Osteoathritis in shoulder - sharing treatment stories?

[notaflyingmonkey]

I've had this as a low lying condition for a few years, but it has got progressively worse over the past few months. For those of you who have had this, please tell me what have you found to help?

Heat helps my osteo. I use a hot water bottle.

I've had shoulder pain for years. Initially it was put down to an impinged nerve in my neck (had neck pain as well), but after several unsuccessful courses of physio, I finally found one who took it seeiously and sent for an mri scan when her treatment wasn't working.
Turns out I have oa, and due to that the bone spurs rub on the tendon which in turn has caused bursitis.
Not insurmountable but the shoulder can take a lot of time and effort to recover. Anyway, she referred me to their strength and conditioning coach, and I spent the next 9 months or so doing 30-40 mins a day targetted exercise, including using the gym three times a week. He 'signedme off' in August, and now I go to the gym twice a week and exercise at home once or twice.
Sorry this is long and rambling! Anyway, I initially had huge relief but set myself back by doing too much too soon (basically decorating!). Was back to sleepless nights but I perservered because of having had that initial success.
It's come and gone since then but I'm loads stronger and for the first time ever have muscle definition on my shoulders and arms (am 53). I also started reading about the work of Dr John Sarno, whose theories about mind/body syndrome I've been looking into, and that's helped me move on a lot as well. It's sometimes seen as woo but if you do a search on here you'll find a lot of people recommending it - that's how I re-discovered it, having first come across it years ago.
Anyway, for me it's been exercise all the way. I can even swim without pain now, which I thought I'd never do again. And I started the c25k the orher work but stupidly pulled a muscle, so feel very positive about the future.

thanks for the responses, I'll have a look at trying these out.

My GP suggested I could go and live somewhere warm as a way to deal with the pain during our cold, wet winter. Unfortunately she wouldn't give me an NHS prescription though...

I have just started visiting an oesteopath. The first visit was last week and I cannot believe the difference already. I have also bought a heated electric shoulder blanket fromAmazon. Currently half price. It is fabulous.

Last week the oesteopath just applied pressure to various parts of my neck and shoulder. The next week involves some massage and he will give me some exercises to do at home.

This is the first time I have been free from pain for ages.

This is it

Sosidges thanks for that recommentation - I think that'll be on my Christmas list.

Oh too long to wait for Christmas, I have mine on now, it really makes a difference. I have rubbed in Deep Heat, so am stinking the sitting room out.

Plus I have seen them in my,local chemist for twice themprice