My ongoing shoulder problems..

[carole]

Well some of you will know i injured myself almost three months ago, hurting my shoulder and have had an inflammed bursa ,now it appears i have a frozen shoulder, i have been in so much pain for every day of the three months now, and it is wearing me down, anyhow have new physio therapist that i really like that has given me gentle exercises, not the ones i originally had which were resistance type which only made me suffer more pain, i have ongoing pain in up by the collar bone, the top of the shoulder, the arm to my elbow and my neck on that side,i am not allowed to lift my arm up anymore as was aggravating the situation, yep can vouch for that, so no hanging out the washing or vacuuming for some time.
I am booked in to see a Specialist Sport Doctor on 18th December for a consult and maybe those cortisone injections, depending on what he suggest.

I have been pretty darn miserable, and depressed, having fibromyalgia has just complicated the situation and doubled the pain,i feel like all my independence has been taken away from me right now.

I am told there are three stages of frozen shoulder, stage one which i am in right now the pain one, then the pain eases and stiffness begins, and then hopefully it unfreezes.

Anyhow here's hoping things improve, don't want to be like this for much longer, it has been a tough three months, and all because i went to have some fun,that will teach me lol.

[Karen]

Be good, and do what the doctor says, you need that shoulder! It's not wide enough to apply purring kitty therapy, is it?

[phesina]

Oh Carole, I'm so sorry. Prayers and healing energies are being sent to you from all of us.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[carole]

Yes I am being good and doing what I'm told I want to get back to normal as soon as possible,my kitty's always make me feel better,to top it off today I woke up, got up and nearly fell over,was so dizzy.,not sure if it is vertigo or because of my sinuses,seeing specialist on Friday so will ask him, got that horrible nauseous feeling setting it,they say it never rains but it pours,they sure got that right.

[mrspunkysmom]

I had a frozen shoulder in 2000. I had some therapy: ultrasound and massage plus some exercises. it took about 6 weeks and it really worked. Since I have injured the same shoulder 3 more times, I just visit a chiropractor.

Good luck with it and I hope you feel better.

[carole]

really they are telling me could take up to a year maybe two, and i have already had it for over three months, well i hope things work out better for me , because i am sick of it,not being able to do stuff is the worst,fingers crossed then, I am wondering what age group you are in, i am a mature woman lol, so i have a problem with the tendon as well, which often happens when you get older.

[mrspunkysmom]

really they are telling me could take up to a year maybe two, and i have already had it for over three months, well i hope things work out better for me , because i am sick of it,not being able to do stuff is the worst,fingers crossed then, I am wondering what age group you are in, i am a mature woman lol, so i have a problem with the tendon as well, which often happens when you get older.

I consider myself mature also, although I don't always act like it. :D

I'm in my 50's so I was younger 12 years back, like we all were, unless you are Merlyn. But therapy and massage should not be overlooked. Besides, a sports doctor will probably prescribe just that.

[carole]

thanks, yes we are in the same age group, but when you are younger things tend to heal quicker and you have less problems and don't we know it, yes am very happy getting the best care, so all i can ask for at the moment.

[moosmom]

OMG Carole!!

I've got the same issues going on with my right shoulder!!! Inflammed buris. Had an x-ray two weeks ago and an MRI last week. Believe me girl, I feel your pain!!! I had a cortisone shot that did nothing. Now we have to figure out how to manage this pain. The doctor gave me Voltaren Gel to rub on it to reduce the inflammation. Works but VERY temporary.

You'll be in my thoughts and prayers.

xoxoxox

[Catty1]

Carole, when you mentioned what frozen shoulder was I wondered about mine! We should all form a Sore Shoulder Society or something!

I injured my shoulder when I fell on a hike a couple of months ago. X-rays showed no fracture. It still hasn't completely healed; some pain still radiates down my upper arm to the outside joint of my elbow, and the impact area just on top of the shoulder is still sensitive.

I see my chiropractor before I see my doc again. I thought it was just taking a long time to heal, but given what you women are doing, maybe I should be asking more questions.

