Anybody here with rotator cuff damage, past or present?

[GiantKitten]

If so, what did you do about it?

I've had weakness & discomfort/pain in my upper arm/shoulder for ages but only consulted doctor google last week. I don't think it's terribly bad but it''s my dominant arm so it's very hard not to keep using it all the time.

Should I be taking ibuprofen regularly? Should I be asking for referral for physio?

TIA

Yes currently suffering with a rotator cuff strain and tennis elbow, both in my dominant arm. Doctor was pretty useless, just prescribed codeine, have paid for some physio but I know the only way to cure it is rest and that is impossible due to my job (self employed). I'm hoping a week in the sun in a couple of weeks will help but tbh I'm in pain most of the time and just put up with it...

@lljkk I know! It doesn't!

But, when I slept on my back, I tended to try to flop my arm out when asleep - being woken up by what felt like a compact nuclear explosion in my shoulder, because it had partially dislocated and then popped back in was better than the nights I'd been woken up by the pain of it not going back in , but still left me feeling somewhat shellshocked.

After some hip problems, just to add to the feelings of by body Bringing Me Joy, I now sleep at least initially sort of on my front-ish with a foam pillow supporting one knee, pillows strategically placed to ensure my head is supported but not pushed at an angle and I don't hurt quite so much.

Arthritis is a fucking bitch.

Just, but mild...physio really helped. His advice, catch it early and do your exercises !!!!

lljkk

If you only consulted Dr. Google then you don't truly know why the joint is causing pain. Shoulders can have lots of types of problems (not just rotar cuff damage). Each problem has its own best forms of treatment.

It's actually more the upper arm than the joint, although the shoulder does hurt when I lie on that side, until I rearrange it a bit. The upper arm pain is when reaching up, stretching forwards, lifting heavy things (weakness then too), & most of all when reaching to the back - can't undo bra for instance, & removing arm from coat sleeve is pretty twingey too.

CalmConfident it sounds as if yours is like mine - I will definitely look to get physio asap

MitziK

See your GP. Although they don't like it long term, when it really hurts, sticking it into an across the chest sling that takes the weight on your elbow for a couple of hours can give you a break from the pain of Having an Arm. Do the exercises religiously. And learn to sleep on your other side before it gets so painful that you wake up during the night.

Noted, thank you

(Fortunately I do mostly sleep on the other, painless side anyway)

giantkitten yep, sounds similar - it was taking off jumpers and holding hairdryer up that were my particular “ouch points”.

A couple of physio sessions made a huge difference, my neck was really tight too. Linked to poor posture and repeated actions at work - it’s my mouse hand!

Glad I caught it early, it was my natural sleeping side too which did not help. Exercise and ibuprofen gel plus physio - do it

Yep. Torn supra tendon after falling downstairs and whacking my elbow on the stairs as I landed.

It took me a while to get through the NHS system but had an op almost 8 months after the fall, a few weeks ago. I also had my pre-existing impingement sorted with subacromial decompression and my bicep also needed some attention once the surgeon could see inside.

It's the most painful thing I've ever done and the ongoing pain was mentally debilitating. But, I'm already in far less pain and start physio this week to build the strength back up. I can't wait to be back to normal after 6 weeks in a sling, not being allowed to move my - dominant - arm.

I'd definitely go down the physio route. They refer you on for scans / injection etc if necessary.