Possible rotator cuff tendinitis

Posted , 3 users are following.

Hi everyone

In brief. Pain started in both upper arms to collar bones in March. Went to GP April as getting worse and movement like getting dressed, drying back after shower was too painful. Getting an ultrasound on Friday but currently I am not sleeping and in pain 24/7. I already take strong pain relief due to arthritis if the spine knees and wrists. I get epidurals for cervical arthritis, nothing can be done for lumber now as injections didn't work and surgery has been ruled as too risky with limited chance of success. I don't particularly want to rely on steroid injections for this problem. GP believes this may be caused by arthritis in both shoulders. I already feel like a pin cushion having injections in both knees as they arnt at the stage for operations yet but I know it's only a matter of time. I'm 54 this September and started with arthritis at 48

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Posted

    I am so sorry you have so much pain. As it is both sides has your GP looked at the possibility of polymyalgia rheumatica
    • Posted

      He hasn't. He originally thought it was my fibromyalgia but after seeing my pain consultant, he advised me if it was fibro it wouldn't be worse on movement like this is so hence getting an ultrasound. I think the best assumption by GP now is arthritis related but only ultrasound may tell but constant pain and no sleep is really affecting me

    • Posted

      Did you have your CRP blood level checked?
    • Posted

      Hi

      Yes, had it done recently as had chronically elevated liver function for 8 months now believed to be caused by sphincter of oddi. Seen a rheumatologist when my back pain started but was ruled to be wear and tear same as knees and wrists oddly enough both joints either side seem to always be affected but my left side is always slightly more affected

  • Posted

    Hello wall1409

    I am sorry to hear about the problems you are having with not just your shoulders but all the other problems re arthiritis.  48 is so young to have started, my best friend now living in LA has had it since she was in her 20s and she is 73 now.  She has both forms of arthiritis and has had 5 hip replacments.

    I too have similar shoulder problems like you, in my right shoulder.  About 3 years ago I slipped and fell on a wet floor and severely bruised my right side of the body.  I was travelling home to Fiji a week later.  At the time I didnt feel too much pain, with the exception of the bruises.  However, in Januiary last year I started to experience a lot of pain in my right shoulder - like you, I couldnt do many things, with the arm, had a lot of pain on the upper arm which caused me a lot of sleepless nights. 

    My GP first sent me for X-rays which just picked up on wear and tear.  He referred me to see an orthopaedic consultant - privately - who after getting me to do certain movements diagnosed it as rotator cuff problems and impingement issues.  I was offered a guided steroid injection - ultrasound - and this is when he found I had a 25mm tear in my supraspinatus muscle.  He recommended physiotherapy which I have had and failing that perhaps a keyhole surgery.  I decided against surgery, given my age, and opted for physio/ortho exercises.  My physio taught me a number of exercises to strengthen and stretch the remaining muscles which I must do daily, for the rest of my life. 

    I still have pain but I must say the physio exercises have helped enormously and still does.

    I hope, after ultrasound, you get a proper diagnosis.  Best of luck.

    • Posted

      Thank you

      gp gave a steroid injection into left shoulder as right shoulder shows bursitis on xray so he's assuming my left shoulder is the sameiissue only worse as its obviously impinged. Steroid injection hasn't worked and pain is 10 fold i can't shower sleep or dress myself, utterly fed up. Going back to go today as my right shoulder needs injecting but goodness knows what's going to happen about my left one, it also looks a strange shape compared to my right. Unfortunately i am riddled with osteoarthritis and i believe this is the culprit

    • Posted

      Update

      Ultrasound showed nothing in left arm but bursitis in right. My left arm has not responded to 2 steroid injections but GP believes it's severely impinged with loss of muscle so sending me for a different scan. Has anyone else had problems that did not show on ultrasound please

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