Modern Vespa

I seem to have developed an acute case of bursitis in my right shoulder. It is so bad that I have to pick my right hand up with my left to move it between keyboard and mouse. Cannot seem to get the pain to stop. Prescribed anti inflammatory was ineffective and the only thing that seems to make a dent is high doses of Advil. I am also worried because due to a death in the family I have to fly to Boston on Wed. and am so dreading the flight.

Anyone have experience with bursitis and have an idea about how to reduce the pain or at least make it a bit more comfortable?

John, are you sure it is bursitis? Have you been checked out? Assuming that you've been examined and confirmed to have bursitis DO NOT take both your anti inflammatory and the ibuprofen. They are the same class of medication and you will increase your risk significantly of causing an ulcer. Pick either or but not both. For now if you need more pain relief you can add Tylenol extra strength to the mix for either the anti inflammatory or the advil.

Another thing that is quite helpful is ice. Ice pack, wrapped in a cloth applied for 10-15 mins every few hours as needed to relieve the pain.

Finally, you probably would receive very quick benefit from an injection of a steroid into the bursa. It is something that I often will add to a patient's treatment to go along with the physiotherapy that I would typically prescribe.

I hope that helps a bit.

This isn't going to help on your flight, but ice, ice, ice. Aleve works better for me than advil, but that is different for everybody.

Best of luck. I empathize with you.

edit: Glad Benny weighed in. Much more informed advice than mine.

Thanks Benny. I had hoped you would respond. Yes I stopped taking the prescription anti inflammatory before starting the Advil as my Dr said the same thing you did. She is a GP and is not sure of the diagnosis (she said it could also be a torn rotator cuff) but sent me for xrays Friday and referred me to a specialist that has not called me yet.

Trying the ice now.

That injection sounds painful. I know it would be for the best but wow, just putting slight pressure on the top of my shoulder is very painful.

+1 on the injection. I know it doesn't sound pleasant but it will probably give you the relief you need. I went in to have a shoulder problem looked at a couple of years ago and was told that it might be a bit of AC joint arthritis. The doctor suggested the steroid injection and I agreed. I was glad that I didn't have long to think about it and very glad that I didn't look at the needle. It eased the pain almost immediately and gave me the freedom of motion needed to be able to start my PT exercises.

The injection isn't that bad, at least it isn't when I do them. 8)

A torn rotator cuff is a definite possibility especially if it is so painful that you cannot raise your arm. Examining it would be needed to make that diagnosis. An Xray won't help with diagnosing a tear, you would need to do an ultrasound or MRI, MRI's are expensive so typically an ultrasound is done. Either way you'll be needing physiotherapy and possibly an injection.

If this persists too long you're at risk of a frozen shoulder, essentially the joint capsule scars and your range of motion of your shoulder will be very very limited. This is one of the reasons to see a good physiotherapist sooner than later.

Good luck John, these things are painful and really affect one's activities.

+1

I was misdiagnosed as having bursitis. After much complaining, I ended up finally getting an MRI which revealed a torn rotator cuff.

Hiya,

I was diagnosed with suba-cromial burstitis following a rear end collision on my PX 125 about 2 years ago. The injection was a godsend, before that I could not lift my right arm up, I had pain especially in the mornings. The injection allowed me to exercise and begin a course of physio...all of it free on the NHS, but it was approximately a year before I was fully 100% mobile.

Good luck

Bursitis is a bitch and give me a broken bone any day Be careful on how much motrin you take also. Take it with some food. Benny has your back. The injection will work wonders, trust me. You ride a scooter and your not afraid of needles right? I'd push for a MRI especially if you can't remember hurting the shoulder. Good luck

Another 1 for getting the shot. Just don't look at the needle!

Thank you for all the replies. I sure hope it is not a torn rotator cuff, but I will be sure to ask for an MRI. I got the specialist to get me in early tomorrow. Going to pick up my xrays and bring them over this afternoon. Oh, and the ice helps. Takes the edge off and the joint doesn't feel like it is going to explode anymore. I just applied an Icy Hot patch because I am going into a meeting. Seems to be helping or at least distracting me a bit.

As for the shot. No I am not generally afraid of needles. I was a blood donor recruiter for the red cross for 5 years and used to let new phlebotomists practice on me, but the thought of a needle going into that joint is giving me the willies. Benny do you make house calls?

