pain relief

[jrchop]

I have adhesive capultis in the left shoulder,it makes it difficult to sleep at night,What kind of relief do I need to seek until the surgery is done

[geminigirl1963]

I hope the PT helps with your pain and mobility.  Keep me posted, please, on how you're doing.

Best of luck!

[jrchop]

I received the MRI report today and there is  a 4x4cm tear in the rotator cuff and I have to have 6 weeks pt and then go from there. Thank you for your concern in helping with the pain management.

[geminigirl1963]

Depending on the results of your MRI, including what other damage there may be to your shoulder, you may be a candidate for a shoulder replacement.  It's not a fun surgery (no surgery is), and prostethic joint will never be completely the same as your "real" joint, however, if you're a candidate for it, it could give you some pain relief and ability to use that arm.  I had my surgery almost three years ago and while my shoulder definitely is not perfect and I don't have the strength in that arm that I did years and years ago, I still consider the surgery a success because it has given me back some use of that arm and reduced my shoulder pain.  Prior to the surgery, I literally could not brush my teeth without being in agony and tears.

Best of luck and keep me posted!

I also didn't get much relief, if any, from teh injections in the shoulder - but my joint was just way too far gone I think and that's why they didn't help at all.  You may be in that same situation.

[jrchop]

I went to a specialiast yesterday and the doc told me it may be beyond use for the rest of my life. I had an MRI today and will know the results in a couple days and yes they have done injections on area with little results so I will know in a couple days weather I will continue to have little use of the shoulder for rest of my life and thank you for your response. It is an uplift that someone out there has been through this kind of ordeal

[geminigirl1963]

I'm sorry to hear you've had to suffer with this condition for so long - it is VERY painful!!

but I'm glad that your doctor has given you something to hopefully help with the pain until you can have your surgery done.

I thought of something else that might help with the pain until you can get the surgery - get yourself a sling (they sell them at places like Walmart or the drugstores) and wear that when you're up and about.  It will not only hopefully keep your arm/shoulder in a more comfortable position, but will also "remind" you to not try and use that arm/shoulder too much, causing more damage and pain.

I had shoulder replacement surgery done almost three years ago and still use my immobilizer sometimes when my shoudler is acting up - definitely not all the time, but on days when it's just giving me a lot of trouble.

Just out of curiosity, have the docs tried a cortisone injection into your shoulder?  If they haven't, you may want to ask them about it - it could give you some relief by helping to reduce the inflammation in the joint.  the injection really isn't as bad as it sounds - they numb the area first and the injection also contains a numbing medication as well as the steroid.  Of course, with the injection of the initial numbing medication, you'll feel a stick and a burn as the numbing stuff goes in, but the injection of the actual steroid/numbing combination, to me, only felt like my shoulder joint was getting full.  In my case, I not only had the frozen shoulder, but my shoulder joint was totally chewed up by arthritis - hence the complete shoulder replacement.

have they set a date for your surgery yet?  Are you having a shoulder replacement or what are they planning on doing?

I hope you get some pain relief soon.

[jrchop]

The doctor has given me percocet and yesterday changed it to norco 10/325 with zanaflex for muscle relaxation. The thing that makes so bad I was incarasated for one year and the facility did not recognize the problem and denied the medical. It could have been prevented with a simple arthscropy surgery but the state is to cheap to perform such. Now I have to have this done and it is so much worse than it could have been and should have been.

[carole49]

I also have adhesive capsulitis in my left shoulder I have been to therapy for 2 weeks then had shoulder manipulation and back in therapy and yes it is very painful i haven't found no relief yet, they told me today that my shoulder blade is also locked up. I hope you find some relief soon. good luck

[geminigirl1963]

I'm sorry you're having trouble with your shoulder - adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) is very painful.

You may try propping your shoulder/arm in bed on some extra pillows - it'll help keep it at a better angle and not let it "fall backward" as you sleep.  You might even find sleeping on your opposite side and resting your affected arm on your side/stomach will help relieve some of the pain.  You don't want to lay on the affected side because doing so will make it hurt worse.

When is your surgery?  Has the doctor given you any medication to take before the surgery?