1. < Chronic Pain

shoulder tendenitis/rotator cuff pain

Posted by virtuous69 @virtuous69, Apr 13, 2018

@all. yesterday I sent out a post asking if anyone has/treats their shoulder tendonitis/rotator cuff injury with a sling or shoulder brace? My pt thinks its shoulder tendonitis, but it sure hurts. Internet suggests ice 4 x day, ibuprofen, and not to use shoulder for 48 hours. My arm sling keeps me from using my left arm and lets me have pain free sleep, but I seem to need to be medicated and not lift anything anymore. Lifting grocery bags and water bottles probably started the whole mess. Any comments on slings or braces?? Victorious69

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susan1955 | @susan1955 | May 6, 2018
In reply to @captainkenny "I was diagnosed with bilateral rotator cuff syndrone. Symptoms: pain, increasing weakness—unable to lift cup of..." + (show)
@captainkenny

I was diagnosed with bilateral rotator cuff syndrone. Symptoms: pain, increasing weakness—unable to lift cup of coffee, opening doors, steering car, lifting, etc. Tried to correct using personal trainer familiar with problem, but was I unable to do the work because of the pain. Finally went to orthopedic surgeon for cortisone shots on both sides which reduced pain immediatly down considerably to 10 per cent and to zero next morning. The doctor said she wouldn’t give me the shots unless I followed up with an experienced physical therapist (PT) because relief from the cortisone shots are only temporary and treat the symptoms and not the cause. Good advice. I got to work with a PT who helped maintain my pain free status and I still workout regularly doing what I couldn’t with a personal trainer before the shots. Today my shoulder strength and range of motion are 100 per cent. Last July 2017 shortly after my 81st birthday I was diagnosed with Giant Cell Arteritis, and am not sure if related to shoulders. I am grateful for the wonderful medical care I have received for the past 10 months.

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Glad to hear the cortisone shots & P.T. helped. What is giant cell arteritis?

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Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | May 6, 2018
In reply to @gemmax "I have tears in both shoulders that were apparently caused by excessive wear and tear since..." + (show)
@gemmax

I have tears in both shoulders that were apparently caused by excessive wear and tear since as a very young person i did alot of repetetive lifting that was much too heavy for me. My orthopedist said that surgery would not work, since they would simply tear again. Since I have Chronic pain from auotimmune disease, I had assumed that the pain in my shoulders was just a part of that. I’m sure it adds to the problem. I no longer have pain in my shoulders but I have limited movement, such as the inability to pull a shirt over my head, very limited lifting ability, etc. My doc did not suggest any treatment,.Has anyone else been diagnosed as basically untreatable?

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My best recommendation for a reminder that works is to always take one step at a time. If you always do it, it will become a habit that you don’t even think about. Then you don’t become off balance with one foot in the air. And number two....always use a handrail or place your hand along a solid surface. That will also steady you. Don,t worry about how it looks....perhaps like you are old. We are old and doing whatever it takes to keep from falling. I also graciously accept an offered hand. My grandchildren love helping me and I love sharing my life with them for as long as I can.

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captainkenny | @captainkenny | May 6, 2018
In reply to @captainkenny "I was diagnosed with bilateral rotator cuff syndrone. Symptoms: pain, increasing weakness—unable to lift cup of..." + (show)
@captainkenny

I was diagnosed with bilateral rotator cuff syndrone. Symptoms: pain, increasing weakness—unable to lift cup of coffee, opening doors, steering car, lifting, etc. Tried to correct using personal trainer familiar with problem, but was I unable to do the work because of the pain. Finally went to orthopedic surgeon for cortisone shots on both sides which reduced pain immediatly down considerably to 10 per cent and to zero next morning. The doctor said she wouldn’t give me the shots unless I followed up with an experienced physical therapist (PT) because relief from the cortisone shots are only temporary and treat the symptoms and not the cause. Good advice. I got to work with a PT who helped maintain my pain free status and I still workout regularly doing what I couldn’t with a personal trainer before the shots. Today my shoulder strength and range of motion are 100 per cent. Last July 2017 shortly after my 81st birthday I was diagnosed with Giant Cell Arteritis, and am not sure if related to shoulders. I am grateful for the wonderful medical care I have received for the past 10 months.

Jump to this post

My form of Giant Cell Arteritis is Temporal Arteritis, an autoimmune disorder which causes temporal arteries to the head and brain to become inflammed or damaged. Potential danger is blindness or stroke or both if not diagnosed quickly. Usually occurs in the temporal arteries in front of ears, but also presents in almost any larger arteries in the body. I haven’t had any symptoms since starting 40 mg Prednisone, and gradually reducing to present 10mg dosage.

REPLY
cheryl99 | @cheryl99 | May 7, 2018
In reply to @gemmax "I have tears in both shoulders that were apparently caused by excessive wear and tear since..." + (show)
@gemmax

I have tears in both shoulders that were apparently caused by excessive wear and tear since as a very young person i did alot of repetetive lifting that was much too heavy for me. My orthopedist said that surgery would not work, since they would simply tear again. Since I have Chronic pain from auotimmune disease, I had assumed that the pain in my shoulders was just a part of that. I’m sure it adds to the problem. I no longer have pain in my shoulders but I have limited movement, such as the inability to pull a shirt over my head, very limited lifting ability, etc. My doc did not suggest any treatment,.Has anyone else been diagnosed as basically untreatable?

Jump to this post

I have a muscle shredding at the shoulder but surgery not recommended because I use a walker due to losing my hip over 2 years ago. MRI was done and then I was given a cortisone shot to help with the pain while doing physical therapy to build the other muscles around to compensate for the problem. Therapy helped with the mobility and the pain minimal.

REPLY
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