Again thanks for all of the comments. I wouldn't wish this on anyone...well maybe a few but definitely not on someone I like.

I can sympathize John. After a bad cycling crash, I developed shoulder impingement syndrome, which persisted for months! I think I was buying the jumbo sized bottles of ibuprofen.

You don't appreciate how often you use your joint until it hurts for every little thing you once did without thought.

I don't have anything to add to Benito's excellent advise. Good luck with your specialist consultation. Keep us posted on how you're doing.

http://www.activerelease.com/providerSearch.asp?strGeocode=%2829.4791378%2C+-81.6714687%29&strAddress=Welaka%2C+FL%2C+USA

Thanks Leia. Yeah I wish I could point to something that caused it but it just started out as a little pain last Tuesday and grew progressively worse 'till I started taking Advil on Sunday...now it is just holding at about an 7 pain rating but that is down from a 9 on Sunday. And yes it really is amazing how much you take for granted the use of both arms.

Did yours heal up completely?

Thanks louisq! The one in Daytona seems to have all of the qualifications. Will look them up when I get back next week if the issue is not better...I sure hope it is.

I have MRI studies and have tried everything but surgery. Bursitis, rotator cuff damage, and damaged biceps attachment (don't remember medical term) confirmed. Injections did work but eventually the only long term relief has been Active Release and daily exercises. Ice is your friend, just don't ice to long! Oxycontin is your friend for the roughest spots, use it conservatively, but don't be shy about using it. Pain may still be a 5 or 6 but at least not the focus of your day.

Sucks dude, I feel your pain, get well and feel less pain.....

Good luck!

PM member bendcyclist for a possible reference. He referred me to someone he worked with! There might be a connection near you. It's amazing who's in the MV extended community!

The MV community really is amazing. Thanks for your ideas and empathy. Now off to try to survive a meeting uugh.

Yes, with SIP, sometimes conservative treatment with rest, anti-imflammatories and some PT exercises allows it to resolve on it's own.
I wasn't looking forward to the thought of shoulder surgery, since it's a rather complex thing. It took about 6 months before all the pain was gone, and I could sleep on that side again. Fortunately it's never come back. Don't get me started on my right knee though...now I have sequelae from a tree-climbing incident when I was 13...
Sometimes, I really hate gravity and getting older....


BTW, if you're taking pain meds and your pain is still a 7, you really need to consider that shot, if the specialist offers it. With joints, it's a 'use it or lose it' proposition with respect to maintaining range of motion. Feel better soon!

Pay for my travel costs and room and board in a five star and you've got me for a day.

Dang no five starts here in little ole' Welaka, FL. Would you settle for a fish camp? I can probably swing an entire single wide.

What on earth is a fish camp?

Anyone south of the mason dixon line would know. Usually consists of a few rustic cabins and maybe mixed in trailers that sit on the edge of the water or near a boat ramp. The fancier ones have a restaurant and the 5 star ones have a bar, dance floor and juke box.

Sounds like some of the big ice fishing villages that appear in Minnesota in the winter.

I get the jab for my tennis elbow , hurts like a bitch lol but well worth it I find this stuff good , discovered it in Canada a few years ago and I now get it sent over to N.Ireland by the case www.stopain.com

OR take two of these three times a day

Update. First thank you all again for your comments and for putting up with my whining.

Had a moscow mule and 3 advil last night and went to bed. When I woke up this morning the pain was nearly gone and i could raise my elbow almost to the height of my shoulder. This kind of stuff always happens to me just before I go to see the Dr.

Anyway, saw the Dr. and he showed me the xray. It shows calcification around a tendon just below the bursa. He said it looked like an athlete's joint that had been injured and had undergone many cortisone injections which surprised me because I cannot remember ever injuring it and have never had a cortisone shot.

He gave me some stretching exercises to do for two weeks and if the pain is still there or I don't have normal motion he is going to inject a dye into the joint to see if the rotator cuff leaks...if so that means i have a tear and may need surgery...yikes.

NO!!

Sorry none of my business but if I had surgery every time some Dr. told me it was necessary my life would be pretty miserable now. Please get additional opinions and alternative views. So many of my active friends are suffering more with the after effects of surgery than the original injury.



What do you call the bottom of his class in medical school?

