What is up with my shoulder?

[exhaustedandoverit]

And who should I see about it?
it’s been hurting since around Feb, I just presumed I’d strained it somehow at the time but it’s getting worse. I’ve been to the physio connected with my GP twice and both times he’s given me exercises which haven’t done anything. He thinks soft tissue damage, possibly nerve and said not to worry.

I can’t raise my arm fully, forwards or sideways, can’t reach behind my back and random actions make it unbearable. It aches when it’s resting. I’m now struggling to put my hair up and washing it is getting sorer. Sleeping isn’t great, it wakes me up in the night and it’s hard to find a comfortable position.

Im mid 40s, definitely in peri, so wondered if it was the dreaded frozen shoulder I’ve heard about. The physio said it isn’t. I was hoping it was so there would be an end in sight.

where can I take it from here? I’m not going back to the GP as they’ll only send me back to the same guy who isn’t all that helpful. Has anyone had similar and found good results? I’m happy to pay someone (within reason) but who?

Definitely sounds like frozen shoulder. I’ve had physio (painful) and steroid injections in mine (both shoulders, different times), both helped, as did a prescription for sleeping tablets for very occasional use (I think I got 7 tablets and used them less than once a month) when the pain and lack of sleep became too much for me.

can you afford to see someone privately? Or a different GP at your practice?

I had something similar where I couldn’t life my arm above a certain height without it pinching really painfully in my shoulder. A couple of visits to a chiropractor solved it. They also really helped with sorting out my lower back. So I would suggest that, but avoid any that try to sign you up to a course of treatment, x rays etc as that can get expensive.

Sounds exactly like my frozen shoulder. It’s ghastly but does end it just takes aaaaages. My other one went a year later but apparently it only happens once each side.

Yeah sounds like the dreaded frozen shoulder, can you self refer to physio where you are ? Do that or go back to your Gp ask for physio and if all else fails you can have a steroid injection into your shoulder.

Rotator cuff tear? I've had that and it takes months to resolve. My physio said it would take 6 months, and she was right. In the meantime I had to avoid 'using' that arm for anything much, which was awkward as it was my right shoulder.

I used a TENS machine which helped.

Oh you don't want to go back to your Gp fair enough, try a chiropractor.

thanks for the responses, I’m kind of glad that it does sound like a frozen shoulder as at least that should have an end to it. Right now It feels as though it will never end. Has anyone found HRT to help as I’ve been considering starting that?

I did used to see a chiropractor for my back which was great but then I got the fear 😂. I’m willing to try anything so maybe I’ll book back in with him. I can spend a hundred + but not private prices.

if I could just have the shower pointing at it all day I’d be thrilled, that seems to give the most relief.

Frozaen shoulder almost certainly. GPs and physios are rubbish at diagnosing them and they don't always show on ultrasound, a surgeon has just told me.

IFrozen shoulder, which is hormonal territory absolutely. In Japan neck and shoulder pain and stiffness is used as one of the clinical markers for perimenopause.

I was having absolute murders with my joints and HRT has sorted it right out.

Sod the GP, see a different one, or seek elsewhere.

Similar thing happened to a relative. What's the point of physio if they just look at you and give you a piece of paper? They actually got more help from chat. In your shoes I'd go back to the GP and insist on a hospital referral. You need a professional diagnosis. Hope you get it sorted soon.

Acupuncture is good for the pain.

I’m a little older than you and now post menopause , however had exactly the same symptoms with my left shoulder . Luckily I have private health care through my job , so was able to get a referral for an mri - turns out I had a bursitis in my shoulder . Initially tried with the steroid injections but was temporarily relief - ended up having a small op to shave away a little of the bone in my shoulder . Same thing then happened with my right shoulder about a year ago and I ended up having the same op on that one . Was told I was very ‘unlucky’ and at the time there was no mention of it being menopause related , however am part of some menopause groups on Facebook and seen a lot of ladies with similar issues , so I do now wonder if it was related …
i did unfortunately develop frozen shoulder in both shoulder post recovery but had a fantastic physio who helped me work through it ( plus on the second shoulder I had a further injection which stretch the joint or something similar and whilst extremely painful did help).
both shoulders are great now and have full range of movement and am pain free .
keep pushing for a proper diagnosis as the constant pain is debilitating

I had this, it was impingement syndrome, my shoulder over the years wear and tear, it gets stuck and needed loosening, 2 days in hospital then physio, all,good after 3 months. GP and physio kept saying frozen shoulder, I had it diagnosed by mri, xrays were normal. Orthopaedic consultant did a few finger, hand and arm tests, that's who you need to see.

Osteopath sorted my rotator cuff problem although it’s still not back to normal after a year (but didn’t go to osteo straight away)

I too had bursitis and a build up of calcium in my left shoulder. I’m of menopausal age and the GP was insistent that it wasn’t a frozen shoulder.

I had 2 steroid injections which did absolutely nothing. HRT and some physio exercises sorted it out. It’s still not 100% but I’m not in pain and I can scratch my lower back.

I'm going through similar at the moment. They thought frozen shoulder but an x ray showed it wasn't.
go back to your GP/surgery physio. The squeaky wheel gets the oil and I believe that's what drives the NHS in 2026 albeit you've got to push very hard to get that. They can do more for you than that, decent pain relief and some imaging to see what's going on for starters. They shouldn't be putting you on the scrap heap which it what it sounds like...

Thanks all again. I’m putting together a plan of action, HRT, chiro and failing that, GP, and pushing to not see the physio again.

I had physio for a frozen shoulder - including some kind of machine - laser and something else when it was really bad

you have my sympathy it’s blooming awful x