Prayers that we ALL feel better soon! :love::love:

[carole]

Oh Donna u have my utmost empathy it is so painful,yes wondering about whether to bother with the injections anyhow I am getting the best care,yes Candace go and see,you have bursa all over your body and you don't even have to injure it to get this problem,with having fibro pain is nothing new to me but this is worse,please both of you take care,Candace go get an ultrasound first,I have a problem with the tendon too,could just be an age thing as it has become thicker which makes it all worse.

I have pain on the top of the shoulder radiating to my collar bone and right down to my elbow ,arm feels heavy too,and my neck is also sore but that is probably fibro coming on board grrr

[moosmom]

I went to the doctor on Thursday so he could read my MRI. It turns out that the problem in my shoulder is deeper than they thought.

My Buris muscle is inflammed PLUS the bicept tendon, which is VERY close to the Buris muscle is messed up from years of lifting heavy stretchers on the ambulance. I also have a bone spur. He gave me another cortisone shot in the shoulder in the area of the tendon. He told me to pay close attention to where the pain coming from. He told me I should start feeling relief within 48 hours and total relief within two weeks. Well, the shot was short lived. He gave me a physical therapy order for 2x a week for 4 weeks. He said if that doesn't help, then we'll need to talk about plan B - surgery. He said IF surgery is necessary, he would go in and fix everything, not just the tendon. It would be the works.

If PT doesn't work, I'm going to look into accupuncture. I'm trying desperately to avoid surgery at all costs because my friend, who had shoulder issues, said the recovery is pretty bad.

Carole, I hope your issues are resolved soon. There's nothing worse, as you know, than walking around with constant pain. I don't know about you, but it makes me CRANKY as hell!!!! Because the problems are in my dominant side (right) I think it makes it much worse.

You're in my prayers,girl!!!;);):love::love:

[carole]

Oh dear it sounds very similar to mine,there is also a problem with my tendon,I am not happy,yes I get cranky and depressed too,one has had enough,yes surgery is not really an option for me I am told because of the complications from having fibromyalgia ,shoulder problems are also hard to fix apparently,yes Donna I so regret having gone to the trip for what was supposed to be a fun time,I wish I could turn back the clock,I also get frustrated not being able to do simple things,I am lucky I have a hubby to do things and help,but he really has enough to do without taking on my jobs around the house.

It will not be a quick fix,that I do know,already been three months of constant pain,it hurts to do anything I find,even trying to put your clothes on.

I feel for you too Donna,know exactly what you are going through,thinking of you and hoping we both get some relief soon and on our way to recovery ,may I ask how you hurt yours? I am also right handed and yes my right shoulder too.

Donna are you eligible for any home help,things are very different in NZ,we have ACC. Here which luckily pays for a lot of my treatment, physio is subsidized ,I still pay 15 dollars a treatment,but my sports doctor will be free,and if I was on my own like you,I could get free home help,even with the allowances given it has still cost me a few hundred so far,as my meds are expensive as I cannot take voltaren pills and the like as plays havoc with my stomach,cannot tolerate them,I am not taking them anymore as did not help very much and they cost like four dollars a pill.

[moosmom]

I have no idea how I injured it, or if it's just wear and tear from working 20 years on an ambulance that I exacerbated lately.

I got a call from my doctor's assistant telling me he has no opinion one way or another on accupuncture. It's still something I will look into and try to avoid surgery at all costs.

The pain has subsided a little since Thursday. But the doctor said it'll take up to two weeks for full affect. I am going to make an appointment with the physical therapist.

I believe I'm eligible for home care if it comes down to it. But I just HATE having to depend on anyone. I know, I can be VERY stubborn.

I'm so sorry you have to go through this Carole. I totally get what you're going through and hope and pray you get some relief soon. Walking around in constant pain can do a number on you both physically and mentally.

:love::love: and hugs

Donna

[carole]

yes apparently you don't have to injure it, it can be as simple as picking up a shopping bag, and as we are of the more mature years lol, we are probably more likely for it to happen, mind you i certainly knew i had done damage with my accident, i felt this terrible pain ,and heard a big crunch and then numb kind of feeling, but to honest the pain is worse now than then.