Doctor!

The calcification suggests some chronicity to the tendonitis.

I'm kinda with Louis' skepticism here, calcium deposits in joints are quite common, and I had some show up on my MRI with my shoulder impingement syndrome.
It could easily be this:Calcific tendinitis (also calcific/calcifying/calcified/calcareous tenonitis/tendonitis/tendinopathy, tendinosis calcarea, hydroxyapatite deposition disease (HADD) and calcific periarthritis), a form of tendinitis, is a disorder characterized by deposits of hydroxyapatite (a crystalline calcium phosphate) in any tendon of the body, but most commonly in the tendons of the rotator cuff (shoulder), causing pain and inflammation. It usually occurs in people ages 30-50's.
The condition is related to and may cause frozen shoulder. Pain is often aggravated by elevation of the arm above shoulder level or by lying on the shoulder. Pain may awaken the patient from sleep. Other complaints may be stiffness, snapping, catching, or weakness of the shoulder.

Most of the literature states that pain meds, PT and time resolves this issue. Surgery is only indicated if the deposit is large and doesn't resolve on it's own.

Perhaps you may consider getting a second opinion? It couldn't hurt.

Thanks. Yeah if I have to have the dye injection and it show a tear in the rotator cuff and surgery is recommended I will definitely get a second opinion. I just hope it doesn't come to all that.

Since I have never (or at least have no memory of) an injury I wonder if years of sleeping predominately on my right side could account for the calcification. It was quite prominent and even a lay person like me could see it...well once it was pointed out.

The last specialists I saw indicated that even an MRI can be inconclusive and that many of us, even those without symptoms may show abnormalities in the studies. I was told the only truly conclusive studies would be a scope. But in the end I don't know shit, I just have learned to have a healthy skepticism and to look for least invasive solutions.

John, so sorry to read about your unexpected shoulder pain. I also agree with fellow members that a 2nd (maybe 3rd) opinion should be done. I've been to many Docs here in FL over past year, amazing how they have differ in opinion. Years ago I got a shot in bursa of small toe, it did the trick. My advice, is to avoid the knife If possible. I sure hope you get the right medical advice and recover quickly.

I agree w/Benny. I had similar problem with my right shoulder after bad fall skiing. The injection wasn't that painful. Orthopedist sprayed some type of liquid freeze on injection site & hardly felt anything. The injection of cortisone really helped for a couple weeks. I had torn rotator cuff determined by MRI. I had arthroscopic surgery to repair that & an impingement in 1997 & have had no problems since.

Use of Acupuncture for Pain
Acupuncture, among the oldest healing practices in the world, is part of traditional Chinese medicine. This has worked for me, you might want to look into it.

IBKING

Lots of great advice on here for your problem Sticky!

My experience (torn rotator cuff from scooter accident that shattered my scapula into 13 pieces) necessitated surgery BUT I will say that if I just did standard PT exercises and conventional pain management I would have probably been a basket case.

I was luckily hooked up into the semi-alternative world of Yoga-Therapy and nutritional dietary experts here in town and they took what was classified as an 11% disability (by conventional docs) and made it so I have virtually no residual effects from the surgery or the accident. I was literally doing micro-energy exercises 48 hours after my accident and 3 hours after surgery at the direction of my therapist and was off of conventional pain meds of all types within a few days as well...

If you are interested, just look around or ask folks in your local yoga community to see if anyone specializes in doing injury-specific yoga practices or consultations, and they will likely be able to connect you to similarly minded nutritionists and such to help in the recovery process.

(Edit - I had acupuncture as well for awhile - worked great!)

Good luck!

Desi B.

I've tried most of the above. My recommendation: See the beer thread on this forum.

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You may have already discovered this, but when you sleep, support your injured shoulder (and elbow) with a pillow to give the joint(s) rest while you sleep. It will also help keep you from rolling onto that side in your sleep, causing a rapid burst of pain that wakes you when you need your sleep the most!

I usually sleep on the unaffected side, and put a fairly good sized pillow against my chest, resting my shoulder against it, and my elbow on it. It puts the joints into a more "neutral" position.

I can always roll back to my back without waking in my sleep. The pillow support really has helped me.

Good luck. Pain sucks.

This post was not quite
What we were hoping to see
Try again, perhaps?