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waiting for surgery, calcification tendonitos

Posted , 6 users are following.

briana90135
briana90135

ive had this problem over 2 years now, and after various treatments ie, physio, cortisod injections, my physio finally agrees its time to sort it! no s*** ive been in agony, its my right arm so really need to be able to use it without feeling sick through pain. My question is how long do you usually have to wait for the surgery? its only been 2 weeks since the physio referred me but already im desperate, (say already i have been like this for 2 years). im in mid glam area.

0 likes, 19 replies

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  • deb49491
    deb49491 briana90135

    Posted

    Hi Briana,

    I have a frozen shoulder . What surgery are you having done ? They manipulated my shoulder to break adhesions . Not happy with results pain is better but took three weeks . My range of motion only improved a little. Very frustrating . Going to therapy helps a little . My ortho dr actually said  just to keep it moving and that's really all he could do for me . Going to give it some time and see what happens . Are you in pain all the time? The arm/elbow pain was horrible . Hope you get some relief soon 

    deb

    • briana90135
      briana90135 deb49491

      Posted

      thanks for the reply deb

       Im having the calcium deposit removed via keyhole and bone spurs shaved off, im told its aroutine op and only 3 keyhole sights are used, ill be in a sling for a few days but anabe to lift my arm for several weeks! that im not looking forward to as im a full time carer to my husband so its going to be very difficult. ive suffered with pain in my bicep and shoulder for over 2 years (checked my diaries) had a few steriod injections they worked a treat, a deep bone analgesic injection that helped for a few weeks, had a scan that spotted the problem straight away, it did look a little alarming tho seeing that growth in my arm!!! then a few physio sessions which even she said its not going to make a differance as the growth is in your tendon.  i have been in pain on a scale of 8/9 everyday since the injection has wore off and im told theres not a lot of medication will ease it, so im using an analgesic gel from the gp. works a little better than the ibrofen gel they like to give out, but the pain is something else, keeps me awake, im getting ratty cos im tired and in pain all the time, if i could afford the surgery i would jump at the chance. ive been trying to find out approx waiting times for the op,

        Think your orth doc is def right you have to keep moving the joint best you can, i know it can be painful but it will help it stop ceasing up all together, hope you find some relief soon. xx

  • Dizziannie
    Dizziannie briana90135

    Posted

    I've had something slightly different - my tendinitis led to a frozen shoulder. Started off gradually around beginning of the year, by July could hardly move my arm away from my side. Is this what you have or is it definitely calcification? Fortunately I have BUPA and was seen immediately, operation within the week. Unfortunately wasn't very successful. Had it redone 3 weeks ago and I am already almost back to normal. If I'd had to wait on NHS, it's a 2 yr waiting list if they do it at all because a frozen shoulder will get better by itself eventually. If it's calcification you will need surgery. I hope waiting lists are better where you are because, either way, when it works, it's almost an instant fix. Good luck.
    • briana90135
      briana90135 Dizziannie

      Posted

      morning,

       definatly calcification with bone spurs, took less than a minute to spot it on the scan, xray showed up bone spurs too, i hope to god ive not got to wait another 2 years its ridiculas!! im in agony, ive come close a few times to chopping my arm off. im good at keeping the mobility going but everything i have to use my arm for is such an effort because of the pain. what pain relief did you have ? if you dont mind me asking. ive had cocodamol and gels but dont really do anything only bung me up. the only thing that eased it was the steroid and deep pain killer injections, of which ive had my quota of. im really at a low ebb because of this. im so glad you,ve found relief at least. thanks for your reply, it helps knowing other people that have been in a similer position and got through it. bb

  • karenmarie
    karenmarie briana90135

    Posted

    Hi - I had capsular release surgery keyhole 6 weeks ago. It's been a huge success! I'm no longer in excruciating pain 24/7. It does ache a bit but I can cope with that. I went private as I didn't want to wait (about 4-6 months on NHS) I waited 2 weeks... It's not cheap (approx £4600) but included Physio appointments and  consultations with top shoulder specialist. Worth every penny if you can afford it (we had to get a loan).

    Hope this helps and the best of luck. 

    • briana90135
      briana90135 karenmarie

      Posted

      hi, i really wish i could afford to go private i would jump at the chance, i have an appointment with my gp next week for medication review so im going to ask if she can try and get my surgery earlier as i have had this for 2 years already, i,ll be on antidepressants if not!, i am expecting there to be some aching etc, just need this horrible permenant pain to go. thanks for the info, are you back to driving etc now?
    • karenmarie
      karenmarie briana90135

      Posted

      Hi you may consider paying to see shoulder consultant privately they can advise you and then have op on NHS. I paid £190. 

      I'm now driving, washing my hair and waving! I'm right handed and it was my right shoulder, basically frozen solid to my side in the end and not sleeping for months. Now I'm sleeping and don't feel depressed anymore. 

