Shoulder is killing me !

[nellysgran]

Hi has anyone had pain in their shoulder for more than 5 weeks, it is so painful that i am on strong painkillers and it feels like the pain is in my shoulder and the top of my arm going down to my elbow, somehow it feels like it is in the middle of the bone. I go to see my gp next week, and hope he can do something as i am really fed up with this pain all the time.

[Neonkittie17]

The tendons can get stuck to the bone at times if you’re not using the shoulder in the usual way and mine did years ago. Physio saved it. It is OA damaged from years ago as I’ve had RA since 1995 but doesn’t bother me enough these days. I have to be careful not to lay or lean on it, Can you ask to see a rheumy physio yet? That would help I’m sure. x

[vwtopaz]

My RA effects my shoulders, I use Pernaton (roll on) this helps and can be applied often, gentle exercise recommended. Wishing you pain free.

[rabbits65]

Hello , it might be tenosynovitus .I get that in my arms . It’s ok if you refrain from whatever it is that’s aggravating the tendons in the first place . Complete rest of the joint should recover it . It’s the synovial fluid that has dried up in your tendons.

[lornaisobel]

I had the same exercises from my Dr via the physio work a treat xx

[helixhelix]

So many things could be wrong. You could have osteoarthritis in the shoulder joint, referred nerve pain from your neck, tendonitis or tenosynovitis....or pulled ligament.

Hopefully your GP will be able to identify which it is and suggest the best treatment. For me it a mix of exercises, anti-inflammatories and painkillers (with a bit of swearing added in...).

[LoneEra]

A scan might be in order if the GP can’t pinpoint an obvious cause. I had something similar in the lower arm - so pain in the elbow joint radiating down to my wrist. Turned out to be a large effusion in the middle of the elbow that was barely noticeable just from looking at my arm. I hope there is a quick fix for you x

[runningbracken]

My shoulders are knacked too. Sore everyday, have been for a while. My right side mostly going down to the elbow. Just took some Naproxon this morning.

[Barrister]

Both of my shoulders are agony. I’ve had a rotator cuff repair in my right shoulder and a rotator cuff repair and tear in the bicep of my left shoulder. The pain disappeared after each surgery but returned within months and is just as bad now as it ever was before.

Clemmie

[Gilliancheche]

I get a lot of shoulder pain from RA. recently could hardly move my arm spoke to rheumatologist and they did ultrasound. There was a lot of inflammation so had a ultrasound guided steroid injection 3 weeks ago. Seems ok now 🤞. Am doing exercises and hope it lasts a while

[Batteria]

I have had frozen shoulder twice. Don’t worry. Something will be done for you. Con amore Bxx

[DelicateInput]

It seems to be quite common, from a multiple of causes. I had it for two years and a mix of treatments worked over time. Unfortunately it came back last week in both shoulders after several years, which was an almighty shock, but it was not as bad as previously!

Most people seem to find the most common cause is inflammation in the tendons in the shoulder joint. This leads to inflammation in the rotator cuff and bursitis. The shoulder muscles are attached to the upper arm, so you would feel pain going down to the elbow - I did. I also had pain in the forearms and wrists, hands fingers accompanied by swelling.

The quickest way to diagnose it for definite is by ultrasound (though an osteopath or physio would have a pretty good idea). At the same time, you can have a cortisone injection which I found relieved the pain and stiffness for ten weeks though it had a lingering improvement. It is best to have the injection at the same time so they can inject the exact spot where the inflammation is. I had inflammation of the suprasinatus tendon and the disability it caused was awful.

You can try stretching as others have suggested. It helped me but not a great deal. I could not get dressed (ie put a bra on) and it was hard to wash my hair. Swimming is helpful but I had to take a pain killer first. After a few lengths, there was quite a difference in pain and flexibility, albeit it was short-lived, ie until the next morning.

Everything is so difficult to access in lockdown. You can get an ultrasound done via a physio or osteopath privately. You can try accessing a physio via the NHS which I tried last week because the previous day I had tremendous pain in one hip and could not walk, but there is a six week waiting list so I paid for one and it was only £60. I am insured anyway. She did a really hard massage on the hips so that might help the shoulder as well. Good luck. I think there is nothing worse than shoulder pain and disability because you just can't do anything.

[Hidden]

I will never forget the extreme pain that I suffered in my shoulder and down my arm to my elbow for nearly two years. The pain was there all the time and I could only lift my arm up by 3 inches. It started when I fell over and was told that I had ruptured two tendons. Although it was painful, it wasn't really too bad and I had some physio for it. However after a few months, it suddenly got a lot worse and it felt like my shoulder wasn't properly attached to my arm and it made the most awful creaking, cracking and crunching noises when I moved it. This was caused by OA as well as the ruptured tendons. Whatever pain killers I took, nothing helped. I was given two steroid injections that didn't work and also a guided steroid one which also didn't help.

Eventually I was seen by another orthopedic consultant who took more X-rays and said it was completely messed up and it was a wonder that I could move it at all. I was put on the list to have a shoulder replacement but had to wait a while for it. However, it was well worth the wait as it was very successful and I could feel less pain from it even straight after having the op. The nurses were asking me if I wanted to take more pain killers and I was not in very much pain compared to how it was before. I was only kept in hospital for two days and soon recovered. I had been told that I would not be able to lift my arm up higher than the height of my head, but I can lift it up right above my head. The doctor and the physio were surprised about how well I did and I only needed three sessions of physio.

So if you are told you need a shoulder replacement, please don't worry about it and I wish you well with it.

[liveinwoods]

I had pain in my right shoulder for 40 years. Had physio, steroid injections, massage and finally had surgery last June. There was a large bone spur and rotator cuff tearing. The only way it was seen was through an MRI otherwise it was always a guessing game. I hope you get appropriate treatment soon. Shoulder pain is no fun!!!!

[nellysgran]

Thank you all for your replies, it seems a common complaint, I hate having to get dressed and undressed because it hurts so much, even trying to pull my pants up !!. 😪

[pauluk60]

hi nell i have trouble with knees and rheumy asked me to try capsaicin cream well all i can is it worked didn't cure it but made it bearable there are different strengths mines .025 also in .075 and then patches you can only ask and try prescription only