Had enough! - shoulder injury

[Anon662120622]

So I injured my shoulder over two months ago now, it has been a really lengthy process with the doctors/hospital and specialist. I had an MRI and it showed "tendinopathy involving thinning of the supraspinatus and minor burstitis" and the shoulder is also visibily deformed. I start physio tomorrow, but have been trying to do the exercises on the NHS website and from videos on YouTube. I'm really doubting that physio will work as I'm not getting anywhere with the excersises I've tried. I can't lift my arm any further that 45° without being in absolute agony, and it physically won't go any further due to weakness. I'm worried the physio will try to force it, as the specialist did when I saw him.. he forced it to 90°, with me squealing and crying in pain and couldn't get it any further than that himself. The pain was UNBEARABLE for the next week or so because it was so brutal.

He did say that he would book me another appointment 6 weeks after the last one, and said they would consider either steroids or keyhole surgery. I'm terrified of trying the steroids as I went into psychosis after I had previously tried them (diagnosed with bipolar.)

I am absolutely miserable, I'm unable to work as its a very physically demanding job, I feel like an absolute burden and an utterly crap mum. My husband has to brush my hair and help me to get dressed, my children missed out so much in the summer holidays as I couldn't take them out anywhere (two toddlers, so don't feel comfortable taking them both out in a sling with only one free hand.) Now that they're back to school I'm unable to drive them to and from school so I have to rely on my in-laws.. Im 29 just see no light at the end of the tunnel, I can't carry on living like this!

Any positive story's or suggestions from others that have been in the same position would really be appreciated.

Any help please 🙏

Sympathies, I broke my shoulder earlier in the year (so different injury to yours) . It still is very painful when trying to raise it and also finding the prescribed exercises having limited effect. Have had a steroid, hydrodilatation and painkilling injection privately which made it less acutely painful, more mobile and arm felt lighter so could achieve more range with exercises and private physio where they manipulate it. However fear I am plateauing in progress again.

Sounds like a frozen shoulder. Big love to you if it is, they’re fucking horrific.

A couple of tips, take painkillers about an hour before physio, try some of the exercises under the shower as water will help relax it, use warm/cold packs (whichever you feel works better) to ease pain after exercising. I was also advised to do a variety of exercises together otherwise you are just warming up the muscles etc not actually exercising them - easier said than done though.

@LIZS Thank you, god.. yours sounds absolutely awful! 😮‍💨 Awful isn't it?!
Have they suggested surgery to you at all as it has gone on for so long?

I had frozen shoulder and horrifically it lasted over 3 years before I got full movement back. You have my sympathy. Swimming did help me though.

@ChocoChocoLatte thank you, It certainly wasn't frozen shoulder when they did the mri a few weeks back, but I know that does generally start if you stop moving your shoulder so it could be possible.. will ask the Physiotherapist tomorrow.

That sounds pretty similar to what I'm already doing, although that's before doing my excersises.. I'm taking naproxen and 60mg of codiene. I won't take the codiene unless hubs is around, or the kids aren't home because it makes me feel really drowsy.

It's funny you say about the shower as I've found myself getting more brave with my movements while in the bath.. sorry 🤣 sounds dodgy however I word it.

Are you able to drive now?

I’ve had a frozen shoulder, absolutely horrendous. No sooner had it eased up the other shoulder started with it, I had a steroid injection in it, speeded recovery up no end. At the time we had a horse so I was always busy. It took about two years before I could fasten my bra behind my back again, they’re bloody awful.

@Dartmoorcheffy 🫣 THREE YEARS?! oh my lord, I honestly don't know how you coped.. was you able to drive and do certain daily tasks or was you quite limited like me?

Have you tried an Osteopath or / and Accupuncture? I don't rate NHS Physios, but I had success with an Osteopath after a year of NHS Physio, where they thought printed exercise sheets were a pancea for everything! You've nothing to lose trying alternatives.

I started to drive after about three months but still struggle to fully reach top of steering wheel. At least it is my right which is affected so can still change gear and use the handbrake. Getting the door closed and seat belt on has got easier over time!

Main frustrations now are not reaching to do my hair or fasten bra(apparently behind the back is last movement to come back), limited ability to reach shelves and lift pans and kettle, not being able to sleep on that side, not doing exercise classes so have put on weight.

i had an mri to exclude impingement which would have needed surgery and may be offered another to assess progress.

Not the same thing as yours but I have a shoulder impingement, it’s known as swimmer’s shoulder. My suprasprinatus tendon is inflamed and gets caught on the bone when I move at a certain point in the arc of my arm. Some movements are fine but I can’t unhook my bra at all or pull a seatbelt on without being in pain. Putting a jacket on is unbearable.

