I've had shoulder problems for years, several steroid injections but still it persists! Went back to my doctor and he said Impingement syndrome and wants me to have Ultrasound, which is good but it's taking forever. Both shoulders are affected. I'm on Sulfasalazine for my PsA and Osteoarthritis, Naproxen and Omoprazole. I take Cocodamol but nothing works, I'm not sleeping well so I'm tired in the daytime. I'm miserable as sin. Any ideas of what painkillers actually work??
Forget painkillers; has anyone discussed decompression surgery to address the impingement? It's a very simple operation and the recovery is a few weeks
Rgds, NICK
I take Norco for pain and it works for me.
Rheumy nurse phoned me back yesterday afternoon and seems to think the pain is referred from my hips, i do have bad Arthritis n them but I was a bit shocked by that. I'll see what the Ultrasound reveals and then go from there. I was also given a prescription for Tramadol which i will try tonight.
Quick update. I had an Ultrasound almost three weeks ago and my GP phoned me to say my shoulders are in a sorry state, great!! I'm waiting to see a shoulder surgeon. Rotator Cuff tears , Calcium deposits and other stuff I didn't even understand, (both shoulders). I'm hoping surgeon will explain more when I see him.
Good luck with your surgery. I am also awaiting it. Have you seen a physiotherapist because I get some relief from the exercises given to me. Do you know what tendons are involved? Is it supraspinatus? full or partial tears?
Dear Jane, good luck with surgery. Make sure you google how to prep for rotator cuff surgery. Do all the preps, before your surgery. You will be glad you did. Keep in mind, rotator cuffs take a long time to heal as well as diligence and perseverance with your therapy. Depending on what all you need to have done determines your healing time also. Don't rush things and do as the doc and therapist say. I'm in my 4th month of post surgery therapy. But! I am so excited that I am seeing the end of the tunnel. I believe i am finally able to start some strengthening exercises. And, I am in my late 50's so younger people may heal faster. Rotator cuffs take a long time to heal because there isn't much blood flow in the shoulder. Best wishes for a quick and healthy recovery, on both shoulders.
That is correct! I had rotator cuff surgery. I still in physical therapy almost one year.
Crazy, isn't it? I was on pain killers the first several months but have graduated to an occasional half a pain pill sometime during the night so I can get back to sleep. I actually drove for 3 hours without pain for the first time since all this began!
I have been having Hydrotherapy every Monday which I really enjoy. Gp did mention Supraspinatus, azi said I didn't understand some of the stuff he said to me, can't wait to see the surgeon, I've been up all night on pain .
Looks like surgery may be your best chance then. I'm in 2 minds about surgery as my pain is mostly "gripping" pain on certain movements or from sleeping on the bad (left) shoulder. The background pain is just a nagging pain. I am leaning towards surgery because I think the background pain may get worse as I get older and surgery now may fix it -long term. Good luck with your surgery Jane.
An update on shoulder problems. I went to see the shoulder specialist on Friday (private hospital through the NHS), he examined me and sent me for Xrays on both shoulders, I'm shocked as when I went back in he said he can't see anything wrong!! I've been in agony for months and barely any sleep. I had yet another injection which was really painful, worse than any of the others I've had. Bearing in mind I had Ultrasound scans and my GP telling me all the things that were wrong with shoulders and I'd need surgery. The shoulder surgeon said he's more concerned about the Inflammatory Arthritis. Anyway I have to go back to see him in three weeks time. I'm still none the wiser!!
Xray or MRI? Xray's don't show much in the shoulders except for the bones. MRI'S will show the tissues, tendons and muscles. That might be where your problems lie.