My shoulder problem

[caseysmom]

I have had pain in my shoulder for 2 weeks now. It flared up last December but only lasted for a few days. This time it is hanging on, they did an xray and it is calcified tendenosis whatever the heck that is, it is the worst thing I have ever experienced. I can't sleep, I can't get comfortable. Right now I am on vicodin, 800mg motrin and an arthritis rub and I still hurt. The dr. really did not want to give me vicodin, I had to beg for it so I can sleep.

Just thought I would rant :D

[Alysser]

I'm sorry to hear your in so much pain. I hope it feels better soon. Maybe you can try heat pads?? They work for me whenever I have shoulder problems, but I'm unsure if you can do that with this disorder/illness/thingy.

[caseysmom]

I'm sorry to hear your in so much pain. I hope it feels better soon. Maybe you can try heat pads?? They work for me whenever I have shoulder problems, but I'm unsure if you can do that with this disorder/illness/thingy.

I do the heating pad every night and it does help some. I even went and bought another one when this flared up and I was out of town on vacation. They recommend putting ice on it but that just does not feel good.

[Ginger's Mom]

Sorry to hear that you are still in so much pain. I had to look it up on the internet I wasn't familiar with it at all (I tried to post a link, but it wouldn't work). I found another page for calcified tendonitis that was under an arthritis heading so I don't know if they are related of not. Did you ask for a steroid shot yet? If not I would be calling the doctor tomorrow.

[caseysmom]

I got a steroid shot last week and it did help for a few days, I am not sure how often you can get them. My husband doesn't want me to get it anymore because there are risks involved, I just want out of pain.

[Chica]

I am very sorry that you are in pain. I know what that feels like. I had shoulder pain 24/7 for 2 years.The doctor said it was arthritis. But I cried from the pain and said I wanted an MRI!!!!It showed in the MRI that I had a torn rotater cuff. I had orthoscopic surgery last september.All better now!!!! :) Check it out more with your doctor. ;)

[moosmom]

Caseysmom,

I've got really bad arthritis in my right knee and woke up this morning unable to walk. The doctor gave me 50 mgs of Tramadol along with an anti-inflammatory, until I can get a cortisone shot on May 15th. You might want to ask your doctor about it.

Believe me girl, I feel your pain. The crappy cold, damp weather doesn't make it any easier either. Feel better.

[catnapper]

Ouchie! that sounds awful. Is there anything you can do to speed the heeling?

[Daisy and Delilah]

There is nothing good about pain. It absolutely controls your life. I hope you get some relief soon. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
{{{{{HUGS}}}}}

[caseysmom]

Caseysmom,

I've got really bad arthritis in my right knee and woke up this morning unable to walk. The doctor gave me 50 mgs of Tramadol along with an anti-inflammatory, until I can get a cortisone shot on May 15th. You might want to ask your doctor about it.

Believe me girl, I feel your pain. The crappy cold, damp weather doesn't make it any easier either. Feel better.

Donna, Why do you have to wait until May 15th? How long do you have to wait in between corizone shots? Is tramadol like vicodin or stronger? The vicodin sure took the edge off, I actually slept last night.

[mruffruff]

My sister had bouts of severe pain in her shoulder for years. Finally had an MRI six weeks ago. She had the same surgery Chica had on March 21st. She is still recovering the use of her arm. She's having trouble sleeping because of the pain. I don't know what meds she's got, but she needs to check with her doctor to get some relief.

There must be something for pain that works for YOU.

[Dorothy39]

I'm sorry to learn of your recent bout with PAIN cassysmom!!! I've had my share of injuries along with common arthitis , but I've never had to deal with anything like calcified tendenosis ( I'd never heard of it up till now).


I'm glad that you've felt a " wave of relief " from the constant pain and I sure do hope you're feeling better soon!!!!!

[moosmom]

Donna, Why do you have to wait until May 15th? How long do you have to wait in between corizone shots? Is tramadol like vicodin or stronger? The vicodin sure took the edge off, I actually slept last night.

Because my appointment is with an orthopedic doctor and that is the earliest he could fit me in. I'm going to talk to him then about what other options I have. This knee pain can be debilitating, like yesterday. Tramadol is not as strong as vicodin, but works the same way. Vicodin knocked me out so I can't take it when I'm at work. Cortisone shots are given, I think, at 3 month intervals, or whenever they wear off. I was told that you are limited to three injections, but not sure how true that is. I'll find out more on the 15th

[caseysmom]

Okay thanks...I am ready for amputation!

[moosmom]

Caseysmom,

I'm ready for knee replacement!!!! :p

[lizbud]

I got a steroid shot last week and it did help for a few days, I am not sure how often you can get them. My husband doesn't want me to get it anymore because there are risks involved, I just want out of pain.


The vicodin & motren are bad for your stomach & liver if you take them
for long. Does your Dr. offer surgery as a cure & at least lessen the pain?

[caseysmom]

Lizbud, the amounts of motrin I am taking scares me, I am going to go back if its not better next week and ask for a referral to an orthopedic surgeon.

[wombat2u2004]

A lot of people here use fish oil tablets for that kind of thing. You can get them in health stores. From the feedback I have from people, they work pretty well with arthritic type conditions.
Wom

[caseysmom]

A lot of people here use fish oil tablets for that kind of thing. You can get them in health stores. From the feedback I have from people, they work pretty well with arthritic type conditions.
Wom

Thanks, its worth a try.

