Annoying shoulder pain

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King Herald

Original Poster:

23,501 posts

216 months

Sunday 13th September 2009
quotequote all
About three weeks ago I developed a pain in my shoulder blade area. It was annoying, but just an ache really. Over the weeks it seems to have slowly moved up to the area between my neck and shoulder, and now seems to be more in my bicep and shoulder area.

It occasionally gives sudden stabs of sharp pain in the shoulder joint, if I pull or push my arm in certain directions, but not all the time. And it aches when I try to be still, such as sleeping. I toss and turn trying to find a position where the ache doesn't increase until I need to move.

Most of the time I can function as normal, but I've been very careful in the garage trying not to use it much.

Four days ago I went to the docs and he gave me a Naprosyn (500mg, twice a day, for two weeks) which is an anti inflammatory. He reckoned I have tendonitis in the shoulder, and says it is quite normal for the pain to 'wander around'. confused

Any suggestions as to how a pain can move around, or how I can relieve it? Would heat bags help? Or those smelly creams that make it feel hot?

The doc says he sees four or five people a day with shoulder aches/pains. yikes

V8A*ndy

3,695 posts

191 months

Monday 14th September 2009
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I've just had x-rays for the exact same thing but i'm in total agony (they were looking for arthritus). Nothing has showed up and doc says I have the onset of frozen shoulder and to get Physio ASAP (some hope)....

As soon as I sit down or go to bed it gets really bad especially in the car. Started with a dull pain under my shoulder blade and I now have pain in my collar bone and neck. It feels likes I have been impaled from the shoulder to the collar bone.

Between this and the problems I have currently with my right arm I am in a bit of a pickle right now.

Does anyone know how much it costs to see an NHS physio privately or will any sports type physio do?


cheeky_chops

1,588 posts

251 months

Monday 14th September 2009
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V8A*ndy said:
I've just had x-rays for the exact same thing but i'm in total agony (they were looking for arthritus). Nothing has showed up and doc says I have the onset of frozen shoulder and to get Physio ASAP (some hope)....

As soon as I sit down or go to bed it gets really bad especially in the car. Started with a dull pain under my shoulder blade and I now have pain in my collar bone and neck. It feels likes I have been impaled from the shoulder to the collar bone.

Between this and the problems I have currently with my right arm I am in a bit of a pickle right now.

Does anyone know how much it costs to see an NHS physio privately or will any sports type physio do?

i have very simiar - worst when i get out of bed in the morning. Goes off during the day

NHS physios (2 seperate ones) were useless - infact the missus bought me a clarins back massage which was far better and she said she could feel "knots around the scapula". I now pay private sports physio (£30 per 1/2 hr) but its never got to the root of it tbh. Not wanting to worry you, but had it 3 years now.... frown

Anyway, I also get the missus to massage between my shoulder blades. Also try a tennis ball on the floor/wall and roll it around. I also sit and lean against the corner of radiator, but its quite hard to get exactly the right height.

King Herald

Original Poster:

23,501 posts

216 months

Monday 14th September 2009
quotequote all
I'm getting worried now. frown

I'm off back to the docs tonight. Last week he gave me three choices:
Anti-inflammatory tabs, an anti-inflammatory injection in the joint, or physio with ultrasound.

I go offshore on Wednesday, for four weeks, so I opted for the tabs, but I may see if he'll do the jab tonight.

My company gives me medical insurance with the job, so I may have to call on that if I still ache in four weeks time.

Bill

52,694 posts

255 months

Monday 14th September 2009
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King Herald said:
physio with ultrasound.
We do a bit more than that wink Get on the phone to the insurers and then get a physio appointment tomorrow, at least that way you can get started.

Bill

52,694 posts

255 months

Monday 14th September 2009
quotequote all
V8A*ndy said:
I've just had x-rays for the exact same thing but i'm in total agony (they were looking for arthritus). Nothing has showed up and doc says I have the onset of frozen shoulder and to get Physio ASAP (some hope)....

As soon as I sit down or go to bed it gets really bad especially in the car. Started with a dull pain under my shoulder blade and I now have pain in my collar bone and neck. It feels likes I have been impaled from the shoulder to the collar bone.

Between this and the problems I have currently with my right arm I am in a bit of a pickle right now.

Does anyone know how much it costs to see an NHS physio privately or will any sports type physio do?

Most (probably all) private physios are ex-NHS. Go see one, it's about 30-40 quid for a half hour session.

Mrs Trackside

9,299 posts

233 months

Monday 14th September 2009
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I had similar three years ago (and am suffering with mine again now). It starts off in the shoulder, spreads into my neck and collar bone and then my arm gets very weak and I can't even lift my handbag. Just opening or closing a door can be what I imagine it feels like to be stabbed.

I go to an osteopath who clicks a few vertebrae and gets rid of the pain (over a period of a few months). It turns out five of my vertebrae were shunted out of position when I had a car crash six years ago. (Oh how I wished I'd claimed compensation for that one when I still could).

pacman1

7,322 posts

193 months

Monday 14th September 2009
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OP, would it be your right shoulder? Do you regularly drive with your window open?

eta, drafts can be a pain in the neck.

