Being referred to orthopaedic surgeon for shoulder.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Posted in the autumn about my poor sore shoulder. Had a steroid shot and after a week or two it felt back to normal. Had an ultrasound and sonographer said it wasn't a tear. so I left it at that.

Been getting steadily worse again to the point where I keep accidentally slamming doors on old people I think I can hold a door open but I can't...
getting dressed requires much face pulling. also interfering with sleep badly. anti-inflamms do take the edge off it but don't make it comfy.

saw gp today who says the report does actually show a tear after all. I'm a bit puzzled but there you go. Anyhow, she thinks I may need an arthroscopy and is referring me to an orthopaedic surgeon.

I'm really hoping they will just say oh here have another steroid shot and a referral to a physio. bit fed-up making really.

Realised one thing I should have asked - if it is a tear, do I rest it so I don't make it worse or do I use it (despite increasing pain) to keep it mobile?

Any thoughts please? trying to get hold of my gp is very challenging!

I am a rep who sells equipment for this type of surgery and have observed many cases of artroscopic tears being repaired.

I therefore have limited knowledge of these things

If you have torn rotator cuff caused by general wear and tear) or dislocation in your shoulder resulting in a tear then this needs repairing, using suture anchors and ideally arthroscopically which means keyhole, which minimises scars and makes for an easier recovery.

It will, if done correctly hopefully bring you back to full function with no pain.

Its important that you find a good arthroscopic surgeon as some of them are not that good. Usually the younger ones are the best as they have been trained in the newer technique.

What part of the country do you live in?

I would imagine that the damage is done so imbolising the shoulder now will prob not make all that much difference, but I dont know that for a fact.

HTH

Ask any further questions if you need too

Sorry don't know the answer but am going through something similar. Hurt my shoulder in a skiing fall last feb. Was v painful for a couple of days then appeared to get better. Started to hurt about april/may time and has just got worse really. Physio for 5 months didn't do much and am seeing orthopod next week. Am sick of the pain/ lack of mobility. Hope you get better soon

lily - thats fab, thanks

I'm very prone to tendonitis due to the type of arthritis (psoriatic) I have and my theory is that it is probably from neglecting tendonitis for so long (I'm so used to sore bits that I just take anti-inflamms and carry on) I'm in the south. gp is doing choose and book for me so hopefully I'll get the referral for that soon and be able to choose!

You don't think they'll just try another steroid injection and physio?

If they did go down the surgical route, do you reckon they would do it under a local/nerve block type thing? would far rather that than a general.

mumof3teens, it is a bit of a nightmare isn't it. I can adapt round much of it but the not sleeping bit is really wearing. I hope you get better soon. Post back with the results of your appt.

They may try steroid and physio, but if a scan has shown a tear, then it need repairing.

There would be no way they could do it under local anaesthetic, as it is major surgery, and requires your shoulder to have fluid pumped into the joint to expand it, so they can do the repair.
They could do it under a spinal so you were awake, but they would prob only do this if a general was bad for your health i.e they often do hip replacments for the elderly under a spinal with sedation.

You can get the log in details for choose and book and decide where, when and who does the operation. Dont rely on the gp booking it for you.
Google the surgeons name as they often will have papers published etc.
Alternatively let me know which hospital you will go to and I will ask the local rep to recommend a surgeon for you!

Trust me their skills vary immensely

That is really kind of you, thank you. May I cat you when it comes through?

I think the gp will just send me a reference number or something so that I can do it, but last time I tried that for something I couldnt get into any of the clinics as they were all full so we had to go down the traditional referral rate.

what a pain this is only in my 30's and fraying round the edges. I hope it comes through quickly so I can just get on with things.

Yeah you can if my profile allows me? Not sure if it does x

thank you