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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to ask if anyone has torn their rotator cuff?

50 replies

alloalloallo · 08/10/2023 09:40

How did you treat it please?

I’ve been referred for physio by my GP and been given some exercises to do at home in the meantime, but I can’t do them as movement in my shoulder is so restricted I just can’t get my arm into the required position

I don’t even know how I’ve done it. I’ve not injured my shoulder that I remember. I just woke up one morning about 8 weeks ago with pain that has gradually got worse.

I can raise my arm forwards a small amount, less backwards and virtually nothing from the side. It feels almost like my shoulder is dislocated and feels like my actual bone is stopping movement. I can’t even put my own knickers on.

I’ve read all sorts of different, sometimes conflicting, stuff online.

Thanks!

OP posts:

LindorDoubleChoc · 08/10/2023 19:41

Yabu

cherrypopsicle · 08/10/2023 19:42

Tore mine xmas 2021. Had a scan and the tear isn't big enough for surgery. Did the exercises religiously and was back at work after about 8 weeks. I have to say that although I've got complete range of motion back (took maybe 6 months total) it does still ache occasionally and I get the associated pain all the way down to the wrist. I also can't do push ups but not particularly bothered about that! I don't think this will ever go away but it is much better than it was

Watsername · 08/10/2023 20:46

My frozen shoulder started like that. It doesn’t ‘freeze’ immediately. It was initially very painful but with movement. Then almost overnight the range of movement gradually decreased.

I saw a sports physio who did and ultrasound and referred me back to my GP for X-rays (showed nothing). He gave me mobilisation exercises with a resistance band which I did every day.

It got better much quicker than the physio initially said.

olderbutwiser · 08/10/2023 20:55

I had physio but to no effect, eventually had surgery. I had a significant tear which was repaired, but there was no hope for one of my bicep tendons so that had to be cut. Recovery took a while but nothing like as bad as the slightly hysterical YouTube videos suggested and I was back to full function within months.

I had no memorable trauma either, the surgeon said it can start wIt’s a tiny tear then just unravel from there.

The crunch for me came when I couldn’t do my bra up. It was fab the first time I could do that again.

FelineGood76 · 08/10/2023 20:56

Yep, torn rotator cuff when giving birth to first DD, I was reaching upwards and backwards holding onto the bedframe to bear down and pulled so much I tore my shoulder, was agony for about 3 months and I could barely hold DD, get dressed or sleep. Only time helped, and diclofenac or ibuprofen. Total nightmare, especially with a fussy newborn who wouldn't sleep. Sympathies.

Loubelle70 · 08/10/2023 21:06

I had this OP. Took 18 month to sort it and it still isnt right . I couldn't move arm much, couldn't carry a bag, couldn't lift pint of milk, it was miserable. And very very painful , right down to my wrist and down my neck. Sleeping was horrendous too. Sorry you have this x

WildFlowerBees · 08/10/2023 21:21

I had a cortisone injection, physio didn't help much at all until after I'd had my injection. I'm pretty much back to normal but with some obvious impingement due to the scar tissue.

SuffolkUnicorn · 08/10/2023 22:20

My sister just sent me this thread I could have written it myself. I’ve been referred for physio no painkillers work mine started before the summer holidays no idea how it happened came on very suddenly it’s agony

SuffolkUnicorn · 08/10/2023 22:20

My shoulder cracks a lot too

snickersandmarsandbounty · 08/10/2023 22:24

I had a frozen shoulder took about 18 months before I had full movement back

StarDolphins · 08/10/2023 22:31

I’m (slowly) recovering from this (I think). Started in May & only getting better since mid-end sept. It’s been horrendous & couldn’t dress, wash 1 armpit properly & if I needed to move my arm to the side or moved it suddenly I squealed for about 10 seconds. It was like I was stretching an elastic that didn’t want to be stretched. Couldn’t sleep on it, it ended up feeling weak all down my arm.

The only thing that’s worked is resting it & not lifting anything heavy or to the side of above my head & not using it for strenuous things but still using it as much as I can.

Goodmirror · 08/10/2023 22:58

LindorDoubleChoc · 08/10/2023 19:41

Yabu

Weird?

Original poster

alloalloallo · 09/10/2023 16:14

Thanks all!

I’ve called and made an appointment with a private physio.

They’re going to do an assessment first - they’re not overly happy with giving me physio without having had a scan, but they’re going to assess and see what’s what.

OP posts:

TakeMe2Insanity · 09/10/2023 16:18

My husband did. Gp suggested physio and x ray which doesn’t show it up. Went private as he was in so much pain they did ultrasound scan whixh showed 3rd degree tear and had to be sewn together.

GertrudeKerfuffle · 10/10/2023 13:20

I've got this at the moment. I did it it slipping on the stairs and wrenching my arm trying to save myself. I read somewhere that it feels like 'toothache' in your arm, and I'd say that's accurate!

I'm seeing a private physio recommended by a friend, I haven't bothered going to the GP. The physio said a scan wouldn't be worth the hassle and that working on building strength into the shoulder is the way forward. Interestingly he said that asymptomatic studies (ie of people with no symptoms or diagnosis) have shown that a lot of people have tears they don't even know about - especially people over forty - so it seems to be a common thing as you age.