Edited by pacman1 on Monday 14th September 20:33

Gnits

917 posts

201 months

Monday 14th September 2009
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Had something lie this a year or so ago physio sessions sorted it. I was doing quite a bit of gymnastics and my pecs were/ are still too tight and roll the shoulder joint so that it causes nerve impingement. Changing sleeping position has helped since though!

King Herald

Original Poster:

23,501 posts

216 months

Monday 14th September 2009
quotequote all
pacman1 said:
OP, would it be your right shoulder? Do you regularly drive with your window open?

eta, drafts can be a pain in the neck.
No, left shoulder.

I went to the doc again today, he gave me some cocodomol to help with the pain at nights. I go offshore Wednesday, so I hope things improve soon.

If not I'll be seeing the private physio as soon as I get chance.

V8A*ndy

3,695 posts

191 months

Wednesday 16th September 2009
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Bill said:
V8A*ndy said:
Most (probably all) private physios are ex-NHS. Go see one, it's about 30-40 quid for a half hour session.
Cheers for info. I'll try and get one in my area to get the ball rolling. Can barely move my arm at all now so today I have frozen left shoulder, a deformed right arm with nerve damage and some flashing lights in the vision which reliably informs me I will have a 4 day mega migrain to contend with complete with vomiting.

Might not be online for a few days. Think i'll just get wrote off and go to bed.






Bill

52,694 posts

255 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
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V8A*ndy said:
Cheers for info. I'll try and get one in my area to get the ball rolling. Can barely move my arm at all now so today I have frozen left shoulder, a deformed right arm with nerve damage and some flashing lights in the vision which reliably informs me I will have a 4 day mega migrain to contend with complete with vomiting.

Might not be online for a few days. Think i'll just get wrote off and go to bed.
eek

(From what you're describing it doesn't sound like a frozen shoulder, more like a problem with your upper back. Which is handy as frozen shoulders are a bugger to sort outthumbup )

King Herald

Original Poster:

23,501 posts

216 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
I'm back on my ship now. My shoulder doesn't seem to be getting any worse, but it isn't getting better. I endured 12 hours on 'planes yesterday, struggling to get my arm in a position where it didn't throb. frown

Four weeks until I get shore side again, and I really, really hope things improve.

nick_j007

1,598 posts

202 months

Saturday 19th September 2009
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I've suffered on and off badly with this for some time now, and I tried the physio route and so on with very limited success.

I am currently almost pain free and sleeping well after seeing a local lady in Worcestershire that used the Bowen technique. Google that maybe.

Worth looking further afield than the standard physio/pain killer route longer term if you're not having success. I wish you well with it in any event...it bloody hurts I know.

HTH,

Nick

croyde

22,857 posts

230 months

Saturday 19th September 2009
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Mate of mine with chronic back problems has started with the Bowen technique. Says its a miracle.

King Herald

Original Poster:

23,501 posts

216 months

Saturday 19th September 2009
quotequote all
I've just Googled Bowen technique and found this web site. They have a list of therapists, and one is not far from us, so I e-mailed her as my wife has some back pains, so she can test it out.
biggrin

http://bowen-technique.co.uk/index.php

V8A*ndy

3,695 posts

191 months

Tuesday 29th September 2009
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Well i've an update on my situation.

I am in total agony. I managed to see my own Doctor (the only one that gets things sorted) who has informed me that something did show up on my X-ray. I apparently have an extra joint in my shoulder (WTF????) and they are confident it isn't causing me the pain but gave me a few numbers for private Physio's

I will go along and see what he/she thinks. Pain really is very bad indeed. I was crippled today and deep breathing is painful.

It's getting worse each day frown

King Herald

Original Poster:

23,501 posts

216 months

Tuesday 29th September 2009
quotequote all
V8A*ndy said:
Well i've an update on my situation.

I am in total agony. I managed to see my own Doctor (the only one that gets things sorted) who has informed me that something did show up on my X-ray. I apparently have an extra joint in my shoulder (WTF????) and they are confident it isn't causing me the pain but gave me a few numbers for private Physio's

I will go along and see what he/she thinks. Pain really is very bad indeed. I was crippled today and deep breathing is painful.

It's getting worse each day frown
An extra joint in your shoulder? And they're confident that it is not giving you pain? Would I be out of order if I said they sound like a bunch of idiots? yikes

Anyway, as regards my shoulder, two days ago I was Googling for shoulder/arm pain and read that bad posture in front of the computer causes most cases like this. I must admit, it usually aches most when I'm on the computer, slouching, shoulders hunched, neck forward, resting on elbows etc.
So, I have changed my posture, sit upright, head level as possible....

....and the pain reduced remarkably in the same day!!!

I still have twinges, but I sleep a lot better, not throbbing arm any more. So far anyway.

Bill

52,694 posts

255 months

Tuesday 29th September 2009
quotequote all
V8A*ndy said:
an extra joint in my shoulder (WTF????)
WTF indeed! I assume something has been lost between the xray, doc and you. Either that or you're uniquehehe

V8A*ndy

3,695 posts

191 months

Tuesday 29th September 2009
quotequote all
Me being the thicko I am can't remember the medical term for it, but it was described to me as an extra joint in the glenohumeral joint/sac os something like that.

Can't find anything on google???????????????????????????????????????????????????

Loads of pain killers today. feeling not to bad.