Shoulder impingement.

[ArseInTheCoOpWindow]

So l was chopping some overhead branches in October and it started then.

It’s agony. I can’t move my arm backwards or sideways at all. It spasms and loses strength. The pain is excutiating. I’ve had physio which has made no difference.

6 months dealing with this is a long time. I’m on Amitryptiline for pain for other things, but this is awful.

What do l do?

Have you tried letting it rest for 2-3 weeks? No exercises or moving it into the uncomfortable positions, just ice and rest?

And anti-inflammatories if you can take them

I’ve had it for 6 months! And l can’t take anti inflammatories unfortunately😕

Have you got a shoulder support strap, this was a godsend when I had rotator cuff injury, especially at night, felt like it kept my shoulders aligned.

No, what are they? Do they have them on Amazon?

I had this bilaterally a few years ago + a rotator cuff tear on one side . It was very debilitating , I was taking at least 2.4g of ibuprofen a day in the end . I had one open repair and then 16 weeks later had the other done by keyhole surgery with quite a lot of bone removed as well as all the crud being cleaned out . No problems since but I’m not sure you can still get the surgery on the NHS as it may be one of the things that’s been culled sadly .

You need physio - I have something similar and it's helping.

Sounds like when I had frozen shoulder. Has physio investigated that at all?

Shoulder impingements are hell. A tens machine may help, volterol gel (know it’s an anti inflammatory but topical) or bio freeze? You’re not meant to use the tens on a joint but your muscles will tense up and make the pain worse. It might be worth a try.

I’ve seen a physio, but she didn’t seem to grasp the horrible pain of it. She gave me some exercises pulling my shoulder blades together. It doesn’t seem to have done much.

Exercises never worked for me , mine got progressively worse over about a 14 month period prior to the surgery .

I had this recently and having laser treatment from a physio really helped. Exercises alone didn't seem to be helping enough. Hope you get better soon.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

No, what are they? Do they have them on Amazon?

Yes Amazon, I can’t link, Search for ‘Shoulder/ rotator cuff support’ , really helped me.

I would try to get a referral from your gp to get it looked at by a specialist.

Physios can be great but they have their limits in terms of knowledge and treatment.
Have you had it xrayed or had an MRI?

I second the frozen shoulder diagnosis. It sounds like the classic symptoms. It will get better eventually.