Could anyone give me some advice please?

[paddleboard]

I’m at a loss as to what to do about my poor mum.

She developed excruciating shoulder pain 10 days ago, we ended up seeing OOHs GP as she could hardly move her head. We were told she has tendonitis in her shoulder and given tramadol.
Saw another GP few days later as pain continued with no effect from tramadol.
GP says carry on with tramadol and wait for your physio appt (coming up this week)

She is in tears with the pain and the only way she gets a tiny bit of relief is from laying on the affected side. She can barely even sit up without crying in pain.

Is tendonitis this painful? Something just doesn’t seem right
Surely there must be something that can be done to relieve the pain in the meantime

Just looking for any wise words or advice from someone who may know more than me about tendonitis.....

I've had tendonitis/frozen shoulder for years now though it is finally heaps better. It was never that painful - annoying and hard to shower and get dressed but you could forget about it some of the time. A neck spasm can be very painful (I have had that and also back spasms) both of which make any movement agony. That's the only thing I can think of would be so painful ... apart from dislocation which I am guessing is but that would have been spotted .. that's all I've got sorry

Pay to see an osteopath ASAP. It is standard for a GP today “tendonitis” and send away with painkillers because they have 4 minutes for you. NHS physio May help but they are overstretched, time poor and rarely hands on. Osteopaths are experts and deal with these things every day and are hands on. In many cases they can X-ray, use ultrasound therapy, steroid injections, massage, manipulations etc.

I'd see a chiropractor immediately

You may as well suggest she sees a homeopath @thickwoollytights

I had excruciating shoulder pain which the chiropractor clicked back into alignment and the pain eased quite quickly - brilliant and such a relief

I've seen an osteopath who was also brilliant. - that was for neck pain, though, not shoulder pain but I'm sure she could have eased the shoulder pain had I seen her then

My homeopath has been a godsend over the years but not normally for muscular skeletal issues

Happy to Help

I had calcific tendonitis a few years ago and the pain is excruciating. I can't take tramadol, so ended up on various strong painkillers. Eventually I spent 8 hours in A&E trying to get the pain under control.
It was one of the most painful thing I have ever had.
I was eventually diagnosed with calcifc tendonitis and required surgery. Not had a problem since.

If your mum has the same, physio won't help. Has she had an x ray on her shoulder to see if she has similar? I hope she gets some relief soon. I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

Thanks everyone, really helpful
I will contact a local osteopath or chiropractor today. She hasn’t had an XRay, nobody has suggested that

I agree with pp that GP's are just dismissive. I would take her back and insist that no one should be in this amount of pain.

Push for x ray and steroid injection on NHS. Because realistically it's highly likely this condition will get worse? So needs to be on her NHS notes. And needs monitoring.

Alongside getting her seen privately aswell, if she gets quicker results?

An ice pack as a short term measure can really help. Those blue ones stay frozen for hours. Wrap it in a towel and get her to lie on it.

I am on holiday atm but made a really good icepack for a fellow guest by freezing a full hot water bottle. ( toothache)

GPs have definitely been dismissive - I’m not even sure she has tendonitis, she finds the only position mildly comfortable is laying on the affected shoulder which doesn’t seem right

I have managed to get an osteopath appt at 4.30, thanks to those who suggested it. And we are waiting to hear back from GP about another appt to discuss pain relief as they have none left!

Also thank you for suggestion of ice packs, she has found heat more effective so far