also lower back pain (slipped disks and osteochondrosis). The odd thing is I have pain in my right leg but only slipped disks on the left side. The pains are worst during my periods. I had my lap in July and asked my surgeon. He said endo can't cause these pains I shall see an orthopedist. My orthopedist told me it isn't caused by my back but psychosomatic and pushed me to take anti-depressants and heavy pain killers.

This year I needed antibiotics for three times after not taking any for the last fifteen years. Guess what happened every single time? That pain was completely gone for the first time in fifteen years I was pain free for a couple of days starting three days after the first tablet and returning four days after the last tablet. I asked my GP how this is possible he said it isn't and that it is a coincidence.

So far I figured out that I had vitamine deficiencies (B's and D). Also I can't eat gluten. By sticking to my diet and taking my supplements I've already improved my health so far that I almost got rid of the back and leg pains, the flue-like bone pains, the flue-like symptoms after I take a nice walk or meet with friends (the only things I could do this year). Also the cloud is gone and I am able to focus again. It is such a huge relief eventhough I'm still sick but hopeful that with a little rest and good selfcare I'll soon get back on my feet and out of my house again.

I can only recommend that you have that area checked until they (also ask your physiotherapist) find the reason for the shoulder pain. It could be caused by something as little as a bad tooth. Push your doctors to check your blood for vitamine deficiencies and think about trying out anti-inflammatory diets.

Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to jasne77]

Hi, I’m so sorry you’re going through so much. It’s sounds awful.

Thank you for your in depth response!

I have actually been diagnosed with M.E (I had a chest infection from which I never fully recovered) and have only recently noticed it gets worse around my period. I’d never made the link before.

I’m not as bad as you are, but there are times when I just cry because I have so little energy and am in so much pain, especially with my lower back. I feel like no one understands.

I am a great believer in helping yourself, and I think that if you’re doing everything you can to help yourself and you’re still not 100% then the doctors should take you seriously!

I’m very lucky in that I have a great GP, I can’t imagine what it’s like to go through this with a bad doctor.

I wish you the best of luck, and I really hope you can get out of the house again soon xx