Shoulder pain

[LSHARPER]

Morning!! I was wondering who else has this symptom and how you get relief if any? I have been suffering from really bad shoulder pain. It feels like someone's trying to rip my bones apart with every movement and also while lying down trying to sleep a like a burning ache for the last 7 this symptom just doesn't seem to be budging!! I've been having hot baths hot & cold packs codine, paracetamol & ibroufen. I came off my meds around 1 year ago after doing research as I felt they just were not making a difference to my quality of life can anyone give me some advice please thanks.

[CheetieCat]

Have you tried a freeze spray, anti inflammatory gel or magnesium oil/spray?

Hot shower or Epsom salts in your bath.

Also little movements if you can, just a few at a time but do them regular & often throughout the day.

Added a link recommended from NHS for shoulder pain, hope it helps

csp.org.uk/conditions/shoul...

[Dinkie]

Not all pain is fibro related. We all tend to blame the dreaded fibro for every ache and pain as do some of our medics. Please see your GP as I put my shoulder pain down to fibro and it was in fact calcific tendonitis. Same with my ankle pain and that was a detached ligament and tendon.

[MightyMouse1963 in reply to Dinkie]

Agreed, I find it hard to attribute the pain to what condition. Currently have Graves' Disease, Fibromyalgia, Sjogrens and Raynauds.

[Purplelife123]

I agree with Dinkie, my shoulder pain is also caused by tendinitis this has just been diagnosed as for moths I thought it was fibro as well.

[dolphin21]

i have shoulder pain it feels like it drops then like spasm type thing and cant move it for while but i dont think its fibro related been docs just wasnt interested

[Cotswolds25121 in reply to dolphin21]

🙄all to familiar with what I read on here x

[Luckylady1978]

I went to the doctors about shoulder pain and was sent for an X-ray and I was told I have calcific tendonitis ,is it possible you have that ?medication for that is anti inflammatory.

[dolphin21 in reply to Luckylady1978]

its just trying to get a x ray if docs dont wana know but thanks ill look it up

[moo196]

I'd contact Yr GP to get a physio referral and treatment 🙏

[dolphin21 in reply to moo196]

ill try gp again

[Alice2004]

Hi

I had a bad experience with my doctor regarding my right shoulder. Last winter I started having severe pain in my shoulder, I went to my doctor and he was. “ don’t worry about it is from your Fibromyalgia and with higher dose of painkillers it will be better “. I was struggling months in pain and cried at work. I booked another appointment to tell him that is something wrong with my shoulder and I don’t think is Fibromyalgia and I want a scan to check it, he sent me to physiotherapist instead. I was in pain for months. One day I decided to go private for a scan and surprise.. they found out that i have Bursitis and Frozen shoulder and I sent the results to my doctor.. it wasn’t happy with my decision of going private but he had to accept it and obviously he sent me for Steroids injection, I had 1 but not improvement now i wait for the 2nd.

Conclusion: Is not always Fibromyalgia, if you know something is wrong insist for more investigation, do not take doctor words as the saints word.. we know our bodies and we can be more precise in our discussion with the doctors.

[jenny876 in reply to Alice2004]

In my experience doctors are rigid in their diagnosis and do not like to be proved wrong - second opinions and private investigations are necessary unfortunately. Glad you got a diagnosis and hope you find relief soon.

[PrincessNoo]

I agree this may have nothing to do with the fibromyalgia. It sounds similar to the pain I had a couple of years ago, I had an impingement in my shoulder.

Get it checked by your GP you may need an X-ray.

I remember the pain was excruciating and I couldn’t lie on it and sleeping was really difficult. The Dr gave me cream with capsicum in it to distract my brain from the pain.

It did get better and I was given exercises to do

[Purplebluebell]

Please be aware you can feel pain in one part of the body referred from another. Do you have any gastric symptoms for example?

Gall stones can present with shoulder tip pain. Agree unlikely but don't just assume everything is fibro related.

[MS_2019]

I feel for you, mine started July 2022 and I was diagnosed with Rotator cuff injury July 2023 by the rheumatologist, GP initially thought it was frozen shoulder and I was asked to self refer to physiotherapy; who told me it wasn’t my shoulder, it was my neck, but my shoulder wasn’t getting better, if anything I lost strength in my arm due to pain, when my appointment finally came with the rheumatologist, he gave me the diagnosis and recommended a steroid injection if it continues, having said that my physiotherapist changed at my last appointment and he said the pain is a mix from the Rotator cuff and from the neck as well, all fun and games trying to get an accurate diagnosis! he recommended we try some exercises and if it doesn’t improve then the steroid injection, I have had it in both my elbows years ago and to be honest I didn’t feel much better after, but I’ll see how it goes, my thoughts are with you, and best to see a GP or rheumatologist if your under one, best of luck xx

[Meditationlover]

Hi, I also get shoulder pain, it's one of the area's, I fing heat helps

[EarthSitter1]

My shoulder pain was caused by arthritis and I was given a steroid injection. I know it’s a tendency if you have fibromyalgia to always automatically think that’s what it is- I know I do and I kept thinking that with my shoulder sadly I left it too long in my case and can’t now use my left arm. My advice is therefore to see a Dr and seek help x

[Sugarhobbit]

Hi there.I had shoulder pain for a year which became worse. Anyway a very long story short. It wasn't anything to do with fibromyalgia. After seeing a physio and having a scan I ended up being told I had bursitis and had a guided steroid injection while I was being scanned.

