Shoulder impingement - pain!!

[Toffeewhirl]

Has anyone had this? I pulled something in my shoulder when I stretched one day. Was painful and couldn't raise my hand behind my back.

Saw physio who helped a bit and gave me exercises. Then went on a weekend break to Lisbon, slipped on the cobbles and landed on that arm.

Now the pain is worse than ever. I can barely do the physio exercises and keep my arm pinned to my side to protect it. If I move it wrong or bang it, it's so painful I feel sick.

I can't sleep properly at night because of it, so that's making me grumpy too.

I'm usually fairly stoic if I'm ill, but I'm not being stoic at all this time. I'm thoroughly fed up. Especially because the physio said if it's developing into frozen shoulder, it will take months to heal.

Has anyone had anything like this? If so, what helped?

I fell on my shoulder a couple of years ago- tore a ligament and was the most painful thing ever. Turned into frozen shoulder which was agonising. Pain was worse at night (this is v common apparently). Gad to get prescription pain meds to knock me out at night. Had cortisone shot in shoulder and physio 3 times a week for months. Eventually it got better but took around 6 months. You have my deepest sympathy- it's a horrible injury and the pain was off the scale (worse than childbirth !)

Yep. I have 6 monthly steroid injections which are amazing. After the first one I thought I was cured, but it came back, though tbh not as bad as the first pain.
Ask physio if they do them?

I learnt that frozen shoulder is really common in middle aged women (not sure how old you are OP ... but I am 51 so perfectly in that range!)

My GP said high dose of ibuprofen for at least 2 weeks, plus paracetamol to help sleep.

It seems to reduce the length of time an 'attack' lasts.

But I have to be more careful not to do too much with that arm to trigger swelling as now I'm prone to impingement and any swelling through over use brings it on

The X-ray shows some arthritis in the shoulder that's reducing the gap that the tendon goes through so less tolerance to swelling

@Tiggy321 - yes, I'm certainly middle aged (57). The physio said it's more common in middle-aged women. Not sure why.

Sorry to hear you had this too and that it was so painful. Makes me feel better knowing that it's not just me being feeble. The pain if I move it wrong or knock it is off the scale.

@Tiggy321 - I like the sound of those prescription meds that knocked you out at night. I have an appointment booked with the GP, but not till 15th. Not sure if I can wait that long.

You need to get back to the physio.

I hurt my shoulder about 6 months ago, badly tore all my AC joint ligaments. I'm determined to try my best to avoid surgery, so I've been at the physio twice a week for the last 6 months.

First 2 months was active treatment - mobilisation, movement, laser, taping. Since then we've moved into the gym for weights etc. And a daily at home program.

It's been a huge cost (time and money) but it's looking promising that I'll be able to avoid surgery.

I know how painful and disruptive shoulder pain is - if you can get back to the physio they can also help give you alternative movement ideas to get around while you're in the acute phase.

@lovelilies - oooh, if physio does the injections that would be amazing. I'm seeing her on Tuesday. Glad to hear they helped you so much.

@HesDeadBenYouCanStopNow - I can't take ibuprofen at the moment, but I'm taking paracetamol regularly. I started out thinking I'd just put up with the pain, but that didn't last long .

Sorry to hear yours is linked to arthritis and recurs.

Are you able to use volterol cream? It works really well.

Also a tens machine helps during the day

@YellowMonday - to be honest, today I was dreaming that surgery might be the answer. Like a magic cure. Can physio really sort out a torn ligament?

Mind you, I don't know if anything's torn. I'm just assuming because it hurts so much. I suppose I'd need an mri to check.

I hurt my shoulder two years ago this week and and it's about 90% better now. I had an awful lot of very expensive physio and two rounds of steroid injections. Do your exercises religiously and check your posture regularly, especially if you're a desk jockey (a large part of the reason my shoulder got injured in the first place was down to a small postural problem). I hope yours heals quickly and well, it's a horrible injury to manage.

Just make the doctor give you something stronger for the pain! I nearly cried at the surgery and said I just can't NOT sleep every night due to work etc... I saw a consultant to see whether I needed surgery and he said to me- it's the most painful thing ever, isn't it? Made me feel better that I wasn't making a fuss about nothing ! Like you I normally just get on with stuff but this injury really took it out of me. I am not in UK so not sure how much physio you can get on NHS (any?!) but do as much as you can. In the early days, that brought tears to my eyes as so painful but it definitely worked! Goodluck!

@Gubu - two years! I'm glad you're better, but God, I hope it doesn't take that long.

And yes, @Gubu, I wfh, sitting at a desk. I don't even have a proper office chair. This whole thing started because I'd been crouched over my desk, typing, for hours, then stretched.

I've just started pilates again and I'm going to invest in a new chair.

The NHS is in such a state that I've just gone straight to a private physio. Couldn't face the waiting list.

It's useful to know that the physio hurt, but still worked. I ached for a day after one physio session and was worried she'd done more harm than good.

What a lovely, sympathetic consultant. It helps to know that this is regarded as a painful injury. So I'm allowed to feel a bit sorry for myself.

Shoulders are such divas - you inflame one part and the whole thing goes into a spasm of agony for ages. My rotator cuff injury was more painful than when I broke my knee. Ibuprofen and (private) physio healed it, but it wasn’t quick. Try to avoid surgery, it can have poor results compare to physio and time.

Yes! Thank you for that suggestion. And, actually, I think we may have something like that in our medicine cupboard. I'll have a rummage. I thought it wouldn't touch the pain, but will give it a go. That plus paracetamol might be a good combination tonight.

My GP gave me cocodamol to get me through the worst nights, but just short term.

@HesDeadBenYouCanStopNow - sorry, I was referring to the Volterol.

It used to be possible to hire a TENS machine from Boots. I'll look into it.

@Toffeewhirl tens machines are really cheap now, take a look on Amazon, cheaper than renting. Plus you can get pocket size ones that last ages (mine lasts more than 5 hrs). I've found the max I've ever needed to use it is an hour. Great for all back related pain (plus period pains for those it applies to)

I see what you mean! Looks like a good investment.

I could buy some tomorrow...

Diva is right!

That's shocking that your shoulder injury was more painful than breaking your knee. I'll point that out to DH if he wearies of my moaning.

I didn't want surgery at first, but am so fed up with the pain and inconvenience (how to wash, put bra on, etc - honestly, it would be easier to just keep the same clothes on for the next six months and forget about washing) that I saw it as an easier fix than endless physio.

But I guess there's no easy fix.

I had a rotator cuff injury, had the steroid injection as with physio alone I couldn't get it fully better. It's been like a miracle. The injection followed by daily physio for a month has been brilliant. Playing tennis in the morning for the first time in 2 years 😃