Shoulder op & pain in (quicker to type everywhere) 😉 you might need a coffee or tea to read this as I do tend to write war & peace 🙄🤣

[Garnacha]

Hi everyone

Around the beginning of October I started getting pain in my hands that was worse at night, it then got worse with pins & needles in my fingers, my little finger, middle finger & thumb are the worse, I also started to struggle walking when getting out of bed as I couldn't bend my feet or knees through the pain, as I move around the pain eases & only hurts & feels stiff if I've been idle for a while.

I rang the helpline 3 times, twice leaving a message & third time was told the rheumatologist would ring me, heard nothing. I was due a telephone consultation on the 20th December from the specialist nurse anyway so thought I'd hang on till then. Then they announced the nurses strike, I received a letter to say the phonecall was cancelled & a new one would be arranged for April! I rang the helpline again & managed to speak to someone saying I couldn't wait till then as noone has rung me back about my hands & feet plus I was supposed to be having a f2f with rheumatologist in April.

Anyway they rang me back to say my hands sound like carpal tunnel & would refer me to a hand clinic & a podiatrist for my feet & knees. I googled 🙄 the symptoms in my hands which sound more like trigger finger but 🤷‍♀️

I've also had severe pain in my right shoulder which was one of the reasons for initially seeing a rheumatologist in 2020, I've had about 3 steroids in it since then which have worked a treat but last year the rheumatologist said he wanted me to have a guided ultrasound steroid injection, when I had the appointment in May last year they found a small tear in the tendon & weren't happy to give me a steroid injection until I'd seen an orthopaedic surgeon.

Saw the surgeon on Monday who said I couldn't have another steroid injection & surgery was my only option or suffer the pain, he also said there's no guarantee the op would work, I'm hoping that this is what they have to say just incase. My left shoulder is now as bad as my right (worse in fact) which he said was probably caused by me using it more due to the pain in my right & he'd give me a steroid injection in my left shoulder when having the op as it'll be difficult with one arm out of use let alone the other one having to do more.

I'm not looking forward to the op (who would 🤣) its scheduled for 10th February, as he noticed I was covered with private insurance & said it'll be months waiting on the NHS. I do feel guilty as when I checked his private clinic he does private work 2 1/2 days a week so no wonder it takes months for appointments or NHS surgery.

Has anyone else had surgery on their shoulder? How did you manage after the op with general day to day stuff afterwards?

[sylvi]

Good luck with the surgery and i hope a good outcome for you. xxxx

[Garnacha in reply to sylvi]

Thanks sylvi 😘 x

[wilbertjellyfish]

Sorry haven't had to have surgery but have at times had flared of arthritis iny shoulders so you have my sympathy as I understand how very painful it can be.

[Garnacha in reply to wilbertjellyfish]

Thank you 😘 x

[Tottie10]

Hi Garnacha,It all sounds very painful. You don't say which tendon is being repaired as this affects recovery time. While in the sling no driving, and loose clothes (cardigans, vest t shirts, no bras without help). Everyday tasks are still possible but just take 10x longer. My dressings were waterproof so careful washing was possible.

I too got bursitis in the other shoulder! Pins and needles in the hands can be a symptom of a frozen shoulder but I'm sure the Orthopaedic Surgeon covered that. You will get post op physio so they may be able to help with the other issues.

My surgery was very successful nd I hope that you get a similar outcome. Good luck x

[Garnacha in reply to Tottie10]

Thank you 😘 when I asked about the tear he said that he wouldn't be repairing it (I'm guessing it's to small) but he'd scrape all the inflammation out & do a bursa excision.

Yes he said I'd need physiotherapy afterwards, at my appointment I didn't mention my hands as I honestly thought he'd either give me another steroid injection or just say its OK for me to have one, an op never entered my head 🙄 when his secretary rang me with the date of the op I mentioned it to her & she was going to pass it on, I did wonder if it could be connected as I've been on gabapentin for the last 3 years for what was said was nerve pain.

How long were you in a sling for? I am a bit worried about everyday tasks as I'm right handed 🙄 x

[Tottie10 in reply to Garnacha]

I had the same procedure and as it is keyhole the recovery time was fast and I was only in a sling for a few days.

