Severe shoulder pain- help 😔

[Ansumpasty]

Hello. I’m looking for any reassurance as I’m worried sick.

I woke up 3 nights ago with pain in my left shoulder (top of arm, rather than near neck or back), as if I’d been sleeping in a bad position. It was mild irritation all day but I was able to carry on. It’s not heart and chest related and is definitely coming from the joint or things that attach to the bottom of the joint.
That evening, it started to feel a little worse. I tried lifting my arm and stretching from the door frame, which was a bad idea. Fell asleep on the sofa and woke in agony. It’s been agony since- the type of pain that knocks you sick and I’ve been in tears. The last 2 nights I’ve barely slept. Managed a few hours last night by sitting up in bed with my arm propped up to my side.
I can’t move my arm out the side more than about 6 inches without bad pain. It feels like a constant toothache at the top of my arm, even when still.

I went to the GP yesterday who checked me for things like ectopic pregnancy, referred me for an x ray and gave me naproxen. The x ray can take a while to come through.

The only thing I can think of is that 2 days before it came on, I tried to lift 2 giant pumpkins in a bin bag and swing them into one of the giant tip bins. It didn’t hurt afterwards, though? Can pain come on 2 1/2 days later?

I’m prone to health anxiety and I’m getting myself in a massive state of worry. I start a new job in 3 weeks and I’m terrified that this will still be here and jeopardise it for me 😞 I can’t even get myself dressed.

I have another doctor calling me this afternoon and I’ve booked an acupuncture session. The naproxen is not good for my stomach, so I’m taking co codamol and ibuprofen, but it only just takes the edge off.

I’m finding this extra hard as I have a phobia of medical tests and my anxiety tends to jump to worst case scenario.

I can’t do any of the exercises I’ve found on YouTube as it hurts way too much to lift my arm. Currently alternating ice and heat.

Kids off school for half term and I’m feeling so guilty that I’m ruining it for everyone by being in so much pain 😔

Anyone had anything similar or can offer me any reassurance? I’m so worried.

Sounds like frozen shoulder. I've had this with both shoulders (at separate times). Came on over a few days and was particularly painful if I tried to move my arm out to the side away from my body. The muscle at top of my arm was really tender. and woke me up if I turned onto it at night.
Very common condition, physio told me more common in women.

I had anti-inflammatories when it was at very acute stage then gentle physio exercises to keep it moving. It improved over a few weeks so wasn't as painful. It does eventually go away itself but takes months!

Thanks! So after a few weeks, you weren’t in agony anymore @StrataZon? I’m 36, if that makes any difference!

Bend your left arm from the elbow straight across your waist area.
With you right hand take your left wrist and gently lift your left arm up.
It will hurt a little but you need to gently start raising your arm to get your muscle working again.
Do this a few times a day.
If you are able take strong antiinflammatories.

Definitely wasn't in agony after the 1st few weeks @Ansumpasty Got to the stage I'd forget I had it and then a certain movement wouldn't be really painful. Worst for me was I'd get in car and reach out sideways to put my handbag on the passenger seat. Ouch!!
Anti-inflammatories and gentle mobilisation exercises are what you need and it will eventually settle

I'd go and see a physio, they'll be able to advise properly and give you correct excercises.

Go to a physio, my OH did. It was a torn rotor cuff. Physio sent him back to GP with a firm letter saying this is urgent please refer now

Agree with this. Look for a private physio or osteopath. They can speak to or write to your GP.
I had a bad injury some years ago and it was the osteopath that diagnosed it correctly.

Thanks, everyone.

@justasking111 would that need surgery or just different treatment?

@endofthelinefinally I’ve tried to get in with the osteopath but fully booked. I will keep at it- thanks!

I had exactly the same end of May. Couldn't get a referral from GP, just had a steroid injection which didn't do anything. I went to a private physio which was the only thing that helped the pain - painkillers weren't touching it.
I can finally fully mobilise my arm again without pain so it's taken months but the extreme pain of the first week was only helped by the physio

Also, still on the waiting list for an NHS physio despite an urgent referral. They wouldn't send me for any scans etc so getting an X-ray is better than I managed!
Still don't know what it was... I'm the same age as you too

That’s really reassuring that it’s better, thanks! I will have a look for a private physio. Would osteopath be similar? I’ve never had anything like this!

Surgery and it's time sensitive

Oh dear. I’ve seen 2 doctors and a nurse, so I’m hoping one of them would have spotted that. I hope!!!

I had some shoulder pain a couple of weeks ago, lasted a few days. Couldn’t think of any reason for it, initially thought I’d slept on it funny. It was unbearably painful to breathe deeply or yawn as it would pull the joint. I couldn’t lay back or turn over in bed without being in absolute agony. DH had a good feel and we established it was in the shoulder joint itself that was most tender. I booked a GP appointment but by the time it came around it had mostly eased, she just gave it a good feel and said if it starts up again to come back.
same as you, the strongest over the counter painkillers barely took the edge off.

It would be a physio.

Something I only learned recently, osteopaths have no medical training.

My frozen shoulder was acutely painful for months and months, true frozen shoulder doesn't just wear off after a week, or a month with just a couple of co-codamol.

If it's still bad in a week ask for a referral to the MSK team.

If mine ever comes back I'm going straight for hydrodistension privately. It's the only thing that made it bearable after 6 months and 5 of those off work with ALL THE DRUGS.

Sounds like frozen shoulder, pain is unbearable. It is one of those things that can just take time. There are specific phases that you go through and gentle exercises to get the mobility back.

Thanks good to know! How did you ease the pain? Mine is definitely the shoulder joint at the top of the arm- it’s so tender to touch. It’s been 3 days now and no sign of it easing yet

I've had this a few times in the past. I find standing up, bending forward and letting my arm dangle so it feels like it's releasing in your shoulder socket seems to help.
I did that a few times a day and within a week it eased. I think mine comes on from sleeping funny.

I saw another doctor this afternoon who made me do different movements and she said it doesn’t quite fit with frozen shoulder. It sounds awful and I couldn’t bare this going in months and months. I can’t even dress myself 😰 I’m glad you found something that worked!

Not sure if it's the same thing, but I couldn't raise my arm above waist height as it was so sore.

The doctor actually showed me that position today and told me to do it every couple of hours. Thank you :)

It sounds like a rotator cuff injury. I had the same a few months ago from picking up a heavy medicine ball in the gym. The pain was excruciating and I couldn't lift my arm up or out to the side. I survived on a diet of naproxen and cocodamol and it went off after a few days. I think it's quite a common injury from speaking to friends and there are some exercises you can do to strengthen your rotator cuff.

It gradually sorted itself out. I found sitting forwards helped, perhaps it took pressure off the joint? I also had a microwave wheat bag strapped to it permanently!

Ive had frozen shoulder for about 18 months...first 6-9 months were the worst. I has steroid injections which helped a bit and then I did some exercises when I could and it has slowly subsided. At its worst it was very limiting for months and hair washing was a nightmare.