Painfull shoulder

Afternoon all.

Went to bed last night with a painfull shoulder.. Still have it now.. V difficult to sleep last night, can't raise my arm up at all. The pain is so intense it's making me feel sick! Anything I can do to make it at abit comfortable for me.. Deep heat maybe? xx

[Beaches2]

Hi Lou

I've had a lot of trouble with my shoulders. Had Steroid injection in worst one as I worried it was becoming a frozen shoulder. That helped a lot and enabled me to keep it mobile. As for the pain, horrendous! I used ice packs, usual pain killers and anti infl, sometimes pain relief gel, v shaped pillow or rest arm on ordinary pillow.

Hope you get relief soon, if it goes on too long maybe consider asking for a steroid inj into it? X

[pip12]

Hi Lou - sorry to hear you are suffering with your shoulder, I am too, both shoulders and across the back of my neck. Apart from taking Tramadol, I find two wheat bags do take the edge of it.

Interesting Beaches2 that you mentioned v-shaped pillow, was think of getting one for when I go to bed, see if it helps. Can you recommend them ?? xx

[Beaches2 in reply to pip12]

Hi pip

Yes great for support when sitting up in bed and just gives a little support to the neck and shoulders, wasn't expensive, brought on eBay I think, advertised as nursing pillow. My most useful buy since diagnosis though has been my lovely memory foam mattress topper, wouldn't be without it now x

[jinxjazz]

I too was just diagnosed with a calcified shoulder currently undergoing PT , super painful. My therapist says ice helps also certain exercises. I recommend seeing a PT.

[Sailaway]

I had this years before RA was even thought about as my problem - the pain is beyond words isn't it? I saw my GP, then a shoulder specialist who gave me a steroid injection and sent me for physiotherapy. Thankfully the physio was brilliant and I recovered use of my arm without needing an operation. There can be various reasons for it, mine was calcium in the bursa and the pain was tendinitis.

It's awful, and I really feel for you. I hope you get to see the doc soon, that you get some relief from the pain and the whole thing resolves quickly

[LucyLocket42]

Hi Lou I feel for you. Pain like you describe in the shoulders is the absolute worst. Like Sailaway I have found physio really helpful (I was sceptical as I could barely move before I started but the benefit has been enormous). Ice packs helped me too and using a cushion/pillow to take the weight of the arm in bed (and elsewhere too!). In fact, I still use an extra cushion at night for my arm even now that my pain has improved (for now anyway) because it tends to stop me from sleeping on my front which I've found makes things worse. Hope it improves for you soon.

[pip12]

Thanks Beaches2, I have a memory foam topper and I too wouldn't be without it, will definitely give the V shaped pillow ago. Will try anything for a bit of peace from pain xxx

[Hidden]

Thanks you lovely people. It seems to have calmed down a bit now. I can now try and wash my hair. I may have to invest in that pillow! Yes the pain is evil... Strange because I can put up with it in all my other joints, but the shoulder gets me everytime.. xx