So I'm just working on the exercises and looking forward to being able to fasten my bra strap behind my back again one day 🙁

Original poster

alloalloallo · 11/10/2023 22:08

So, a little update

I saw the physio today - she thinks it’s frozen shoulder rather than rotator cuff.

She’s given me some exercises that I can do and strapped my shoulder so it’s a bit more supported which has massively improved the pain.

She did some exercises with me and got a lot more movement out of it than I’ve had for weeks. Uncomfortable but not excruciating.

I have a whole exercise plan on an app, which nags me if I don’t do them.

OP posts:

DisquietintheRanks · 11/10/2023 22:35

Yeah, thought it sounded like frozen shoulder (the coming out of nowhere is dead give away). Doing the exercises will really help unfreeze it.

Ilovefluffysheep · 12/10/2023 14:50

Interestingly I've seen the physio today (3rd appointment), and she has now decided that mine is frozen shoulder too. My range of movement has massively decreased since my first appointment with her in August (in spite of doing the exercises), and my pain levels have increased. Sadly Naproxen isn't helping much.

I've been referred to see her colleague, who is an advanced physio practitioner. Apparently he can refer for scans and steroid injections, so will assess me and decide if either of those need to be done. However, I really want a scan to check on what is happening inside, so am going to ask the GP if they can refer me (just to speed up the process a little bit). The GP can access the physio notes (he was reading them out loud when I had the telephone consultation about pain relief), so will be able to see that she has suggested this.

Little bit disheartened to read that frozen should can take up to 3 years to heal.

Rarewaxwing · 12/10/2023 22:01

Physio didn't help my frozen shoulder. But a steroid injection with hydrodilatation was bloody miraculous. I had to go private to get it, but it was so worth it to lose the pain and immobility. Highly recommend!

Karwomannghia · 12/10/2023 22:06

As with several pp sounds like frozen shoulder. I had it last year. Constant ache and restricted movement and zingers out of the blue like an electric shock down your arm. It gets better over time. Get someone else to slowly try and lift both arms up to the side at the same time just pushing it a bit more but really the main thing is time and don’t stop using it.

LordBuckley · 12/10/2023 22:09

Shouldn't you be referred to an orthopaedic specialist, or doesn't that happen in the UK?

MapleSyrupWaffles · 13/10/2023 10:11

That doesn't happen in the UK to start with, at least. It's GP and if you're lucky, physio. Or private physio.

If it continues, then potential for referral to orthopaedic specialist I think. But I think that is mostly if they think you might need surgery, and that would be after quite a few months of conservative treatment with anti-inflammatories, heat/cold, physio, possibly steroid injections. Then the orthopaedic specialist might recommend some sort of surgery. But it would have to be quite bad or unresponsive to treatment to be referred before that, at least in this area - it seems to be all phone appointments with GPs and physios here!

I'm suffering at the moment too. Waiting for ultrasound. I don't think mine is frozen shoulder though, but tenonitis. Apparently one sign to tell the difference is whether someone else can move your arm for you through the range of motion that would normally give you pain/make it impossible when you try to move it yourself - if they can, it is more likely to be tendonitis and if they can't, it might be frozen shoulder. Or so I was told.

KweenCnut · 13/10/2023 10:54

I had a diagnosed frozen shoulder for a year, physio was useless as couldn't get my arm into the required position to do the exercises.

Eventually I paid for a sports masseuse who gave me a very deep tissue massage. He explained I'd had micro tears which had healed badly, so the muscle fibres were matted.

It was uncomfortable but 24 hours later I had 50% more movement (couldn't lift a cup of tea before) and a few weeks later the pain had gone.

I probably have 95% range of movement now, which is enough for normal life.

Original poster

alloalloallo · 13/10/2023 12:14

Thanks all.

She’s pretty sure it’s frozen shoulder as my grip isn’t affected - I can grip stuff with no (extra) pain fine and I could push down on her hands with no (extra) pain.

Also, while it feels to me like it’s clicking and slightly dislocated, she couldn’t feel the clicking when she was moving my arm with her hand on my shoulder.

The exercises she gave me I can do, I couldn’t do the ones the GP gave me though. I need a bit of help from DH - he can move my arm further than I can.

She taped my shoulder up for me as per the attached photo which has given it some support which has helped with the pain. It’s much less achey.

I did really hurt it this morning though. We were in the car with the dog in the back. DH pulled over so I could jump out and stick a letter in the post box. I heard the dog jump down off the back seat, so instinctively span round to stop her escaping. She has a seatbelt so wasn’t going anywhere, but it was just a reflex. Fuck me, did it hurt and my arm went all weak and shaky and felt like pins and needles. It was almost normal movement for a brief few seconds though.

OP posts:

TheSkyRaisin · 13/10/2023 20:38

It's horrible when you set it off @alloalloallo

I tripped slightly on a tree root the other day - didn't actually fall, but it made me jerk my arm and I was doing the squeal thing. There were tears in my eyes too, I was glad there was no one around to see it

I hope your exercises start to help soon.

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