What do you think?

[1966366]

I am/was/ a physically fit 55 yr old man and in late October I had 3 weeks in Spain. The weather was 26-30C and I was in the sea everyday at 7.30am or running or cycling. A week later and I am back in dear old Blighty 14C, with the most painful left shoulder and arm. (I have pins in this from a cycling accident 10 yr ago). It is not joint pain but muscle pain and although I have osteoporosis in my fingers (I was a musician), I have had no previous arthritis problems and the change of temperature has never affected me before. The pain and tiredness has gotten worse and I now dread the cold. Today I could not manage 1 length of a 25M pool. In October I was doing 64L x 3/4 a week. I have noticed muscle wasting in the bicep muscle of my left arm. It feels constantly heavy and aches. I have to 'sleep' on my back because of the pain in my left shoulder. My doctor said keep taking Tramadol & paracetamol. I have been waiting 9 weeks for a MRI scan. So, does any of these symptoms sound familiar to you? Because I have given up with my doc and physio. Thanks for your help 👍

[helixhelix]

it doesn’t sound like rheumatoid arthritis. Although this can come on suddenly it doesn’t usually start with a large joint like a shoulder.

Did your doctor mention tendonitis or calcification? Both of which are bloody painful!

[1966366 in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks very much for your reply. I have just had a quick look at the symptoms of tendonitis and it seems likely. I have seen two doctors and neither mentioned this or anything really. They simply pushed me off to physio and painkillers.

[Fruitandnutcase]

It sounds similar to something I had back in 2020. Long story but I broke both bones in my wrist, had them stretched back into shape and plastered. When the cast came off my hand was a mess, turned out I had something called CRPS - it was horrible, as if my hand had been swapped for a huge giant’s hand or a baseball catchers mitt, it felt enormous, heavy and very painful, it just didn’t feel like it belonged to me. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis and started taking alendronic acid. I took it for four months then stopped because I felt really ill while taking it. I was also prescribed pregabalin for the CRPS but gave that up too because I didn’t like the ‘out of body and losing the will to live’ feeling I was getting. So it was paracetamol for me. Maximum daily dose. All this happened at the start of covid so treatment was very difficult. Eventually I was able to work with a hand physiotherapist on Zoom.

Then just as the physio and I felt my hand was much improved I started to develop a massive and incredible pain in my shoulder that sounds very similar to yours.

Like you I couldn’t lie on that arm, movement was very limited and the constant pain was awful,I could barely use that arm. As places were starting to open up again I signed up for some private physio and went weekly for about three months.

I had a mixture of deep massage from the physio and exercises that I did at home eventually working with weights that got progressively heavier about 2kg which isn’t particularly heavy but it was for me.

When it came to Christmas I stopped the physio (it was costing a fortune) I carried on doing the exercises then eventually one day I realised I could actually fasten my bra behind my back again and then I was able to put my hands over my head onto the floor when I was doing Pilates and now I’m back to how I was before all that happened.

I’m not sure if it was a frozen shoulder or not. I couldn’t lift my arm past waist height ( I couldn’t switch the bedside light off or pull the cord on the bathroom blinds in the morning.) The pain took my breath away yet the physio could lift it right up above my head for me without any pain at all. It was most unusual, I suspect in my case it was linked to the CRPS.

For me I can definitely recommend finding a really good physio who specialises in the area you want fixed. As well as the physio I took paracetamol and used a mixture of things to rub on Pernatron, Volterol, Deep Heat, Deep Freeze type products, you name it I rubbed it on. I had a nice little ball type massage tool that fitted into the palm of my hand and which I could use myself and I also bought an electric a massager with a long handle so that I could reach over and around my shoulder.

Hopefully your MRI will be helpful in identifying the problem, yu know yu can have an MRI done privately if you are fed up waiting.

[1966366 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

OK, thanks for your suggestions. The physio that I have been to twice isn't much good or beneficial. I have another appointment for the 22nd with a different person. As with Voltarol. I don't rate it at all. Maybe I go private for the MRI scan because I can't tolerate this level of pain indefinitely.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to 1966366]

I know it sounds odd but I would say that when I had my shoulder pain although it was muscular the level of pain was worse than when I fractured my sacrum and broke my wrist.

I saw physio who had fixed my shoulder about the sacral pain and when she mentioned ‘referred pain’ - I thought - I know about referred pain and it definitely wasn’t referred pain so I didn’t go back there.

Instead I went a guy who deals with spinal injury patients who referred me for private MRIs down in London and turned out I had fractured my sacrum as well as a lot of other messy things in my spine plus bursitis which is a really horrible sort of pain. Unfortunately there was no miracle cure for a fractured sacrum.

If your level of pain is intolerable and painkillers aren’t helping then it might be worth having an MRI privately, I was referred by my spinal physio who sent me a detailed report the following day, at least that way you will know what’s going on.

[Stayloose]

I am sorry to hear about your pain and the frustration of not knowing the cause. My husband had a painful shoulder and physio made it much worse He paid privately to see a shoulder specialist and a scan showed tendonopathy and a cuff tear. Then one ankle randomly became swollen, so I was sure something else was going on . Blood tests showed raised inflammation levels and referral to a rheumatologist confirmed RA. The text books suggest symptoms are generally hands and feet so doctors don't automatically consider it.I would be inclined to ask GP to check blood inflammation markers.

[1966366 in reply to Stayloose]

Thank you. Checking my blood inflammation markers is my next plan of attack - when I am able to actually speak with a doctor! I know nothing about arthritis and this is why I have contacted the forum and to try and narrow things down.

