More re rotator cuff ...

[CW1]

Hi,

Had a steroid injection last Wednesday for what's been diagnosed as rotator cuff syndrome (by a doc I've not seen since), but it's much worse now, I'm in pain almost constantly. I'm now waking up when I'm asleep & move so not getting enough sleep, feeling nauseas a lot of the time, everyday tasks are becoming more painful & is getting tricky driving - twice it "tweaked" badly & I struggled to keep driving.
Have been on anti inflammatory Naprosyn for over 2 weeks & they don't seem to help at all. Neither do painkillers.

I'm getting so confused about what should be happening. The doc who did the injection said (after she'd done it !) it could take 4-5 days to kick in but if it didn't work she could do another in 4 weeks. I spoke to my own GP (at the same surgery but I can never get an appointment with her !) last night. She said it could take 4-6 WEEKS to kick in ! She never said anything about a 2nd injection, but did mention the possibility of physiotherapy (& seeing an orthopaedic surgeon, but that would be months away).
No one has actually seen the extent of the injury - had x-ray to discount arthritis & that was clear - so how would I know physio wouldn't make "the injury" worse ? When I had tennis elbow & injection didn't work, I had to rest it completely for 3 months !

Have made an appointment to see doc who did injection next week but not sure why I did. I just know I can't take much more of this ... :(

[bednobs]

you don't know that physio wouldn't make it worse, but there is nothing stopping you trying it. I would ask for a change in anti inflammatories too, as naproxen doesn't seem to be working for you (never worked for me either, but other anti inflams did)

[CW1]

No I don't know bedknobs, but just seems to me physio would be excruitiating & without knowing how bad the "damage" is, how would I know it wasn't making it worse ? Guess I'm assuming (like tennis elbow) it's stretched or torn tendons so couldn't I be stretching / tearing them more ?
I will be telling her about the anti inflamms though ...

[alavahalf]

Funnily enough I've had the same problem for about three years and done nothing about it until six months ago. It was giving me constant pain and keeping me awake.
So I've now had three months going to physio ..there was no significant change, and so they discharged me and said there was nothing more they could do.
Referring me back to the Musko skeletal team .. I then had 2 injections one after the other. They took about a week to settle down. But after a couple of months the pain returned although not quite as bad.
I was then given two more which seemed to improve thing within a couple of days and it now feels the best it has felt in years.
The Doctor also made an appointment for me to have an ultrasound scan on the rotator cuff, as an x-ray does'nt show what's needed.
I had the scan yesterday, and it shows nothing other than wear and tear.
I will just have to keep taking the Naproxen ... it does work for me.

[Sqad]

Well, it all seems very unsatisfactory so far and the extent of the rotator cuff damage has not been pinpointed.......unless i haven't kept up with your case.

You need an MRI scan to determine if the rotator cuff muscles and tendons are intact and referral to an orthopaedic surgeon for consideration of operative intervention.

Naprosyn would not be my drug of choice, but that is a personal opinion...Ibuprofen 600mgms three times a day would be the starting point.

Light but not strenuous exercise.

[CW1]

Thanks for your post alavahalf. It's a little reassuring in some ways, not so much in others ! How you waited 3 years tho' ... !!

I did mention ultrasound last night but my GP dismissed it, said it wouldn't show anything, which I did find a little odd. How do I know how many of the tendons are affected - maybe 1 or 2, maybe all 4 ? Has always seemed to be worse at the front, injection went in the back.

Mine started in September I think, small things like when putting stuff on passenger seat of the car or in the footwell. I thought it was a pulled muscle or something, but mentioned it when I went to doc after "did" my back last month. Was taking ibuprofen & paracetomol for that which didn't help my arm / shoulder at all hence I know painkillers don't work. I think it's tied in with my job, started in March, where I'm sitting around a lot (more used to having an active job), hunched over probably - doc did mention posture originally, & pilates - so hoping it's not wear 'n tear.

[CW1]

//the extent of the rotator cuff damage has not been pinpointed//

Couldn't agree more sqad. If I knew that, I reckon I'd cope much better.

One doc (a different one !) had me do some arm movements & was only when I said the pain felt like someone had pulled my shoulder from it's socket & let it go, to which she asked "has it ?" [come out of socket] & I said "no !", that she said was rotator cuff. No one else has looked at it. Well, another doc did when I went re my back but couldn't do anything she asked 'cos my back was too painful !

I was taking 800mgs ibuprofen + 1000mgs paracetomol alternately 3 or 4 times a day for a few days, for my back. Did nothing for this. :(

[boxtops]

I had severe restriction on my left shoulder last year - I had physio with little effect, so I started having a weekly massage and monthly trips to the chiropractor, with ultrasound massage. It's not right but it's nearly back to normal - I managed to do up my bra at the back a couple of weeks ago, the first time for two years :-)

[CW1]

Actually, just remembered sqad. Doc did say not to take ibuprofen with Naprosyn, if anything parecetomol. But I haven't. Too many tablets for my liking (+ thyroxine + Omeprazole), 'pecially as i don't think they'll work (as I said already) !

[CW1]

Must admit boxtops, have considered getting some advice privately. Even just to find out the exact problem ! And is sounding more 'n more likely that physio may not help.
Can totally understand where you're coming from - be nice to pull loo roll off, or trousers up, without pain ! lol

[alavahalf]

All the answers are here .. go trouserless and bra less..!

[CW1]

That'll go down a STORM with the students at the uni I work at !! lol

Talking of which, I'd better get meself down there ...

[Pogue-Mahone]

I tore my rotator cuff 12 years a go and my GP was useless as she originally diagnosed it as a frozen shoulder. After many months of pain I went to a different GP who said it could be a rotator cuff problem.Long story short because of NHS waiting times and being off work I paid privatley for a scan which revealed a torn rotator cuff. Had to take a bank loan out to have the operation done privatley & haven't had any problems since. So as Sqad says your priority should be a scan.

[droopydrawers]

My son had an operation for Rotator Cuff injury in September. Unfortunately the physio had bug*red it up by over insisting on "helping" [read forcing ] the joint behind him, he dreaded going at the end. He is now waiting to see the Consultant again to know whats to happen next. Hes not had nights sleep in all this time or weeks before. This was a private clinic too. He had an MRI scan to determine the condition of the shoulder so I suggest to ask for one too.
DD

[CW1]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, does help.

Well, saw doc yesterday. She said that as the 1st injection didn't work, she's not doing another, contrary to what she said when she did do it. O-k-a-y. Told her Naprosyn didn't help but she said she won't prescribe any other anti infammatories, just painkillers (Co-dydramol). She says next step is physio but I told her about my reservations & she's referring me to the musco-skeletal unit (as "urgent") & told me it'll be their decision.

That could well be at the main hospital which would be about a 50 mile round trip. If they did do physio, how on earth would that work having to drive 25 miles home ?! Surely that would undo any potential benefits.

Interestingly, been sorting out some stuff today & came across some more Naprosyn, which must've been prescribed when I had tennis elbow & where an injection did work. Does that tell anybody anything ?