Rotator cuff tendinitis

Have you made an appointment with a physical therapist yet? I did and it as the best money I ever spent. Totally worth it.

You've had a doctor's diagnosis?

You should get an appointment with a doctor before trying to fix this yourself. You could make it worse.

Have you tried taking an anti-inflammatory? Not sure what's up with my shoulder but a couple of Voltarin really helped.

What ever it is called, just go.

I hurt my shoulder last September. I finally saw a doctor 6 months later because it was worse, not better. He sent me to PT, and the physical therapist I had made it much worse. I'm not sure if that would have happened with any PT, but the one I had was pretty aggressive with my shoulder. The only positive part of PT is that I learned to place a pillow under my arm while sleeping, which reduced the aggravation to the shoulder through the night.

Next step was to get an MRI, which showed a torn rotator cuff tendon. These do not get better or heal on their own, but require surgery which completely immobilizes the arm for 6 weeks, and doesn't heal completely for 6 - 12 months. Those who have the surgery say it's worth it.

I'm hesitating on the surgery because my shoulder has gradually become less painful and more limber over the last 3 months. It's tolerable to do day to day activities, but not exercise. Since I make my living as a pianist, surgery is out of the question for the time being. I would probably miss 2 -3 months of work and can't afford that right now.

My advice: See an orthopedic dr. who specializes in shoulders and ask for an MRI before letting a physical therapist touch you! Doctors don't like to recommend particular physical therapists usually, but ask if any other patients have given good reports about a particular therapist, and the dr. might pass that along to you.

Keep icing and good luck!

lin7604 wrote: »

Ugh so long... so not looking forward to this. Bi figured it was a quick thing as I have no idea how it Even developed. I thought I just slept funny. But don't get why it's getting worse each day.? I was just getting back on track and now my exercise is very limited! Everything seems to need upper body. Even walking today bothered it.

I should have written this before. My tendonitis problem might have been different from yours since mine came from a medicine reaction.

See a doctor if you haven't done so. I hope your doctor is more help than mine was to me. I was in pain for weeks and then it slowly got better, but your situation might be different.

I would ask for tests to find out if you've torn something. Some insurance will ask for PT before they will pay for an MRI. Just be careful until you know what's wrong.

kimothy38 wrote: »

Have you tried taking an anti-inflammatory? Not sure what's up with my shoulder but a couple of Voltarin really helped.

IMO bad advice. Don't take random pain meds for undiagnosed pain.

lin7604 wrote: »

Thx everyone. I just have no idea what I even did to Aggravate it in the first place..... it's a mystery!

Last night I took 2 Tylenol aches and pains and I actually slept pretty good. I could only sleep on my belly which I am fine with. Sleeping on my side seems to shift it in a position that hurts and when on my back. I am definitely trying to rest it and not move it as much but it's hard as I work with 1-2 year olds!!!!
I agree I think my nerve is also pinched a bit with the other sensations I am getting. Again how the heck did all this happen? Just from sleeping funny???

Usually it's chronic. It took me 15 years to injure mine... one day at a time using a computer with less than perfect posture.

stanmann571 wrote: »

lin7604 wrote: »

Thx everyone. I just have no idea what I even did to Aggravate it in the first place..... it's a mystery!

Last night I took 2 Tylenol aches and pains and I actually slept pretty good. I could only sleep on my belly which I am fine with. Sleeping on my side seems to shift it in a position that hurts and when on my back. I am definitely trying to rest it and not move it as much but it's hard as I work with 1-2 year olds!!!!
I agree I think my nerve is also pinched a bit with the other sensations I am getting. Again how the heck did all this happen? Just from sleeping funny???

Usually it's chronic. It took me 15 years to injure mine... one day at a time using a computer with less than perfect posture.

Yep, it took me longer, about 30 years, but after that had 6 shoulder operations. I asked the doctor if my lifting was an issue, he said, nope, the time sitting at a desk on a computer.

I'm 6'2", the typical desk is designed for someone 5'8 to 5'10". Doesn't take a rocket scientist.

I have either a torn rotator or bursitis in my left shoulder, due to either a fall or my attempt at a pushup challenge. I went to a doctor about 5 months after the initial injury, when I had gotten to the point that I couldn't lift my left arm above chest high and was having a lot of pain putting on clothes, etc. He gave me cortisone shots in the shoulder, which helped a little, but not a lot. So I went to PT twice a week for electric stim., icing, and exercises. After about 6 weeks, I stopped the office visits but continued the exercises. I've been doing them for about 3 months. The exercises helped a lot in terms of getting mobility back but it still hurts to lie on that shoulder. I was also told that surgery is only necessary for a serious tear. Otherwise it will heal on its own, but it takes a long time - sometimes a year or more.