[Runrig01]

The sudden change in your ability, as well as the pain, warrants further testing. I’d be asking gp to check inflammatory markers and rheumatoid factor. If they are raised then you should get referred to a rheumatologist.

[1966366 in reply to Runrig01]

Thank you. Yes, literally overnight lifestyle change. Asking my gp about the inflammatory markers is what I have gauged on the forum. I know nothing about arthritis other than what I have Googled.

[Runrig01 in reply to 1966366]

There are so many conditions as well as probably over 100 types of arthritis. There are conditions like polymyositis which predominantly affects the muscles. Most are managed by rheumatologists. I have a condition called ankylosing spondylitis, which predominantly causes fusion of the spine, pelvis and ribs. In my case it affects literally every joint including the jaw. Hopefully your gp will agree to doing bloods as a first step. I should say there are some arthritis and conditions that don’t raise markers, so it may still be worth pushing for a referral

[1966366 in reply to Runrig01]

Thanks enormously... My condition is hardly worth a mention in comparison to your problem. God bless,all the best

[Runrig01 in reply to 1966366]

Not at all, everyone’s pains and struggles are just as valid, and can get to you just as much. My colleagues used to say I should write a book, as I’ve had one saga after anothe 😂r. 🤗

[Mark72]

Hi, I had a cycling accident and damaged my shoulder also. After being sent away with pain killers it transpired that I had damaged my axillary nerve. This was a direct result of my accident but there is something quadrilateral space syndrome which has a similar effect. Your symptoms sound similar I had muscle wasting of my deltoid muscles.

Might be an avenue to explore.

[1966366 in reply to Mark72]

Thanks, I will have a gander

[Sunshinereturns]

Could it be frozen shoulder? I hesitate to suggest it as it’s so unpleasant but might be worth researching? Sympathies, this kind of pain is awful.

[1966366 in reply to Sunshinereturns]

Hiya. I have researched this one and I certainly have all of the symptoms. What is annoying is that two doctors have completely overlooked it. Thank you.

[Sunshinereturns in reply to 1966366]

Wishing you the very best of luck in getting a proper diagnosis of whatever it is. It’s hard enough to deal with diagnosed condition but must be worse when you feel you’re not on the correct treatment plan yet. Keep bothering the doctors until you feel clear on what’s going on.

[cyberbarn]

It is also worth remembering that there are over 100 types of arthritis, but mostly people only talk about the few that are most common. And that covers GPs too!

So I agree, with those changes it is worth talking to a GP again.

[1966366 in reply to cyberbarn]

Thanks. I never realised how many different forms of arthritis there is and I agree with you that GPs don't either, unless they are the most common ones. I have asked both of the GPs I have seen if my condition was probably a arthritis related issue and they both were very indecisive about it.

[Angels54]

Hi. It could be a frozen shoulder , it could be muscle waist, could be s different form of arthritis, get checked out👍

[1966366 in reply to Angels54]

Hiya. Since mentioned on the forum I have researched on the frozen shoulder idea, and I have all of the symptoms of this. Thanks

[Boxerlady in reply to 1966366]

Both a friend and my husband had frozen shoulders many years ago and both said that the pain was excruciating. Luckily my husband's didn't last too long but my friend's did and she eventually had an operation; mind you, she also had a good private health plan! A few years ago, I had what I feared was the same but it turned out to be a tendon injury and a physio gave me exercises which thankfully worked; both the GP (who told me to self-refer for physio) and the physio said that I should take paracetamol and ibuprofen together at more than the recommended dose to enable me to do the exercises.

I'm not suggesting that you should try any self-medicating or exercise without guidance but just relating two different scenarios which might relate to your problem without it being arthritis.

I hope, for your sake, that it isn't arthritis as that's a longer term problem!

[1966366 in reply to Boxerlady]

Thanks very much and much appreciated. Yes, I'll gladly take frozen shoulder or bursitis, or tendinitis etc, ahead of arthritis and this is why I contacted the forum because arthritis is my main concern as I was unhappy with my GP advice.

[Passionflower]

sounds like you may have bursitis caused by overuse, MRI will pick up if it is hope soon passes for you.

[1966366 in reply to Passionflower]

Thank you. I have been looking into this and I have all the symptoms of scapula bursitis.

[Passionflower in reply to 1966366]

I’ve had bursitis many times in various places it’s very painful hope yours soon subsides.

[JenniferW]

It might be worth asking your doctor to prescribe some anti-inflammatories in case they help, you're just on pain killers I think.

[1966366 in reply to JenniferW]

I've got Naxproxen but I find it makes my tinnitus worse. So I am managing with Tramadol and paracetamol. Thanks

[katieoxo60]

Felt compelled to reply 1966366, as I take a similar pain cocktail and recently have been suffering from symptoms similar to what you mention. Of course I am much older than you and take inhalers plus Losartan. I felt it might be muscle related but because of my lung condition it could be other matters. I do have arthritis but this is a different pain and is impairing my deep breathing. My Gp suggested I consentrate on the pain and any things that cause worsening while we do diagnostic test s to rule out other possible causes, but to continue with painkillers so my arthritis does not flare up also. Treatment you have been offered sounds right for muscle weakness but a bit off putting because many illnesses can cause muscle pain and so can many tablets along with overdoing things. I was wondering if it was anything to do with the virus injections or the recent vitamin B tablets I was given. They have stopped now but the pain as not just lifting something light starts it off like you suggested with yours I have been reasonbably active too till lock down, not sure what is the cause so will appreciate the replies to your post Thanks