Not everything is related to fibromyalgia and that is why my gp gets me checked out before saying it is or it's not.

Shoulder pain can be related to a number of things. Best to see your gp and get your shoulder assessed.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

Kind regards

[jenny876 in reply to Sugarhobbit]

if only all doctors took that approach!

[kookie999]

I have the same shoulder pain and found out it's a torn tendon .I was offered surgery and physio.But because of other surgery I needed ,I delayed it and the pain lessened .Just been to see the specialist and he said surgery only has a 60% chance of success so offered me more physio.It might be a good idea to ask for an ultrasound on it .I also had a steroid injection that didn't help at all.

[lolacat]

had similar experience to one of your other responses - not dismissed by the GP when I went to him with severe shoulder pain and limited range of motion but referred to a pain clinic. When I found out there was a 10 month waiting list for that I went private. Diagnosed as frozen shoulder - GP then referred me to orthopaedics (as he should have done initially). And eventually had a steroid injection which worked like magic on the pain though range of movement still limited. Offered an op but as have just had spine surgery am pinning my hopes in option b ie that it will improve naturally. Anyway - basic lesson is not to assume it's fibro and persist with the GP.

[CarolynDL]

I have shoulder pain but it’s not fibro related just wear and tear. I spent many years driving for a job and in a fixed position in front of a screen.

It’s worth asking for a scan, mine is osteo arthritis around the rotator cuffs which need resurfacing but I chose not to have surgery.

I manage the condition with exercises from a NHS physio (you should be able to self-refer) and anti-inflammatories. I also had a few injections which helped calm it initially (painful a couple of days after) but can’t have any more.

Hope this helps.

[LSHARPER]

Thank you all for your responses I will look into it further I was diagnosed with paldromic arthritis as well as fibro but then 2 years later they said I didn't have that but along with shoulder pain I have hip pain and less strength in my hands so I definitely need to be re referred as I have moved to another country as well hopefully they will be more helpful. Appreciate you all taking time to respond and hopefully your all having a nice day 😊

[Vontrap]

Hi. I’m the same as you cleaned off my medication over the last year as I didn’t feel any better and side effects are just as bad.

I only take ibuprofen gel and rub it everywhere on my body and neck and shoulders a Ralvo it’s also a gel pad you get from the doctor. This does help so you can sleep better. I have just ordered on Amazon a CBD body cream and an oil to try

[MightyMouse1963 in reply to Vontrap]

Looking for alternative medicines, do you have a link to the CBD cream and oil?

[MrsFruitCake]

Hi, I have had pains in my armpits and groin for years, which sometimes feel tingly and tickly and sometimes more like stabbing pains. I do believe these pains are something to do with the nervous system and likely to be fibro pains. Not sure if this has similarities with the pains in your shoulder?

[Cotswolds25121]

I get burning sensation 😮‍💨😭in my shoulder blade and have been told it’s damaged nerve endings. It’s extremely painful and to the point I can’t wear a bra anymore and haven’t for about 5 years at least. I have to wear vest tops under my clothes and not worry about what others may think at work. I’m 62 now so really have got to the stage where comfort and less pain is more important tbh. I did wear a bra for my daughters wedding in May as I actually wore a dress 😳😁but it absolutely crippled me 😭I worked in the kitchen when I first started where I work still and it was caused by having to lift very heavy pots etc plus flying around all day, I couldn’t do the work any longer about 13 years ago so became a carer but now in my 15th year I am struggling with doing that now. I’ve had to drop a day a week so that I can rest/sleep xx

[smiile]

Well, we all have a lot of shoulder experience on here for sure. Yes, Cotswolds 25121 I now wear sports type bras as my shoulders don’t allow me to do the bra clasps up anymore! I also space my work days out so I can recover in between and visit the physio ( my reluctant second home) I’ve had 2 frozen shoulders which could be what’s happening here.

If you have a shoulder problem and keep agrivating it/ soldiering on, it can rebell, to protect you from even more damage it freezes, that’s it really and when that happens it can take up to 3 years to unfreeze. Catch it early if you can, try physio and steroid injections, I had lots of hydrotherapy / physio and 2 guided steroid injections at hospital and 6 months later was almost back to my normal. Don’t leave shoulder pain! Xx

[Strictlyfibro]

Hi, I had this last year, whilst on holiday, I did a lot of swimming and it totally helped with the inflammation and free up the nerve. It’s not been a bad since.