Shoulder impingement

[Bluesheep8]

Hi, just wondered if anyone's experienced this and had any advice? Pain/reduced range of movement gradually started in left shoulder and I began to notice it when fastening my bra at the back. Went to gp who asked me to demonstrate various movements, diagnosed shoulder improvement and told me to use ibuprofen gel for a few weeks and come back if no improvement (he said that if gel didn't work, step 2 was steroid injection, step 3 was referral to musculoskeletal specialist and step 4 possible surgery if all else failed) Getting a gp appointment usually involves at least a 3 week wait, hence weeks between gel not working and having steroid injection.I was told to give this a few weeks to work and go back if it didn't. No improvement following injection and I'm now awaiting the musculoskeletal appointment.This has now been going on since about Feb of this year and movement is becoming more and more painful/limited, I also get shooting nerve type pain at night. My concern is the length of time this has all taken and whether the specialist will say it's been left too long. I've expressed my concern to the gp who just prescribed painkillers but this is just treating the symptom not addressing the problem. Anyone had any experience of this condition please?

What painkillers are you on? Something like amitriptyline will help if you're getting nerve pain at night. (gabapentin also good but takes a while to work)

Have you had any physio at all?

I'd push for a referral to MSK or at least physio.

Hi, thank you for such a quick response...gp prescribed amitryptiline but I explained that I'm concerned about taking it (I have MS=nerve concerns) but have annual Neuro appointment tomorrow so will ask him. No physio mentioned at all, I was told that this would be suggested/arranged by MSK specialist...my concern is that it's been/being left for too long and from what I've read, ibuprofen gel was never really going to work....

Don't worry about specialist saying it is too long since it started. Shoulder impingement can take a long time to improve. I've had two episodes. Surgery sorted one shoulder, a few years ago and more recently steroid injections treated the other. Neither was a quick fix, but it will get better.

Also needed Codeine and Naproxen, rather than just ibuprofen gel.

I'd go and see an osteopath if I were you.

Hi OP. DH is a physio, I've just asked him and he said if you can describe where the impingement originates he can give some exercises till you get seen. Is it at the front of the shoulder/side/back/top etc? Feel free to inbox me if you'd prefer

Thank you for your helpful replies and for the reassurance that so much elapsed time won't affect things - you can probably sense my underlying frustration at the length of time it takes to get an appointment to "come back if x doesn't work and we'll try y". Hopefully the MSK specialists will be able to get me on the road to recovery,thanks again.

Had an impinged nerve at c7 last year. Bloody agony for 6 weeks. I was on gabapentin which works but knocks you out a bit. I got one physio session and I felt the nerve release and was able to start coming off mess. Get to physio now. I would definitely pay for a quick appointment if it happened again.

Hi MissBax, that's so kind of you..no one has actually told me where it is but it feels as though it's either at the top or the top back if that makes sense? Steroid injection was done into the back and the pain at night shoots down the centre of arm as low as the elbow.

Hi Rioja, thank you-am thinking I'll go down the private physio route based on that - thanks again

I've inboxed you OP

Hi, just seen it-thank you...apologies but I'm unsure how p.m works so replying on here.thanks again for kind advice

I've had both shoulders operated on as my impingement would never be fixed with physio. The surgeon did an ultra sound on each - bony spurs were causing the pain.

I couldn't lift either arm above my head at all.
I have private insurance so I asked my GP the refer me and had the op each time.

I was a day case both times and had between 4 and 6 physio sessions after each. Within three months I had full movement back. It is one of those ops that makes it much worse before it gets better. I had 2-3 weeks off work each time.

Thanks Bovril, I forgot to mention that I've had an x ray done (had to push for this) so not sure what'll show on there - results due at gp surgery on Mon and assuming (?!) gp will send to MSK for when I see them....BOTH shoulders for you? you poor thing-goodness knows one is bad enough!

I've had this in both shoulders and ended up with surgery on one side after lots of physio and a number of steroid injections. The physio does exercises did help, I was told I had some joint hypermobility which makes people more prone to shoulder impingement. I had 6 weeks off work following op but my job requires a lot of shoulder movement so many people go back sooner

I have this but not as badly as some of you I don't think. Osteopath didn't make much progress with it and he's normally fantastic but physio is making a big difference. I'm sure that's got to be worth a try before surgery.

Well... how is it? Thinking about you.

I had surgery on both my shoulders for this within 18 months a couple of years ago . On both occasion I had quite a large chunk of bone removed as well as all the crap being cleared out . What I would say is ensure that you see a shoulder specialist not a general ortho surgeon and also ensure that you have keyhole surgery . I had my first done by a general ortho , have a 3-4 " scar and recovery took much longer , the second with the shoulder specialist was an absolute breeze . I wouldn't bother with physio if surgery is an option , it would never have worked on mine they were too far gone . Pre op I was taking 800mg of ibuprofen 3 x a day and cocodamol 30/500mg 3/4 x a day - and had literally no movement in either shoulder.

Hi Rioja, thanks for asking...is pretty much the same-appointment with MSK on Thurs so fingers crossed

And thanks everyone for your experiences and advice

Well it's getting increasingly painful at night and affecting my sleep more now (I think I mentioned that I have MS and MS doesn't like tiredness!) Anyway, the x ray ordered by my gp has come back "satisfactory no further action"...Got my MSK appointment this afternoon so hopefully some progress will be made from there....

Ok had MSK appointment and he says it us categorically NOT impingement but is actually a frozen shoulder. Went on to say that treatment gp gave (ibuprofen gel and steroid injection into back of shoulder) were never going to remedy this.Also said movement is too limited for physio-having had my shoulder and arm examined properly I'm inclined to agree! So, now awaiting appointment for ultrasound and then with shoulder surgeon who will if possible try appropriate injections first or suggest surgery.As I said in s previous post, I am so frustrated by the amount of time that's been wasted and meanwhile pain increases as movement decreases....

My frozen shoulder got gradually worse for 6 months (April - September) and then gradually improved over about 10 months, and is now totally normal. I had to get adjustments made at work to my work station. I had o injections or operation and took paracetamol at night.

I had physio, but wish I had started going sooner, and did the exercises I was given.

Thanks for your heartening post, nothingtodo - the MSK Dr did mention the fact that it COULD just get better over a (long) period of time but they are going to do an ultrasound just go see if it can be helped.He explained the freezing and frozen stages and said I'm somewhere in the frozen stage so movement too limited for physio. As you say though, I'm thinking that whatever the outcome of the ultrasound, even if I have to just let time take it's course, I will want/need physio to try to get strength back as I haven't been able to raise my arm normally for months now

For a frozen shoulder you might find that acupuncture will help you.

I found sleeping difficult but a V shaped pillow helped me, as it prevents you rolling over and supports the shoulders.

Every sympathy to you.