Rotator cuff tear, I think, after a fall. Should I increase Pred while waiting to see GP in 6 days' time?

[Dochaz]

I slipped in the mud while out walking uphill and fell forward into a push up position. Nothing grazed or hurt, picked myself up and finished my walk. But in the evening my right shoulder became extremely painful, movement difficult and I didn't manage a wink of sleep last night. I have a hot water bottle on it now which is a comfort, but the pain is still bad. Can't get an appointment with GP until Monday (dragon secretary).

I'm currently taking just 1 mg/day Prednisone. Paracetamol is not helping. Is there any point upping Pred to help with the pain? Would that help?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

If paracetamol isn’t helping - then may a few days of extra Pred might address the inflammation surrounding it. But it’s not something I’d go to normally.

But do try icing [dig out some frozen peas] as well as heat therapy. ., and try and keep things moving - gentle stretching…

Hope you soon feel better..

[sidra1968]

I have a rotator cuff tear, and I did up my pred after it presented itself, but just by a few mg and just for like 3 days. And really do ice it a lot, that helped almost more than anything. I took Tylenol, too - since we cannot take NSAIDS (which of course is the recommendation).

I got an appt. with the best shoulder surgeon in town in 3 days, and had an MRI right there in his office complex that same day. The MRI showed it was definitely a partial thickness tear. The first place I went to did just an x-ray said it was an AC Joint sprain (wrong diagnosis, but now I also know I have arthritis in the shoulder, yay!). An MRI is the only way to really know what it is.

Sorry, I digress..the shoulder surgeon gave me a cortisone shot, had 8 weeks of PT, and ice and rest. I am finally feeling much better after 5 months of recurrent pain..apparently it can take a while for some of us, and if I get worse again, I will have the surgery. I had to resign from my beloved new job, which I was so happy to be able to do again after the PMR got under control.

Hope this helps a little.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Personally - I think this is possibly an ED job, to get an x-ray to rule out a break and possibly other imaging.

As for the dragon - I'd give her a verbal dousing. I doubt extra pred will help if it is a proper bit of damage and that needs checking. Now - NOT next Monday.

[Bcol]

Think I'd be off to A&E to make sure there is no other damage before going down the extra Pred route.

[Jakey2020]

I was on 6 a day x2mg for bad pain.. Don’t think 1 would do much.. if you can take it Ibuprofen is best but taken after food..