What helps shoulder impingement?

[JustMyName]

I'm having a lot of shoulder pain and my doctor diagnosed an impingement. He told me to rest it for 6 weeks and if no better then I could see physio for an injection.

That was 3 weeks ago and it's getting worse. I have to drive sometimes to take my mum to the doctor's etc and it's very painful and I don't know what to do if it gets even worse. I'm taking paracetamol and using ibuprofen gel. I don't tolerate stronger painkillers.

Has anyone found anything that helps?

Does the injection help long term and is it very painful?

Anything else I can do.

I can't get comfy in bed, so don't sleep well.

Any suggestions welcome.

I feel totally frustrated now. I was only given one exercise to do by the gp. Private treatment is out of the question as I'm on benefits due to illness and struggling at the best of times. I'm in so much pain I can't envisage any form of exercises really, as I struggle to even wash or get dressed. I have to be able to drive to help my elderly and ill mum, but could cry with the pain just putting my indicator on. It seems I've no hope of recovery on the nhs.

Get yourself to an OSTEOPATH ASAP! ... You shouldn't be resting your shoulder 🙄 and certainly not delving straight into injections.
I work alongside an Osteopath

Thank you StarNightSky. I've found a local osteopath and booked an initial free assessment in 2 weeks. Now to start saving for further appointments ...

In the meantime can you recommend any safe gentle exercises instead of resting my shoulder? Thanks.

I was given physio for 6 months and then by chance had to change to a different one who explained I’d been given the wrong type of exercise for the past 6 months and started me on a new regime.

2 months later, no improvement so was told to go back to gp for a scan.

8 weeks later I had an mri which showed impingement. The specialist said it was too outgrown for physio to reduce it or make any changes and I would have to try injections first before surgery could be considered.

12 months later from my scan and I haven’t been given a date for the injection.

I called gp several times and on the last occasion they said as it’s been so long I’d have to start the process again and begin with physio

I gave up.

Jumpi that's awful!

I like Bob and Brad’s exercises. They are American physical therapists and very Bert and Ernie in their delivery.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=fpqMU88DfyE

It’s not about doing big movements. You can do tiny movements or just engage the muscles with no movement and a little resistance. It’s about Strengthening the rotator cuff muscles and having good posture. If you haven’t got a stretchy band you could tie something like a dressing gown cord to a door handle.

Thank you Stealth.

Stealth my Osteo picked up on my posture and recommended a posture corrector (job is desk based a lot) and it helped alot alongside the tennis ball

OP have a look and see if you have an osteopathy school local to you , it’s generally a lot cheaper to be seen by the students and they are supervised and do know what they are doing .

I have had this and the best treatment was ibuprofen and exercise. My GO have me a couple of very basic ones to do until I had physio. I then did my physio to the max so stopping when the pain kicked in rather than when it started to hurt. I didnt need the steroid injection as the shoulder release itself but I've had I for bursitis and I went from being hardly able to walk to dancing the night away in 3 days.

I just came on to second the the Bob and Brad videos recommended by Stealth . Look at the link she provided and do the exercise with the chair back - it had an instant effect for me, and I mean instant. Do it every now and then, it really does help.

I've had a full-blown frozen shoulder which was utter misery so I feel your pain, OP (literally). I've had a steroid injection with hydrodilation, which helped, but it still took a good two years to unfreeze, and I'm left with occasional pain and stiffness. I still see an osteopath privately from time to time and know there are things I simply can't do (eg dig my garden) or it will set off the pain again

Thanks, I've had a look and will be trying them all as soon as I can today.

The drawing shoulder blades back exercise feels good, but pushing down on counter top and walking backwards hurts a bit.

Don't push it, Just - take it very gently. Perhaps try the shoulder-blade exercise at first then progress to some others if it feels easier. I do hope some of the techniques help you.

Thank you. Last night it felt a bit easier, today it hurts a lot again, woke up in a lot of pain. It's going to take a long time isn't it?

Unfortunately it’s a bit of a slog - shoulders are complicated beasts

If you can get your hands on a TENS machine I’d agree with a pp that they can be a great relief.

Happy New Year, I hope you’re not feeling in too much pain now.

I went to an osteopath for mine. As well as the exercises he recommended an electric heated shoulder blanket. It really helps and I also massage my shoulder with Voltorol.

I did physio exercises for around three months. No improvement at all. Consultant said I wasn't doing enough - fortunately physio backed me up. Had one cortisone injection. Supposed to resolve the issue within maximum 2 weeks but for me it was 3 weeks when it finally eased up enough to be able to do the physio work needed.
So a combo of injection and exercises.

*physiotherapist backed me up

Thanks. I'm using ibuprofen gel every day on it and seeing an osteopath in two weeks. I'll see what he says. Happy New Year everyone!