Unfortunately due to complications it didn't work for me and I had to have a major repair with 2 months in a sling! Luckily that did work. Good luck and I'm sure that things will be fine. X

[Garnacha in reply to Tottie10]

Aaw no way, glad it's all fine now & thank you for the info 😘 x

[Leics]

I had surgery on my left shoulder with very similar issues that you’re experiencing. It was a day job and called a subachromian arthroscopic decompression. Sorry for the spelling 🤪. So was done by General anaesthetic but only very small incisions. My shoulder had completely seized and had been like it for almost 18 months but that’s another story. Anyway I was put in a very comfortable sling which didn’t affect my neck was given loads of physio and to start with was very awkward but at least the pain was a bit better. I think during the op they use lots of fluid to wash out the debris so it can ooze for a while. But I made a full recovery and touch wood it’s been fine since. I also know what you’re talking about compensating with your other side when one is out of action. My right shoulder isn’t great but nowhere near as bad as my left was. Don’t feel guilty about private surgery it’s one less patient who will have to wait on the NHS so technically you’re freeing up a space for someone else.

[Garnacha in reply to Leics]

Thank you 😘 yes I think that's the same op I'm having & a bursa excision under general anaesthetic.

I'm so glad yours worked & fingers crossed 🤞 I'll be as lucky 🙏 😘 x

[dippyd09]

I don’t know what you’re having done. I had a shoulder replacement in 2019 and it was amazing the difference it made. You are very limited for movement at first but with physio the movement comes back. I am much better now although I fell and broke my collarbone. If it’s a shoulder replacement you’re having I’m happy to tell you more if that would help.

[dippyd09 in reply to dippyd09]

sorry just noticed your other replies. I don’t have experience with what you’re having done but can say that my op helped me greatly. I hope your surgery goes well and your recovery is good. Take care.

[Garnacha in reply to dippyd09]

Thank you, no its not a replacement (I hope 😉) he said that he'll dig out 😫 all the inflammation which fingers crossed will ease the pain & give more movement back but, no guarantees 🙄 it's basically have the op or put up x

[dippyd09]

All the best. I hope this works for you and you get the relief you need.

[Garnacha in reply to dippyd09]

Thank you 😘 x

[Mmrr]

Like you I'm not a big supporter of private health care, but sometimes we have just got to look after ourselves. After a long spell of the NHS rheumatologist not listening last year, I paid for a private rheumatology consultation, and have now moved back to the NHS with a 'better' consultant. I did feel a bit guilty, but the alternative was trying to change consultant within the NHS bureaucracy, paying private moved things along quicker. I still waited 14 weeks. It's not right, it's not fair, but neither is sitting in pain for many weeks. I never thought I would hear myself say this, but sadly it is what our once great NHS has been reduced too.

[Garnacha in reply to Mmrr]

Aaw yes I know exactly what you mean, I've waited 8 months to see the orthopaedic surgeon (3 months of it was because my rheumatologist didn't send the referral letter 😠) & when the surgeon said op & why not go private rather than wait months I wasn't sure, he said he'd add me to the NHS waiting list anyway & if I decided to go private he'll take my name off, when I came home & spoke to my OH he said why not go private, I pay tax for it so thought ok but, part of me was thinking have it done on NHS as I'm cra##ing myself 🤣 & it'll be a long time x

[Maggsie]

not had the exact op as you but my one tip would be to push for hydro therapy post OP. It made a massive difference to my recovery time and the amount of mobility in the joint.

[Garnacha in reply to Maggsie]

Ooh thank you I'll keep it in mind 😘 x

[Leics]

I know that you posted this a few days ago but I was just going through a few bits and reread your post and replies. If you have private health insurance please use it without guilt you will allow a NHS patient to go up the list. Your aftercare will perhaps be much better because physio’s on the NHS are as rare as hens teeth. I had to wait for over a year for my op on the NHS it was excruciating my notes got lost so did my referral and the final straw was one day I happened to hold a half cup of coffee in my left hand (it was my left shoulder that needed the op) and I snapped my collarbone just holding a coffee. So long story short I sat in fracture clinic after a few weeks and basically folded my arms to coin a phrase and refused to move until someone anyone booked me in for an op. My original issue was made 10 times worse by a physio that I spent a small fortune on trying to give my shoulder some relief. I also had nicked the tendon but the tear was too small to operate on. Don’t wait don’t suffer anymore and with any luck you’ll be so glad you sorted it sooner rather than later. It’s not going to fix itself. Mine was pre Covid and now the NHS is in absolute turmoil. The overall decision is yours but use it if you have it.