After getting severe pains in the upper arms on lifting and lowering them for many years and having tried physiotherapy exercises without any success, my GP has finally diagnosed supraspinatus tendonitis as the condition. The option I have been given is a steroid injection.
Having read up on the condition, I understand ultrasound therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment. My GP agrees this treatment is effective but says it is not available with the NHS physiotherapy teams. Has anyone had ultrasound therapy? How did you find a physiotherapist who offers ultrasound therapy? Any ideas on charges, how many sessions and whether it worked?
Thank you.
Wishing you all well
Misty
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Mistydawn
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I'm astonished to hear that ultrasound is not available from NHS physio departments. My father was a physio back when God was a lad and used ultrasound both at his NHS job and in his private practice. Privatisation through the back door perhaps?
Yes, I was surprised too Gnarli. I guess it’s all about the NHS struggling so cutting back. Another thing that surprised me was not being provided with those antiseptic wipes that used to come with meds that needed to be injected. Apparently you have to buy those yourself…
I seem to remember there was a post a while back saying there had been a study re ultra sound treatments by physiotherapists,& it was decided US took too long so it was rejected for a lot of conditions.
Private physios do offer it…but I think you would need a referral from a doctor…..it doesn’t come cheap…I have paid £50 for half an hour for US on my neck.
Thank you! I’ve since seen a musculoskeletal consultant and hava an ultrasound appointment to see what’s going on. I was told by him that US therapy was not suitable for everyone as it only works if calcium deposits are causing the issue.
I don’t know the clinical details but that sounds like a good compromise…your problem could be related to a damaged rotator cuff which could respond to ultra sound.
and old thread that popped up in my feed. My nurse and doctors have told me not to use the antiseptic wipes as can trigger skin reactions, if one is normally clean it’s fine.
Hi 👋 I have a rotator cuff injury/tendonitis in my left shoulder which gives me pain in the upper arm/bicep area, also exacerbated by changing gears in my car. I’ve had it for over a year now with no real relief. I’ve asked for a steroid injection via my GP and have been waiting months now for an orthopaedic appointment, have no idea when it will materialise. I suppose I could ask my Rheumatologist next time I see her, as it was her who referred me for an ultrasound to see if it was my RA or actually tendonitis.
I have read about ultrasound therapy and had a look at my local physio clinics, but it was expensive if I remember rightly. I also went to see my friends son who is an osteopath, he just gave me exercises which haven’t really worked.
Sorry I can’t be of much more help than that. It’s a painful condition that’s for sure 😖 but I’ve kind of learnt to live with it 😔
I have rotator cuff injuries & snapped tendons in both my arms & believe me it is so painful. Physio, ultrasound therapy or steroid injections made no difference to it. Nearly 3 years ago I had a shoulder joint replacement & it was wonderful. I am now waiting to have my right shoulder replaced. Meanwhile it is very painful & I struggle to do almost anything with it. It even hurts to lift it or pick anything up. My husband has to Dress & undress me. I send my best wishers & love to you & hope you soon get some relief but please don’t worry if you need an op. Xxx
Oh no, I’m so sorry for your experience. It is indeed very painful. My late mum had steroid injections and they didn’t work for her. A little disappointed that ultrasound therapy didn’t work for you as I was counting on that! We’re tou able to get ultrasound therapy on the NHS? How did you find a physiotherapist who also offered ultrasound therapy?
It was offered to me at the pain clinic I was attending at the time. Just because all these things didn't work for me doesn't mean that they won't for you as we are all very different. xx
Hiya U. Only just seen this, not been around as much of late. I empathise with the latest offering you have. I appreciate the pain as my h has recently had an MRI which confirmed he has ruptured his supraspinatus tendon, among other related shoulder & neck problems, he's not coping with it at all well. He did have a follow-up appointment with MSK but it had to be reappointed as it was the day following his latest angiogram. Fortunately it has been reappointed to next week so we'll see if anything can be done to help. He has already been advised an op is out of the question with his other issues so it will be interesting what else, if anything, is offered. I do know he can't manage as he is.
Being a new issue to us I don't know if ultrasound is helpful I’m afraid but if you do manage to arrange to have it done I hope it's successful for you. x
Thank you. I'm doing ok, as always I could be better but that's just how it is. I have a Rheumy appointment next month & have a few notes jotted down to raise, some new symptoms/concerns. The problem is since my Rheumy left the department are using locums more & more so there's less chance of them being followed up. Big girl pants on & insistence will be needed I think!
I hope you've not too long to wait for your appointment & yes, please do let me know how you get on. x
P, if I know you, I know you won't leave until you have answers to all your questions, ha, but I totally understand, there's no continuity and having to re-explain everything each time we see someone different is a 'pain' but also time consuming taking up valuable time in an allotted 20 minute appointment.
On the plus side though, you may come across a rheumatologist who totally gets you and your condition, fingers firmly crossed!
I do feel that since covid, things in rheumatology don't seem to move at pace as they did pre-covid - is this just me?
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