Deeply grateful to all the replies about agonising shoulder pain

[butterflyfarm]

Many thanks to all of you Kind people for your advice regarding my agonising shoulder pain. I am currently trying my Tens machine which I had forgotten about and which someone had suggested. I found paracetamol was useless, as was Ibuprofen. I previously suffered from duodenitis when taking nsaids, and was diagnosed by gastroscope, which involved large doses of Lansoprazole, so I am now careful and just took a few Ibuprofen instead of upping the Pred. Didn't work so I have gone back to 12 mg of Prednisolone and shall wait and see if it is the PMR flaring. Just to let others know, I was previously using nsaids for about 2 years for terrible neck and shoulder pain, which I now believe was undiagnosed PMR. I still take Lansoprazole at a lower dose and eat a lot of Greek yogurt and cottage cheese, plus drinking semi skimmed milk. The jury is still out regarding GCA, as last year I had jaw claudication, a frozen burning tongue and stabbing head pain, aching teeth and could barely open my mouth. I thought I was heading for the lunatic asylum! I give all of this input just as my journey with this bizarre and horrible disease and to share the information. Stress I believe plays a huge role in all of this as my husband has been close to death on many occasions in the last 5 years, but has just been given the all clear from cancer. It is good to share with so many wonderful people.

[piglette]

The fact that Ibuprofen does not work it does possibly point to a PMR flare.

[123-go]

Truly wonderful news that your husband has been given the all clear. You must feel as though a great weight has been lifted. Time now to give some thought to your own well-being especially now that your previous stress has eased.

[butterflyfarm in reply to 123-go]

Thank you, yes the lead weight has been lifted off me.😔

[MrsNails]

Hi, l wasn’t around yesterday or until late today so l didn’t catch your Post about your Shoulder.

I thought you might be interested to hear about what happened to me, l had a pain in my shoulder blade that took my breath away 😢

It was eventually discovered I had a supraspinatus tear in my shoulder, it was undiagnosed for a long time.

A Supraspinatus Tear - is a tear or rupture of the tendon of the supraspinatus muscle, which is located at the back of the shoulder.

It took a very clever physio to work it out following the pathways of the pain - l had to be strapped up for months with a Cross Brace on my back & was treated with Ultra Sound when the strapping was changed, the pain was beyond excruciating 😖 I was on Amitriptyline, Paracetamol, Codeine, Dicolfenic Acid* all prescribed by a Pain Management Specialist, l was given Tramadol but that did not suit me, l was better with the Paracetamol & High Dose Codeine taken as prescribed under direction.

*Dicolfenic Acid is now only prescribed under certain circumstances due to long term side effects.

The Shoulder is a very complex joint with a lot of tendons, ligaments & nerves attached so is often not an easy diagnosis.

I do hope you can get to the cause of it sooner rather than later & it’s an easy fix. Try & keep your shoulder, neck & back as relaxed as possible, l know that’s not easy but the referred pain can also cause problems.

Best Wishes

MrsN

[Viv54]

One of my main areas with PMR is Neck ,shoulders . Im sure stress plays a huge part. My husband has a serious heart condition and has been very unwell over the years. You just get on with it until one day it hits you, then PMR rears it ugly head ! Glad to know hes better and hopefully you will be able to relax abit .

[bonio]

I really do believe stress is a major factor in all of this. In fact, think it probably caused my PMR. I had a flare back in June and have now just managed to almost get back to the dose I was on at that time. Am reducing very very slowly and not more than 10% which is easy as am now back on 12mg and will stay for a month. Do think a visit to a good physio maybe an idea though before confirming that this is a PMR flare. Good to know your husband is in a better place now and that will be a relief for you. Now time to look after yourself. Good luck.

[Bessie333]

I was diagnosed PMR a few months ago but thankfully my symptoms are not as bad as a lot of the participants on this site. However about nine months ago I broke my shoulder and the pain was bad. I found I got relief from applying a cream called Arnica and Wintergreen made by a company called SBC and available on QVC UK. I am not sure how it works but I did get relief from it and applied it twice a day. I hope you soon feel a bit better.