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

[Thepleasureofyourcompany]

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.

Good luck, that pain really wears you down, doesn’t it?

Yes. It's relentless and miserable.

I've just had (yesterday!) my second tendon repair in my right shoulder after causing a full tear of the supraspinatus falling down the stairs in 2018. Surgery in 2019, then again yesterday as I was getting pain again. Turns out my shoulder is fucked (it's definitely the technical term) degenratively and I'm heading for a shoulder repair at some point.

Apparently shite tendons cause more wear and tear on the bony parts of the shoulder.

I'd be insisting on a scan in your shoes (physios have to refer here) as you're still in significant pain. Amitriptyline helped my night pain.

Thanks and good luck with your recovery.

I've got a horrible feeling that I have done something less straightforward than they seem to think, OR that my age makes them reluctant to investigate further. I bet if I was a 30 year old male tennis player they'd be scanning me.

It's not right to just leave you in pain. That's appalling patient care.

I was 'lucky' that I was too acute for physio, so was referred for a scan straight away.

I hope you can change their mind so you can get answers.

They couldn't care less.

"Can you raise your arm" - me,.clearly in agony, struggles to raise it a bit

Them "well done, great, thank you next"

Can you afford to go private for scans? I went private this time for 2 consultations and an MRI arthrogram and x-ray. I was then referred back on the NHS for the surgery. I have Simply Health cover which paid for some and I paid the rest myself. Annoying, but saved me about a year (and arguments about what was / wasn't needed).

Not really. I'm just about to spend my savings on getting a tooth implant.

It is a super painful recovery until you get some movement back into your shoulder though.

Can you raise it with your arm bent?

You do good sports though that are probably favourable in your longer term outlook as having that basis of strength and stability should really make recovery easier.

Tbf I can raise it straight to about 100 degrees.

The top of my arm has gone flabby and cellulitey so that's attractive

I totally get your frustration and pain, I got knocked off my bike just over 2 months ago and broke my collarbone and damaged all my shoulder and arm. Consultant decided not to operate (like you, am sure he would have done if I was a man!) and i'm still in agony now. Can barely lift my arm, hurts to drive, to walk etc. Doing my physio daily with my stupid rubber band but totally pissed off!

Fucking hate that rubber band! Solidarity

Can you put clothes over your head yet? I'm still in shirts, boob tubes and bloody cardigans. Last time I saw the consultant he made some remark about my "off the shoulder" number and my look could have turned him to stone.. I want to swim too and go hiking, do exercises but I can't even put my own hair up in a bobble grrr

Huge sympathy from me. Tore my rotator cuff many years ago. The pain is awful. I'm back to pretty much normal now but it took perhaps 3 years. And will always be a weakness. I did a lot of googling at the time and yes, surgeries seem to be pretty hit and miss. I saw someone say it takes 18 months to fix with surgery, or 18 months to fix itself naturally.......

I can just about manage a claw clip. Getting undressed is a challenge. I'm living in baggy t shirts or a few old shirt dresses. Bras are a nightmare. I've also put on a stone.

Is your physio any good?
Mine sounds like it was the same as yoyrs, painful for years, ached , couldnt lift the arm vertical, i kept going to consultant about it, he said surgery not warranted, eventually called in head of physio who i saw about 4 times, totally different exercises in the sessions and at home and it was great. Its prob 95% now and has been for a few years

I had a rotator cuff problem. It did get better, I just realised one day there was no more pain, but it took about 2 years. Sorry 😪

My husband had a rotator cuff injury. I had to listen about it A LOT. A series of injections from a consultant seemed to sort it out . I think he had three or four of them and they worked like a miracle

I have a frozen shoulder, so I feel your pain!! It's so painful and so frustrating. You just take your shoulder for granted.

You tried sports massages?

Are you sure you haven't developed some osteoarthritis after this injury?

No, not sure. It was only 8 weeks ago.

Not until 12 weeks physio has said.

Well at least it got better!!

I had a frozen shoulder/possible rotator cuff injury. They were undecided! I did physio and it didn't really help. What was a game changer for me was a sports massage twice a week for six weeks. I guess it depends on the injury though.