Shoulder Impingement Problem

Back in late 2018, I had some pain in my subscapular that progressed to shoulder impingement and then full on frozen shoulder. Got surgery back in June 2019. I'm at about 90% recovered in terms of my range of motion. I still can't put my hand up behind my back and I still have a problem with what I think it's called medial internal rotation.

Prior to surgery, my physical therapist had me try all sorts of exercises. Nothing helped. Wall walks, arm circles, towel stretches, resistance band exercises, etc.

My case was pretty bad that there's no way I could've lasted 3 years. The pain was just that horrible.

How far up your side can you lift your arm?

Today, I had an injection of cortisone into the shoulder joint under X-ray by an orthopedic doctor and now I feel so much better. Finally. I wouldn’t fool around with chiropractors, there maybe some good ones out there but I haven’t found them. My shoulder got so bad I couldn’t turn my wrist to read my watch or wash my hair. It took me almost 4 weeks before I could get this appointment because of the COVID virus.

Get to a medical doctor. Hopefully it does not get worse for you. Hugs

swirlybee wrote: »

Back in late 2018, I had some pain in my subscapular that progressed to shoulder impingement and then full on frozen shoulder. Got surgery back in June 2019. I'm at about 90% recovered in terms of my range of motion. I still can't put my hand up behind my back and I still have a problem with what I think it's called medial internal rotation.

Prior to surgery, my physical therapist had me try all sorts of exercises. Nothing helped. Wall walks, arm circles, towel stretches, resistance band exercises, etc.

My case was pretty bad that there's no way I could've lasted 3 years. The pain was just that horrible.

How far up your side can you lift your arm?

Your account gives me some hope, so thank you for sharing!

I had surgery in October 2019 (so I’m 4 months behind your progress), and it’s been bothering me hugely that I can’t put my hand up behind my back, and I also have occasional issue with medial internal rotation. I also find that sudden extension/stretching of the arm causes deeply painful spasms of the bicep.

I had quite a number of things done during the surgery though (bone spur removal, removal of a large bursa, scraping/cleaning of the tendons, removal of the last centimetre of the collar bone tip, plus the cutting and dropping of the head of the biceps tendon.)

This was all in the attempt to resolve a very long standing problem (started when I was 21, I’m now 59) I still have pain but nothing even approaching the pain I had prior to the surgery. My surgeon did tell me that it can take between 18 months and 2 years to recover full range of motion.

Can’t wait for the day I can take my bra off without having to slip the shoulder straps and twizzle it around the front, though!

I went through physical therapy and soft tissue manipulation for about a year when I had severe pain from bursitis and impingement. For me, I had to completely lay off of any pushing exercise. No pushups, no benching, etc. I added lots of pulling and dead hanging. Lots of scapula strengthening exercises. I still have limited mobility in my shoulders, but I am pain free. I can even do low rep pushups without an issue now. I'll likely need to get the bone spurs removed at some point, but I'm hoping to put off for as long as possible.