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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be sick and tired of this rotator cuff shoulder pain?

90 replies

Thepleasureofyourcompany · 27/06/2023 09:07

2 months ago I dislocated my arm and cracked the humerus. Fracture has healed but all the muscles, tendons are fucked (which I believe is the technical term!). It's been 8 weeks now and pain just getting worse and worse. So far today I've taken 2 paracetamol, 2 nurofen and 30mg of codeine and its still just grinding away. I have a wheat bag on it, I'm doing the exercises as prescribed by physio. Sleeping laying down is impossible. The only thing differently I've done is that yesterday I went for a 3k walk because if I have to do nothing for any longer I will go mad. It's a dull ache like toothache.

My dh and dcs are sick of me moaning about it. Just posting for sympathy really and on the off-chance anyone else has had this and is now back swimming front crawl or weightlifting or something.

OP posts:
GreatBigBeautifulTommorow · 27/06/2023 09:12

I feel your pain @Thepleasureofyourcompany .
not what you want to hear but…
I dislocated mine 10 years ago, told wouldn’t be at risk of ongoing problems.

every couple of years I have to go back for physio as it slips in and out, luckily currently pops back in itself but the pain is horrific for that brief moment!
I have full movement and can swim etc.

my advice is continue with shoulder strengthening exercises long term.

Original poster
Thepleasureofyourcompany · 27/06/2023 09:14

GreatBigBeautifulTommorow · 27/06/2023 09:12

I feel your pain @Thepleasureofyourcompany .
not what you want to hear but…
I dislocated mine 10 years ago, told wouldn’t be at risk of ongoing problems.

every couple of years I have to go back for physio as it slips in and out, luckily currently pops back in itself but the pain is horrific for that brief moment!
I have full movement and can swim etc.

my advice is continue with shoulder strengthening exercises long term.

Poor you. I actually wonder if that's happening with mine. Occasionally get a really debilitating pain then awful deep aches for 20 mins or so.

I'm religiously doing the exercises.

OP posts:
GreatBigBeautifulTommorow · 27/06/2023 09:17

I’m in a cycle of exercises for months and it improves but if I stop starts again.

are you still in a sling? Would it give you some respite to pop sling on?

Original poster
Thepleasureofyourcompany · 27/06/2023 09:20

GreatBigBeautifulTommorow · 27/06/2023 09:17

I’m in a cycle of exercises for months and it improves but if I stop starts again.

are you still in a sling? Would it give you some respite to pop sling on?

Physio says no sling. Might whack it back on today though.

OP posts:
justasking111 · 27/06/2023 09:24

Surgery, although you've left it a long time. If you can afford it get referral to a consultant privately if your GP won't refer you on the NHS. You need a scan

Original poster
Thepleasureofyourcompany · 27/06/2023 09:27

justasking111 · 27/06/2023 09:24

Surgery, although you've left it a long time. If you can afford it get referral to a consultant privately if your GP won't refer you on the NHS. You need a scan

I think it's too late. Also they are convinced there's no tear, and the bone has healed, so not sure what surgery they'd give me.

OP posts:
MagpiePi · 27/06/2023 09:31

They say it is worse to fuck up (technical term!) tendons and ligaments than it is to break a bone and I feel for you.

My son had a torn rotator cuff and was offered surgery but decided against it as there does seem to be quite a high chance that it can make things worse, and this was on the advice of the consultant. I think you just have to keep up with the exercises for now. Can you get some stronger painkillers?

Original poster
Thepleasureofyourcompany · 27/06/2023 09:39

MagpiePi · 27/06/2023 09:31

They say it is worse to fuck up (technical term!) tendons and ligaments than it is to break a bone and I feel for you.

My son had a torn rotator cuff and was offered surgery but decided against it as there does seem to be quite a high chance that it can make things worse, and this was on the advice of the consultant. I think you just have to keep up with the exercises for now. Can you get some stronger painkillers?

I'm.not sure there are.any stronger painkillers. I could take more codeine but I'm a bit scared of it.

OP posts:
yaya83 · 27/06/2023 09:42

Not the same thing but my mum had frozen shoulder for years and was in so much pain, like yourself. She tried everything. Eventually went for acupuncture (get recommendations if you can) and a few sessions in and she was cured! Never had a reoccurrence of it. Worth a try!

justasking111 · 27/06/2023 09:44

Thepleasureofyourcompany · 27/06/2023 09:27

I think it's too late. Also they are convinced there's no tear, and the bone has healed, so not sure what surgery they'd give me.