Oh Donna i know what you mean i too like to be independent, don't like strangers in my home, doing my stuff, but have a husband ,so i am fortunate, but he really has enough to do ,i feel guilty ,he has to hang out the washing when he gets home from work, and he has just taken on a courier run on saturdays, just two hours apart from his full time job,not that i wanted him to,so he is busy enough, and he has to do all the repairs and stuff around the place, as we cannot afford tradesman and he is great at that anyhow...

Yep now i have a sinus infection ,just saw the specialist on friday and sunday i get sick, it never rains but it pours for sure, so sick of myself, just want the old me back, and i still had many issues then, but i just did not need another on top of it,,yes i am feeling sorry for myself lol.

Hope you can get some relief too, i had the accupunture last week, did not do much for me to be honest, but i think you need a few treatments.

Thinking of you my dear friend.

[carole]

Well my update,went to see sports doctor today,he wanted me to have an X-ray,I was not prepared for the result,I do have the bursa and tendon problem,but I also have arthritis, and like you Donna bone spurs,I am feeling rather Despondent about it all,apparently is not as common to have it in the shoulder joint.only like 20 per cent of people do.
Feeling gutted,as at least if it were a frozen shoulder ,it would have got better,even though it would have taken a long time,but this won't only get worse ,I never even considered this,I already have it in my fingers and mildly in my hip and knees are questionable ,what is left,not much.
If I felt depressed before ,I feel even more so now.
Going to have cortisone. Injection on my birthday of all days,well if it works will be a good gift,less pain.
I dont understand why this has happened to me,I never did heavy lifting or anything like that,and of course I am right handed and yes it is that shoulder ,I am so limited to what I can do right now,I feel disabled ,and to a degree I am,it was bad enough coping with my fibromyalgia ,I guess I am just tired of living in pain,sorry to sound this way ,but it has hit me like a ton of bricks,I will just have to learn to deal with it and move forward I guess.

[phesina]

Oh Carole, I am so sorry. You have been through so much with this already.

Hopes and prayers that the cortisone shot helps and you find some relief.

Big {{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}} and ~~~~~~~PURRS~~~~~~~ and :love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love: to you from Pat and cats

[Catty1]

{{{hugs}}} Carole. Is surgery not an option, then? More {{{hugs}}}. I hope you at least have less pain from the shot.

[carole]

Candace maybe further down the track,but in all honesty I really do not want that last resort really,as I get older I may have no choice,I am told it has it limitations anyhow,right now I just feel my future is so bleak ,I guess I am just trying to absorb it all .i know there are people far worse off than me out there,just was all a bit if a shock thats all,i can understand my hip and knees and hands,but why my shoulder,is beyond me,Thank you both for being there for me .

[Karen]

Everyone I know with shoulder issues has been thrilled with the cortisone shots. It does wear off, but for a while the pain is much less, and mobility better! Remember we love you, and are sending you very gentle hugs, so as not to hurt and already hurting Carole! Now, if you can train one of the kitties to lie on that shoulder and purr, I have been told that is good for arthritic joints!

[carole]

Ah Karen if only lexie or nikkita would do that, they even protest when picked up and cuddled, but i love them to bits, and yes they really help when one is low, having their gorgeous lil faces light up when they see you, being there to meet and greet you when you have been out.

Yes well i have heard vary opinions on these injections, but will remain positive, i know the fact i will be having it done via ultrasound makes it 100 per cent exact to the place it should be given, and that makes a big difference, many just have them put in by the doctors and they are not as reliable, no matter how good they are at doing it, sports doc said he could do it right then and there and be 90 to 95 per cent accurate, but he advised me to have the scan, so i am,luckily it is mostly covered by ACC, and only have to pay 40 dollars, was only like 30 for the xray too, but even so it is mounting up,but am grateful i don't have to pay the full cost.

Thanks Karen for your kind words ,it really does help.:)

[Karen]

Hmm, maybe invest in some fish-scented perfume to daub behind your ears as a kitty lure? ;)

[carole]

Right, well i already have a new daily perfume it is menthol, in the rub i use every day and night, cannot say i am that fond of it ,but it helps, i won't wear it going out though, no matter what, rather smell of my red door thanks, so i might just pass on the suggestion karen lol.:D