I have no idea how the injury occurred I just woke up one morning and it was there. It’s been eight weeks and it’s only starting to improve. I’m having physio once a week and every other week a massage treatment on the shoulder area. Trying to avoid pain relief in case I cause more damage when I’m not feeling it iyswim.

One thing that alleviates it is going to the spa - sauna, hot tub etc. Like you, I can move better in water too.

It’s very frustrating. You have my sympathies OP

I’ve had physio for a few different injuries and it really can make a big difference. The most dramatic was probably when I broke my hand and needed it screwing back together. In the hubbub of the big damage a couple of ruptured tendons in my fingers were missed and by the time the cast came off they’d fixed in a clawed position that I just couldn’t straighten. A 10 week course of physio, some painful stretches and a night splint got it pretty much completely fixed.

There probably will be pain, it should be manageable and it is pain with a purpose rather than just never ending pain. It should gradually get better week by week as long as you follow the advice and do the stretches (even on the days you can’t be bothered, or don’t want to, or feel too sore for). If you don’t have them then get an ice and a heat pack as you’ll likely need those.

Shoulder pain is the worst. It takes over your whole being and its all you can thunk about. I've just recently started recovering from mine. I couldn't even wipe off about a year. Had to make sure if I needed the loo, I had access to a shower. No one understood just how painful it was.
Not much help but hopefully will help you realise you aren't alone, you aren't being dramatic and big sympathies.
Hydrodilatation helped so see if you can get that.

@YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME no, I haven't tried any other avenues yet.. I'll ask for some recommendations from the physio today, thanks for the suggestion 😊

One of my friends swears by aqua aerobics but when I tried swimming , changing was awkward and I could only do manage doggypaddle! Probably need to try it again.

@LIZS did you wait to get the go-ahead from your doctor to drive or did you just ease back in when you felt you was able? Mine is also my right shoulder so I wouldn't have any troubles with gear changes and I am able to use my forearm outwards from my elbow If I keep my upper arm tucked to my side. I'm sure I'd be able to use my right arm to maneuver the wheel enough to be safe but when I asked the specialist about work, driving and coming out of the sling he essentially just said "if you're able to do it without being in pain then you can do it".. really not very helpful.

I'm exactly the same with my hair.. luckily we have a three year old toddler so my husband has some basic knowledge on how to tie a ponytail. 🤣 I've also put on some weight, I had recently lost over 4 stone by doing batch cooking and can no longer do that so I can definitely relate on that one.

So from what I've read my condition could be causing impingement.. hopefully the physio can tell me more today. 🤞

I really hope you're fully recovered soon x

@Celeryedition so what he diagnosed it as is a very confusing term.. It can mean impingement, due to swelling of the supraspinatus and the burstitis. I basically don't have a clue, he couldn't get out there fast enough. I felt completely dismissed, he couldn't really answer any of my questions and was in the room for no more than 5 minutes.

I'm hoping the physio will give me some light at the end of the tunnel, I'll definitely try the hot tub idea.. sounds like it would really work for me.

I really hope you're feeling better soon x

@InfoSecInTheCity that really gives me some hope.. Jesus 😳 how awful!

Fingers crossed the physio will do the trick. 🤞

Thank you. theoretically I was allowed from eight weeks but left it another month due to ongoing pain and limited reach, and fortunately not really having need. Then did a few short trips and gradually built up. It still gets sore afterwards though. Good luck at physio, hope it helps.

It really is, Did you manage to get to work while struggling? I'm really stressing about that but obviously don't want to make anything worse. If I try to just do a few bits around the house at a slow pace I really suffer for it.. couldn't even imagine how much worse I'd ne after going to work.

I'll definitely ask about the hydrodilation if physio doesn't improve anything.. I'm glad you're starting to get better, a year of recovery and going through this sounds like absolute hell!

@LIZS blime 🤣 there's not a chance I'd get into a swimming costume.. There is a lady close to me that owns a private studio with a hot tub, so I may try that.. with a bikini. 🫣 Definitely wouldn't wear one out in public nowadays

Totally missing the point, but doesn't anyone else put their bra on by holding it round your chest under your boobs, so you can do up the fastening at the front first then swizzing it round and then putting your arms through the straps and hoiking it up into place?

I am getting over a subscapularis injury btw, so not trolling at random!

Amazing, I'm hoping the physio will give me the go-ahead today as my father in law is currently doing a 5 mile each way school drop or and pick up for me to drop off and pick up the little ones. I think he is starting to get really frustrated with it.

I have been teaching them how to get the clips on their harnesses together so I just have to push the clips in so I'm working my way around that.

Even If I could drive myself to my second job on my own it would be a massive help x