[Lobodeb]

I'm so sorry your in such pain. What about accupuncture?

I hope you feel better.

[wombat2u2004]

I'm so sorry your in such pain. What about accupuncture?

I hope you feel better.

Acupunture seems to work well with some people whilst not working at all with others. There are still a lot of people who believe that it's the placebo effect that lessens the pain. I guess I'm just hard headed about those kind of remedies, and because of that, acupunture does absolutely nothing at all for me.
Wom

[Lobodeb]

Acupunture seems to work well with some people whilst not working at all with others. There are still a lot of people who believe that it's the placebo effect that lessens the pain. I guess I'm just hard headed about those kind of remedies, and because of that, acupunture does absolutely nothing at all for me.
Wom
I, personally, have never tried it. But, at the same time, I've seen some wonderful things done with alternative medicine. It just may be worth a shot as a last resort. Especially if caseysmom is one of the ones that it works for. It sure beats risking painkiller addiction.

[caseysmom]

Debby, I have thought about acupuncture and would not rule it out without trying it.

[wombat2u2004]

I, personally, have never tried it. But, at the same time, I've seen some wonderful things done with alternative medicine. It just may be worth a shot as a last resort. Especially if caseysmom is one of the ones that it works for. It sure beats risking painkiller addiction.

I think it depends a lot on what you want acupunture to fix. My partner had some done a few years ago for a severe migraine....and it worked almost straight away for her. I have been treated twice for calcerous spur growths in my neck vertebrae....it never worked at all for me....but maybe that was because of the nature of my ailment at the time. I mean, they don't even really understand the mechanisms that make acupunture work...or not work.
But yes....I agree that it should be tried.....hey....nothing ventured...nothing gained....right ???? ;)
Wom

[joycenalex]

so how is your shoulder today? and please tell me, after i enjoyed looking at the new furniture and cute dogs, you didn't lift/tote/carry the stuff in? :eek:

[gemini9961]

Have you tried Monavie (http://www.monavie.com/_/controller.html)?

My mom has been taking it for a little while and her shoulder doesn't hurt her anymore. It would probably be better than taking Rx meds for an extended period. Just a thought.

[caseysmom]

Actually we got the new furniture in January.... :D

Gemini, at first I thought that was wine :p

Where do you buy that?

Edit to add...my shoulder is just awful, Friday it felt a bit better and then it was horrible again Friday night and on until now. I did go to a chiropractor who used electroids to try to break up the calcification, I don't know if it will do any good or not but I am desperate.

Nights are the worse, not sure what I will do when I run out of vicodin. I feel like Dr. House.

[cassiesmom]

Lizbud, the amounts of motrin I am taking scares me, I am going to go back if its not better next week and ask for a referral to an orthopedic surgeon.

Caseysmom, please don't wait - you don't want to waste time and effort on treatments that won't help. What about an arthroscopy to clean out the calcium deposits.

[K9karen]

I got a steroid shot last week and it did help for a few days, I am not sure how often you can get them. My husband doesn't want me to get it anymore because there are risks involved, I just want out of pain.

I have tendonitis in my rotator cuff and bursitis in my hips. So I'm a pro at steroid shots, pain killers, etc. Losing sleep is the worst when you can't get cozy.

The shots are local and according to my rheumatologist don't go into the bloodstream the same way the predisone pils do. However, one doctor gave me so many shots in my hips whenever I needed them (often), I developed a "crater" on my right hip. But the orthopedic said the shots weren't done incorrectly, gave me a shot 8 months ago and I've been pain free since. If you have to take a 7 day prednisone pack, I suggest you go for it, as it will, hopefully relieve the pain and welling. 7days isn't too bad. As painful as it may be, physical therapy has always been a life saver for me. If you stick with it, the results can be amazing.

You have my sympathy. Hope you find relief soon. A good orthopedic and PT will do wonders. Hugs to you!

[caseysmom]

I will probably ask my gp for a referral to an orthopedic surgeon next week. K9karen, what is a 7 day prednisone pack?

[caseysmom]

I didn't want to hijack Donna's pain thread so here is an update on mine. I found this website that has given me some hope, I guess there are several things they can do. I have an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon next week, the pain has been so intense I am trying to get that appointment moved up.

http://www.orthogate.org/patient-education/shoulder/calcific-tendonitis-of-the-shoulder.html

[caseysmom]

I went to an orthopedic surgeon today, he gave me a big dose of cortizone for my shoulder, he said my gp was probably not giving me enough. The puzzeling thing is that my fingers have gone numb and he says this is not normal for shoulder problems and suspects a pinched nerve in my neck. I may need to go to a neck doctor...in the meantime ...pain pain pain...I just can't stand it anymore :(

[joycenalex]

i'm sorry you're still hurting. have you had an MRI of your neck/shoulder yet?

[caseysmom]

No MRI's yet, just an xray that showed the calcification. I am thinking it must be my shoulder and not my neck because he gave me a megadose of novacain in the shoulder today and he said it would work for 5 hours and I am not hurting right now. If it was my neck a shot in the shoulder would have done nothing, not sure why my fingers are numb, I am thinking because I have been sleeping on that side, it hurts to sleep in any other position.

[Daisy and Delilah]

You have my sympathy!! I feel so bad for you. Pain is for the birds. I hope you get some relief soon :(