Shoulder pain

[Shirl50]

I've been told I've got bursitis in my shoulders and suffer, it's settled at the moment. I've now been told I have a frozen shoulder. I had an injection in this and that night I was reduced to tears with the pain, my shoulder was warm and I couldn't sleep that night. The pain is settled at the moment manageable but my shoulder is still very tight and limited movement in it. I have trouble with certain movements and dressing. How long does this pain relief last for. Will this ease off in time and movement come back?

[weathervane]

If you have restricted movement you may benefit from physio , there can be quite a waiting list so early referral would be required. The first time i had a steroid injection in my shoulder i was in agony for 2 days then it gradually improved . I hope things begin to improve for you and your pain goes 🌸🌸

[DelicateInput]

Individual cases vary so it is hard to be specific.

I had a frozen shoulder with very restricted movement for two years. A cortisone injection relieved it immediately 90% for ten weeks.

Hydroxychloroquine worked very well on my shoulder (but not my hands where I had developed joint damage). HCL has its own side effects (largely stomach) but my shoulder has been excellent and even more flexible than previously for over a year now. An ultrasound and MRI showed inflammation on the suprasinatus tendon.

Also, there was some degree of stiffness in the other shoulder which I had not realised until I took the medication.

Physio did help but only minimally, as did the gym (stretching exercises, weights and general activity) and swimming but this was very temporary and limited.

[Shirl50 in reply to DelicateInput]

I'm trying to keep my arm and shoulder moving to stop it ceasing up. I'm limited with somethings that we take for granted, I also try to keep stretching it. I can't put my arm behind my back. I'm told I have bursitis in my joints but normal pain relief seems to help this and since the frozen shoulder this pain hasn't flared up in a few weeks ( fingers crossed). Though I can usually cope with this.

Thank you for the information. It helps to hear others stories and any help or advice

[Carolsos in reply to Shirl50]

That is what I had bursitis in both my shoulders. I got an ultra scan and an injection steroid one and I felt relief about a day later. I was also referred to physio helped for a few weeks, but the injection was brilliant. I also could not move my arms behind my back or raise my arms above my head. I was off work for 2 months with it. It's ok now and only flares now and then. But I am on 2.5mg steroids so it keeps it at bay.

Good luck

[ITYFIALMCTT]

Just to say that frozen shoulders are miserable and you have my empathy.

My right shoulder took a long time to 'freeze' and then be frozen and then it was a long road back with physiotherapy to regain range of movement (left with bursitis tho' that might be more related to ligament problems there).

When my left shoulder froze - it all seemed much faster to move through the stages. Steroid injection didn't do much for me in that shoulder but as it wasn't US guided I'm not sure that it was done appropriately.

[Shirl50 in reply to ITYFIALMCTT]

Thank you for the compassion. Seems not all have this and going back into work will out it to the test I guess. I have limited movement but try to keep it going as much as I can. The pain can be trrrible at times. The injection pain relief seems to be keeping this to a minimum at the moment. But wakes me if I turn sometimes the pain to. I can't put my hand behind my back at the moment or putting on a coat/ cardigan is painful.

I hope that you are finding your pain is easing now and getting better.

[DRunnerchick]

I'm so sorry you are experiencing this. I had frozen shoulder last year. I had already been referred to rheumatology (for suspected RA) but had a 5 month wait. In the meantime the shoulder came up and I waited too long to have it looked at thinking it would pass. Ended up with a kenalog injection, which allowed me to move it and gave great pain relief and had it manipulated by a physiotherapist the next day. After months of therapy I have about 95+% back. It does continue to vex me at times but it is short lived and has never been as severe as that first time. I do ROM exercises daily to keep it moving. I know it is painful as hell but work to get it moving and keep it moving (preferably under the guidance of a PT). It does get better.

D🏃🏽‍♀️

[Hobbits]

I had bursitis which also turned into frozen shoulder. Unfortunately my doctors misdiagnosed me with a rotator cuff injury. My doctor gave me a cortisone shot which did absolutely nothing ( he gave it in a tiny needle, like the one you get a flu shot with) and tried to send me home. Before I left my doctors appt. I basically had to demand he send me for physiotherapy. Honestly he was just going to send me home, unable to move, and I was scheduled for work the next day.

The physio was absolutely required for me to be able to work, and luckily I had private benefits. Upon exam form physiotherapist he told me I didn't have a rotator cuff injury, was bursitis and then frozen shoulder. Physio was very painful but I was determined, I also did my own part 2 x daily for 20 minutes at home using a pulley system I bought with my own money from the physio place so I could also stretch out my shoulder at home. In about 4-6 weeks I was back to full range of motion. However the actual shoulder pain never subsided. I had arthritis in my shoulder, and rheumatologist gave cortisone and it helped immensely. (This needle was very long and scary, but the proper one to deliver the cortisone)

[nomoreheels]

Oooo, it's like the worst toothache in your shoulder isn't it? Mine was diagnosed as subacromial impingement which was explained as the rotator cuff tendons becoming inflamed, blinking painful I call it!

At the appointment I was given a depo medrone/lidocaine injection, this was back in October & it's only this past month it's causing me trouble again. I also had an increase in pain that night, it's called a steroid flare & can happen though relief follows a day or so later usually.

I was also referred for physio & wonder if that's something which may help you. We need to be careful we don't start to have muscle wastage & movement so we also need specific exercises. Mine were with the help of kinesiology tape which helped & I found these more helpful than the physio in hindsight, but they do need to be personalised to you.