    • briana90135
      briana90135 karenmarie

      Posted

      hi, ive seen a consultant and been down the physio route, it was the physio consultant that said she was putting me forward for surgery and that i wouldnt have to see anyone else now just wait for the date,,,,, but ho long is a piece of string, think the only way of finding out is for me to give the hospital a ring and ask about waiting times, thans for your info, bb

       

  • Dizziannie
    Dizziannie briana90135

    Posted

    I couldn't agree more with Karenmarie, if you can go private, do. My health area (Aberdeenshire, Scotland) has around a 2 yr wait for op. If I didn't have insurance I would without doubt pay, however, i'm amazed the cost was so high. I read around £2000 was the cost of arthroscopic surgery. I would advise you to pay to see a consultant. That will cost around £160-£200. He will advise you on best course of action, timescale, cost, recovery..........(he will probably work in NHS as well and can advise on that option as well). My second op was like a miracle, instantly 85percent better. I could lie on it, drive, wash hair, shave under arms...........to me that was priceless.
  • briana90135
    briana90135

    Posted

    hi all,

     Wellhad a look into going down the private route for the surgery, but theres no way i can afford it, i had to give up my job (and all the healthcare that went with it) to care for my husband a few years back so on benefits now,, ive returned to the gp twice since my last posting, the pain has reached a new level i practicly begged for another injection but they said ive had the quota for 12 months, (sob) its the only thing that eases the pain, when a woman my age sits at the edge of the bed in the early hours sobbing in pain theres something wrong with the system..... if i were brave enough i would cut my own arm off thats how bad its getting, and im told take 8 cocodamol 30/500 8 times a day, ive not heard from the hospital as yet although one gp has written asking for an early date. Im sure my left arm is staring to have similer pain too is this common? Is the surgery a " day " case?

    One thing it is good to come here and get some info and people that understand. bb

  • briana90135
    briana90135

    Posted

    UPDATE!!!!

     I just phoned hospital appointments to find out whereabouts i am on waiting list, ( really cannot cope anymore with the pain) to be told i am not on an inpatient waiting list but on the ortho appointment list to see the consultant!!! omg, i cried so much,,,, i have for 2 years been back and for hospital, physio, gp, had the cortisone inj, and at my limit of them now, i was told at my last physio app that she (physio) would refer me for surgery now as nothing more can be achieved, and to just wait for a surgery appointment date. I have checked my diaries and my initial gp appointments and first hospital appointments, scans confirming calcification of tendons, were january 2013. I can see what is happening, send me down the physio route, so it looks like on paper that ive had treatment,,,,, then back to bottom of the list, im so down,, what can i do, pay to see the consultant? how much are we looking at? will he then put me on a surgery waiting list. please if anyone can point me in the right direction. One thing is clear my am ( welsh minister)is going to get an email complaining  about the way the system is fooling people into thinking waiting times are 18/26 weeks, no way are they, 2 years for me and still waiting. sorry for the rant, im in so much pain, bb

    • karenmarie
      karenmarie briana90135

      Posted

      I'm so sorry to hear this - I feel your pain. This is what I think you could do:- 

      - go to your GP ASAP

      - ask for a private referral to a shoulder specialist/Orthopaedic Surgeon (£180 approx) - ask GP to fax over their letter (or email but my GP didn't do email)

      - ask for the contact details of specialist's secretary so you can chase them up 

      - you'll get an appointment really quickly 

      - ask specialist what their waiting time is on NHS 

      I had the op in October, I was in so much pain I was getting clinically depressed. I'm

       now IN NO PAIN. It was the best £4500 ever spent (we got a loan). 

      I know it's so despairing horrible pain. If you can get the money from anyone anyhow I would. I'm now waving at you with my good arm hoping you'll soon get this op.

      Kind regards

      Karen 

    • briana90135
      briana90135 karenmarie

      Posted

      thanks for your reply karen, i have seen the gp and he is as frustrated by the system as i am i explained that as i had been to physio and there was no improvement i have to be assessed again??? go figure the money the nhs is wating on this type of method annoys me so much,,, so have to wait to see yet another hospital consultant, then yet another scan /x rays ,,,i broke down and sobbed, im finding it so difficult to manage with cooking/cleaning/personal care and thats just for me i have my husband to care for too, even making meals is difficult. gp said he would writ to hospital again but dont hold my breathe, i asked about going to see the consultant privatly even though it would put me in debt. gp explained he cannot any longer do that unless i am prepared to pay for  ALL treatment, scans/ xrays/ medication etc, as well as surgery it could run into thousands, but he is going to give me another cortisone injection on monday, so fingers crossed a little elief for a few weeks. Who ever does the budgets with the nhs should really take a fresh look how the money is being spent!!!! it looks like i may have to have carers in to look after my husband as i cannot manage through pain, thats another £15 an hour of public money, all because i have to go through this sham of a system.  just hope i win the lottery or something soon eh. bb
  • briana90135
    briana90135

    Posted

    up date.. Jan 8th

     After having the 2 injections monday that i thought hadnt worked, i slept nearly all night!!! cheesygrintook pain killers (kapake) at 9pm and although a little restless when turning over i did sleep. omg, so good, so looks like the steroid is starting to do its job. i have still got restrition there if i move my arm a certain way boy i know it, but the persistant nagging pin has subsided, id say its on a number 1 after being number 8/9.  going to enjoy next few weeks, but i know about week 4 the pain starts to creep backsad. but thats then. in the mean time i am still pushing my gp and hospital for a appointment date. 2 years waiting is time enough i think. bb

    • karenmarie
      karenmarie briana90135

      Posted

      I'm so pleased you have some pain relief - sleeping after months of not is such a fab feeling isn't it! Hopefully this will help see you through towards an op solution. Kind regards Karen 
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