Show quote history

Yeah well they would say that. A scan is definitive but costs them. Once you've had the scan they're obligated to do something.

Bellesjp · 27/06/2023 09:45

I feel you, it's the worst pain, I have a weak shoulder from breaking it and every year or so I get the tendon pain for a few weeks. Literally can't sleep or do anything!! Only thing that helps is codeine, sometimes an ice pack, heat tends to make it worse. The more I move it the worse it gets so I just rest it and eventually it goes back to normal for another year..

Original poster
Thepleasureofyourcompany · 27/06/2023 09:46

justasking111 · 27/06/2023 09:44

Yeah well they would say that. A scan is definitive but costs them. Once you've had the scan they're obligated to do something.

Show quote history

I don't think surgery necessarily always improves things - even looking at websites from the US where I'd imagine they are happy to do surgery ASAP! But I agree they may try and fob me off.

OP posts:
Tourmalines · 27/06/2023 09:54

You poor thing . Mine wasn’t as bad as yours , I only had two torn tendons on my shoulder but it was so sore and I had loss of certain arm movements. I did exercises with the rubber band and the cane as the physio said . It took nearly a year to get full function of my arm and back to normal. It’s a very long slow process . It will get better but good luck .

Original poster
Thepleasureofyourcompany · 27/06/2023 09:55

Tourmalines · 27/06/2023 09:54

You poor thing . Mine wasn’t as bad as yours , I only had two torn tendons on my shoulder but it was so sore and I had loss of certain arm movements. I did exercises with the rubber band and the cane as the physio said . It took nearly a year to get full function of my arm and back to normal. It’s a very long slow process . It will get better but good luck .

A year! My hobbies are horseriding, swimming (front crawl) and weightlifting. I'm absolutely gutted. I've never felt so low.

OP posts:
WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 27/06/2023 13:12

DH injured his rotator cuff badly, it took months of physio. Even then he had problems with movement, but a mix oh physio and the later sports massages and reformer Pilates helped him get back to normal.

I feel for you, I have a niggling issue in my shoulder due to the muscle tucked under my shoulder blade, and it's driving me demented after 6 months of pain with it.

Blossomtoes · 27/06/2023 13:18

I had an incredibly painful frozen shoulder - I could raise my arm higher than my hip. It was sorted with naproxen and physio - the naproxen dealt with the pain so I could actually do the exercises.

Original poster
Thepleasureofyourcompany · 27/06/2023 13:21

Maybe I need naproxen. Its the nights that are awful. Unless I sleep almost completely sitting up the shoulder seems to sag, then I get bad pain. Have shooting pains today and have gone back to bed.

OP posts:
Blossomtoes · 27/06/2023 13:22

Thepleasureofyourcompany · 27/06/2023 13:21

Maybe I need naproxen. Its the nights that are awful. Unless I sleep almost completely sitting up the shoulder seems to sag, then I get bad pain. Have shooting pains today and have gone back to bed.

It’s an absolute wonder drug, I can’t recommend it too highly.

OneTC · 27/06/2023 13:23

Dislocated my shoulder falling off a boulder and was off sport for nearly a year trying to sort out the associated damage. I've found it to be an ongoing problem and aside from the initial set of exercises to regain movement I find that I need to stay bang on top of posture and do a fair bit of strengthening exercises to stop it being a problem again. During other periods of enforced rest I find that my shoulder becomes a problem again very quickly

Original poster
Thepleasureofyourcompany · 27/06/2023 13:27

Blossomtoes · 27/06/2023 13:22

It’s an absolute wonder drug, I can’t recommend it too highly.

Show quote history

Possible to get over the counter? Or gp only

OP posts:
OneTC · 27/06/2023 13:30

Pretty sure naproxen isn't OTC.

It also fucks up your stomach similar to ibuprofen.

OneTC · 27/06/2023 13:31

Diclofenac ftw but you can't buy that OTC anymore either

Original poster
Thepleasureofyourcompany · 27/06/2023 13:34

OneTC · 27/06/2023 13:30

Pretty sure naproxen isn't OTC.

It also fucks up your stomach similar to ibuprofen.

I literally don't care.

OP posts:
Blossomtoes · 27/06/2023 13:46

Thepleasureofyourcompany · 27/06/2023 13:27

Possible to get over the counter? Or gp only

Show quote history

Prescription only. You’ll also get a scrip for a drug to protect your gastric tract.

Original poster
Thepleasureofyourcompany · 27/06/2023 13:48

I'll contact them in the morning. Just need a break from this pain for a couple of days.

OP posts: