Bursitis/shoulder impingement. End of tether. Help.

[Pilcrow]

Feeling very, very down about months of pain which started with twinges and has progressed to more or less constant torment. Can't raise my arm beyond shoulder-level or get it to the back (I could still do up my bra a few weeks ago).

I had an ultrasound which revealed no tears, at least, and lovely doc thought it was bursitis and consequent impingement. But it's been going on for so long and getting no better. Sleeping is a nightmare and I'm starting to feel it'll never, ever go away. It's my dominant arm, too.

@CoteDAzur , are you around, by any chance? I know you're very clued-up on all this..... Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

I had a similar problem started before Christmas last year. After x rays etc the GP prescribed muscle relaxants , painkillers and a course of physiotherapy. The NHS physiotherapy was awful. I waited one month for an assessment and was then told I had to wait another month for treatment. I was in agony.
A friend recommended an osteopath who was wonderful and saw me straight away. She manipulated my arm and almost straight away I got some relief.
It took about three months to get better and I still get twinges in my arm but I am pain free and can move my arm freely.

I had bursitis in my left shoulder. I had a steroid injection followed by physio and am now pain free.

I had impingement and the only thing that worked was surgery. Even then the recovery took well over a year.

I have an impingement in my left shoulder (suspect the right one too, but that's more recent). It was awful at night, just couldn't get comfortable and was waking numerous times. I ended up on a fairly low dose of Tramadol (50mg once or twice daily) and it really helped, although I'm now stuck on the Tramadol for the foreseeable future. I don't really see that as a problem, the relief from pain is worth it. I was offered a steroid injection and/or surgery, but circumstances don't really allow me to schedule either at the moment (am never sure when I'm going to be in my country of residence).

Thanks all. I was hoping to avoid surgery, hopeful . I've had problems in both shoulders for a few years and had a steroid injection in the other one, which gradually resolved it, but that was nothing like as bad as this one. I just feel half-distracted by the pain all the time and as though it's totally taken over my life.

I'm seeing a highly-recommended osteopath (private) this week. GP hasn't shown much interest beyond referring me for a scan. But I've discovered that the waiting time for the steroid injection is currently about 7 weeks. I feel I just can't cope any longer although obviously I have to.

Just checking in with sympathy Pilcrow I have bursitis/frozen shoulder and possible muscle tear. Been this way since May and now have op scheduled for September. Miserable isn't it? I can't imagine the pleasure of smooth, easy movement, a proper night's sleep or being able to concentrate on a task. Going for a meds review tomorrow, hoping to add something like amytriptiline (sp?) for nighttime help.

I'm so sorry, both of mine went about five years ago (left first, then about 18mos later the right) and it was excruciating. It can be very slow to heal. You have all my sympathy.

I tried all sorts of painkillers but the only thing that really helped was heat. I used to take a heated gel pad to bed with me and reheat if it woke me in the night.

After the pain eased (which took probably close to a year) I was given some very gentle stretching exercises which helped me get my range of movement back to normal.

Out of curiosity, are you on any other meds?

woolly horrible for you . See, mine's been niggling since April but here I am just having had a scan. Injection will be possibly another 2 months down the line. Don't know if GP will even refer me to see a consultant for any further investigation but if she does that could take months and months. I just can't imagine anything as speedy as May to Sept for an op!

I suppose I'm not persistent enough. Admit I'm guilty of thinking it might just go away...I feel as though my whole body's giving up and now everything aches

arousing my other shoulder is starting to twinge as well

I can't take NSAIDs or codeine so I'm only on paracetamol for pain relief, with ice packs, which do seem to help. There seems to be conflicting advice about whether to use the shoulder or not, but resting makes it feel better.

Almost the worst thing is the pain in my arm and wrist. A sort of deep, burning ache.

You have my sympathies, I have a problem with my shoulder at the moment (I can't undo my bra either!), limited range of moment and the pain that you describe - I take Naproxen all day, every day to get through.

Mine is following a car accident and I'm still waiting to find out what it is, my physio said it was supraspinatus impingement but physio made it worse. My GP thinks it may be a torn rotator cuff and has referred me for a scan but I'm also waiting on the insurers to see if I can be seen privately.

Sleeping is a nightmare and as it's my left shoulder, even changing gears whilst driving painful.

If resting/ice make it feel better then that's what you should do. I bought an otc sling which helped when I was driving (which used to make it ache until it brought me to tears). Probably best not to exercise it while it's painful, I'm told it can exacerbate any existing injury.

At the risk of being that person who asks everyone about their thyroid (who am I kidding, I already am that person) if anecdotes are to be believed there is some connection between shoulder problems and thyroid problems. So if this is relevant to you, ensure you're on the correct dose of hormone. www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/expert-answers/hypothyroidism/faq-20057789

And this may make me sound like a weirdo as well but if you feel like crying, please do. That left shoulder made me cry in the night, behind the wheel, sitting on the sofa etc and while it does nothing especially useful it was good to just let it go. I always felt more philosophical about it all once I'd had a cry (which was helpful in its own way because it seemed there was nothing else I could actually do). Before the shoulder I think the last time I wept in pain was during a migraine, and my pain threshold is ok, but these things are really bloody painful.

Surgery was the last resort as it was impacting on my job and I wasn't sleeping. I was really worried that I couldn't function without pain killers - the stronger the better and that's worrying in itself!

The surgery and wound recovery was quick - I just tried to come off the pain relief too quickly and was advised to give myself a bit of a break and go back on them for a while with the physio therapy and to get some sleep.

I had surgery, the agony leading up to it made the pain post surgery a doddle. I actually could not shake hands when I met the surgeon, all as you describe. Best decision ever to have the op. My head was too heavy for my shoulders in bed if that makes sense. If you are in London area and / or have insurance I thoroughly recommend my surgeon Mr Corbett (think Ronnie) who ONLY does shoulders so he really is an expert. Have never regretted doing the surgery for a single second.

All so helpful, thanks to everyone. I feel like a total baby and it's funny you should say it, arousing, because I'm constantly on the verge of tears. Just want to sit and sob tbh. Stupid, isn't it? But it's so bloody relentless.

No thyroid problems at all, though. I don't take any other medication.

Reassuring messages and some good advice here. Thank you all. Pilcrow - mine is due to a road accident, trauma, so I guess that's the reason things seem to be going more quickly for me. I think it's usually easier to get into the system when there's an obvious cause, it must be so frustrating for you. Even with that though I have very much had to project manage the process, lots of badgering. If you can gather your knickers and fetch up your head teacher voice you must.

Arousing - were you asking me or Pilcrow about other meds? If it was me, I am on codeine, paracetamol and naproxen (plus something to stop the naproxen melting my gut and a foul sachet thing to drink to stop the codeine bunging my gut up). I also had a steroid injection 3 weeks ago. Still hurts all the time though. I have been using a TENS unit for the referred pain (muscle spasms around shoulder blades and neck).

There has been miserable snotty crying, oh yes. And I think now a lethargic depression. All to be expected I suppose.

Pilcrow I remember it so well, just the incessant throbbing and just having an ugly cry in the driver's seat while on the road. It felt like a muscle cramp that went from bad to worse and back to bad but never got better. And after many months of unrelieved discomfort alternating with throbbing pain, you really have to let it out.

I will never forget unthinkingly closing the door behind me with my hand on the door knob and getting to that point beyond which any backward movement was just instantly excruciating. I eventually learned to turn around and close the door while facing it, but old habits die hard.

woollyminded I was asking OP but glad to hear you're letting it all out too. It's my way of trying to stop myself from asking every person who crosses my path if there is anything wrong with their thyroid (but I end up asking anyway obvs).

Steroid injection and massage. Will be painful but worth it.

yes, depression. It's like a blanket over everything, isn't it? I sort of can't remember what it feels like to be cheerful and carefree. Sympathies to everyone with this constant, grinding pain.

And woolly, I do like the idea of gathering my knickers

Oh Pilcrow, I feel your pain (literally!) This has been going on since the end of last year for me,impingement diagnosed by GP (wrongly) and steroid injection failed to help.Now been told it's most likely frozen shoulder or bursitis and I have an ultrasound to determine on 4th Sept followed by appointment with surgeon to discuss treatment or options (if there are any) Just wanted to day I understand completely how it feels, the shooting pain is horrendous especially at night. A kind person on here suggested a V shaped pillow when I posted about impingement and I'm so thankful to them as it really does help at night-worth a try. Hope things improve for you

@bluesheep the end of last year?! How did they decide it wasn't impingement? Because you didn't get relief from the injection? Surely you should have had a scan at the start? for you. I hope you start getting better answers fast.

I bought a maternity pillow (haha) to use at night - it's long and like a bolster really. When I lie on my 'good' side I hug the pillow with the bad arm and that seems to help a bit. I can sleep on my back but not all the time.

Hi, yes symptoms started at the end of last year! hairdresser was holding my coat out politely and I struggled to get my left arm out behind me, iyswim. I thought it may just be a pulled muscle (Walking with heavy shopping etc) Things gradually got worse over the next few weeks until I couldn't reach round to fasten bra, matters compounded by the fact that it takes weeks for a GP appointment so when I eventually got one, GP diagnosed impingement and advised ibuprofen gel, giving this a few weeks to 'work's. It didn't so I went back to say so and appointment made for steroid injection (after another wait) then told to give that a few weeks to see if any improvement (there wasn't) eventually referred to MSK who said it wasn't impingement and that actually my shoulder has instead either gone through some of the stages of freezing/frozen during all this time or it's bursitis. Believe me, all the to-ing and fro-ing and wasted time is ALMOST as frustrating as the pain! Ultra sound is on 4th Sept so maybe I'll finally get some answers.Glad you're finding the pillow help too

Bluesheep - yep, the constant to-ing and fro-ing seems across the board with shoulder problems. It feels like they are putting up obstacles all the time. I started to wonder if there wasn't really much wrong with me and that maybe I'm just a giant woose. After all, what have you got to compare it too, how can I know objectively how to measure pain? I started to doubt myself and got a bit miserable until my friends started kicking me up the arse.

I laid it on thick, suddenly the 'first available urgent appointment' (that's what the consultant put in capital letters on the top of my firm) changed from 4 weeks to 2 days. These appear to have been the trigger phrases to get medics to pay attention:

Shooting and stabbing pain*
Consistently waking me up at night
Unable to get to work
Unable to work effectively, risk to self and colleagues
Unable to do ordinary tasks, particularly cooking a meal and washing self
Disordered thinking due to chronic poor sleep and pain
Poor appetite

*they're not very interested in aches

As for receptionists, booking secretaries and so on, I have been very careful not to be rude or hysterical but I have been very firm when appointments have been unacceptably distant. Said 'no, it needs to be sooner' and stayed at desk/on phone until resolved. Don't be put through/sent to find someone else - there either won't be anyone there or they will send you back to start again! Also take someone with you to speak up if you are flagging.

Hi Woolly, yes delays seem to be a common experience unfortunately-the stupid thing is, the MSK specialist said that the steroid injection in the position it was put in was NEVER going to work so yet more wasted time and I was already complaining about shooting pains at the time. Funnily enough, the GP never actually examined me when the impingement 'diagnosis' was made (?!) And on examining me, MSK said that diagnosis was wrong...the whole thing makes me very angry as the symptoms have worsened considerably and movement has become increasingly more limited whilst all these delays have gone on. I can't help wondering if this pain would actually have been avoided if it'd been dealt with properly in the first place!

That's awful for you, bluesheep. I'd be so upset if I'd been passed from pillar to post like that. Mind you, with my other shoulder I went to the GP and he got me to touch my toes then announced that 'we all have aches and pains' and there couldn't be much wrong with me! So I do get that there can be a monumental lack of understanding.

I've got to the stage where I actually feel mounting panic because I can barely carry anything. I'm worrying about normal things like how to manage a bag with essential things like my purse, keys, work stuff. And work is getting to be a nightmare anyway because I feel so spaced out and weepy. Excellent advice from woolly, thank you.