Can bursitis in the shoulder really last this long?

[Clueless2000]

I’m usually a very active, pretty fit person. Recently painted a ceiling and had a sore shoulder the next day. Let it rest a couple of days before resuming my usual weight training - which was clearly a bad idea. Very sore the next day - just the weight of having my arm hanging relaxed by my side was v sore.

Rested for a week and the pain was much better, v minimal but still some tightness. Saw a physio who diagnosed bursitis of the shoulder - told me to use ice and ibuprofen and that it should go away fairly soon.

I’ve still got the tightness. The pain is really not bothering me - about a 2/10 - but it feels like one wrong move and it might flare again.

Can bursitis really last this long?

Some days it’s tighter/pulls more than others but mostly I notice it sometimes when doing up my bra strap, using my hand to wash my opposite under arm or holding my hand up to my opposite eye to apply makeup. I just really don’t want some kind of long term shoulder issue!!

Watching with interest. Exact same reason as you but mine affected my elbow. It's been about 5 weeks now and pain is still there when I move arm a certain way or try to lift anything. I hope you return to full wellness very soon. I haven't seen anyone about it yet as thought it would be better by now.

I've had hip bursitis for months. Pretty common for it to last for ages. Beware though, it can only be properly diagnosed with an MRI and is a bit of a go-to diagnosis for pain. It's often misdiagnosed so might be worth getting a second opinion.

A cortisone shot is magic for bursitis

@garlictwist could I ask what can it be misdiagnosed as. I have had a similar pain for months now my dr refuses to do a mri

I've had shoulder pain for years; it started after a tennis match, and was thought to be a rotator cuff tear. GP kept sending me to physios, who have diagnosed various issues, but the pain never really went away completely.

I finally went to see a consultant last week who has diagnosed arthritis (and I have a couple of cysts in the shoulder joint). I was shocked, thinking (before I went) that it was going to be a case of cortisone injections or something, but I'm having arthroscopic surgery in 3 weeks time, which he hopes will alleviate the pain, and put off the shoulder rebuild I may need in 5-7 years time.....😳. I've only just turned 50 and have no other joint issues, so it was a bit of a shock....!

@Panicmode1 Do ALL your physio.
I have put off surgery and practice a lot of self management as recovery from surgery can be hard and not always successful. Two friends have had it and advised me not too, they have both said it was better before. Good luck!

I have had it in both shoulders. First one got better fairly quickly after guided steroid injection, second was in lock down and got better on its own. Body Pump and old age triggered mine. I get the odd twinge, but there’s one exercise I do very light weights with now. Mine were very very painful though, so hopefully yours is mild and will get better on its own if you don’t irritate it.

I have had several cases of bursitis (I have RA) and they can last a long time. As PP said, they can only really be diagnosed by ultrasound so I would get it checked out. There are many conditions that can cause symptoms like this in your shoulder so, contrary to some advice, I wouldn’t be doing any physio until it has been diagnosed by US. You can also ask for steroid injection at the same time if warranted.

I've done SO much physio over the years, had acupuncture, etc and this is my final roll of the dice. He's confident it will be transformative so I'm putting my faith in his experience and expertise!

(My brother, who is a surgeon himself, had a similar procedure 4 yrs ago and is supportive...so am 🙏 that the pain will go/reduce - it is affecting my day to day life significantly at the moment).

Thanks all.
What else could it be then? It definitely came on after doing the painting (and then aggravating it by lifting weights a couple of days later). And it’s much better than it was - just niggling. I just really don’t want to make it worse and cause myself one of those problems that keeps coming and going.

Those of you who’ve had it/have it - did something in particular set yours off?

@Clueless2000 I have no idea what set mine off. It is so weird. All day today the pain was on my bicep then tonight I have a pinching sensation at the back of my arm

Bump

I had it in my elbow last year and ended up on antibiotics, as it gave me a fever and I felt ill. The redness took months to die down unfortunately.