Does anyone have shoulder issues? Torn Rotator Cuff/Frozen Shoulder etc
arpie
Member Posts: 8,122 ✭
Hi guys
It is well known, that, for some reason, women get more shoulder problems than men - specially around/after the age of 50 ... probably from lifting kids all the time & the laundry, shopping & other stuff ... (tho I never had kids, so can't blame that!)
Over the last 25 years, I've had a procedure done on both my shoulders - the first being manipulation under a block anaesthetic for a severe frozen shoulder, where I couldn't lift my arm above shoulder height & couldn't put it behind my back at all! (It took 6 months of physio/exercises to get it back to normal range of movement.) The 2nd was Acromioplasty, 10 years later - keyhole surgery on the other arm for torn rotator cuff & bicep/frozen shoulder - which took well over a year to get normal range of movement back. At the time, my surgeon said I'd probably be back in 10 years for another procedure .....
Fast forward another 5 years - This time last year I was diagnosed again with torn rotator cuff and frozen shoulder in the original arm (nearly 25 years since the 1st procedure - I was SO lucky it has lasted 'that long' without recurrence!) I tried to get hold of my original surgeon who did both procedures (who was BRILLIANT with shoulders) but sadly, he had retired early last year!
I put it on the back burner .....
So ... Back to the drawing board ..... At the time, I had a good look at my cupboards to see what may be aggravating the shoulder - and sure enough - a couple of heavy items that I used every day (including my big jar of Vegemite!) - was further away & higher up than they needed to be!
When removing them every morning for breakfast, it put an unusual angle on my left arm, aggravating the shoulder! So ... I rearranged everything in that cupboard, bringing the heavy bits to eye level & immediately to my left, instead of having to reach up & over to get them - so it was MUCH easier to get the heavy bits out - and VOILA! 12 months down the track, I have no pain in the shoulder at all!! YAY! I am hoping it stays this way!
If you are having shoulder issues - check out the placement of stuff in ALL your cupboards (not just the kitchen) and make sure the stuff you use more often, is closer & either at eye level or lower, as picking things up is usually less aggravating to the shoulders than bringing them down from from a distance & higher up!
take care
It is well known, that, for some reason, women get more shoulder problems than men - specially around/after the age of 50 ... probably from lifting kids all the time & the laundry, shopping & other stuff ... (tho I never had kids, so can't blame that!)
Over the last 25 years, I've had a procedure done on both my shoulders - the first being manipulation under a block anaesthetic for a severe frozen shoulder, where I couldn't lift my arm above shoulder height & couldn't put it behind my back at all! (It took 6 months of physio/exercises to get it back to normal range of movement.) The 2nd was Acromioplasty, 10 years later - keyhole surgery on the other arm for torn rotator cuff & bicep/frozen shoulder - which took well over a year to get normal range of movement back. At the time, my surgeon said I'd probably be back in 10 years for another procedure .....
Fast forward another 5 years - This time last year I was diagnosed again with torn rotator cuff and frozen shoulder in the original arm (nearly 25 years since the 1st procedure - I was SO lucky it has lasted 'that long' without recurrence!) I tried to get hold of my original surgeon who did both procedures (who was BRILLIANT with shoulders) but sadly, he had retired early last year!
I put it on the back burner ..... So ... Back to the drawing board ..... At the time, I had a good look at my cupboards to see what may be aggravating the shoulder - and sure enough - a couple of heavy items that I used every day (including my big jar of Vegemite!) - was further away & higher up than they needed to be!
When removing them every morning for breakfast, it put an unusual angle on my left arm, aggravating the shoulder! So ... I rearranged everything in that cupboard, bringing the heavy bits to eye level & immediately to my left, instead of having to reach up & over to get them - so it was MUCH easier to get the heavy bits out - and VOILA! 12 months down the track, I have no pain in the shoulder at all!! YAY! I am hoping it stays this way!
If you are having shoulder issues - check out the placement of stuff in ALL your cupboards (not just the kitchen) and make sure the stuff you use more often, is closer & either at eye level or lower, as picking things up is usually less aggravating to the shoulders than bringing them down from from a distance & higher up!
take care
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Comments
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@arpie great suggestions there
I have sturdy little step ladder only 2 steps which whenever things are above shoulder height. I have only developed the shoulder issues since they added the palbo to the AI (it enhances the effects of the Anastrozole) also increased the side effects. Physio did a good job getting better movement in the left shoulder and less pain. Now the right shoulder is ceasing up. So now I will have to work on it. The joys of it all.Next will be the neck. I’m losing range of movement there as well. I refuse to put it all down to old age.2 -
Oh I hear you @arpie. I had shoulder issues years ago but it is a sensitive area for sure. I like your cupboard idea. I am about to clean out my pantry so your post has been timely and has now given me a new direction to go with how I stack it after I clean it out. Cheers1
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I hope that you both get some relief, @Cath62 and @cranky_granny .... My surgeon told me that the shoulder is the most complex bit of 'moveable parts' of the whole body. There are at least three bones, nearly a dozen different muscles and many ligaments and tendons meet in the shoulder. The way that they are connected allows us to move our arms in just about any direction we want. The bones/tendons slide & glide over each other - and if one is compromised, the whole lot is compromised. And the weird thing is that I am STRONGLY a right handed person - yet it was my left arm that was frozen first - and almost happening again now! Weird!
It involves the scapula as well! With the frozen shoulder, it is like having it totally 'shrink wrapped' - in front of the mirror, when I DID lift my arm to shoulder height out from the side of my body, my scapula moved out with it & I almost had a 'wing'! I knew then that no amount of physio/ultrasound/accupuncture would make no difference (which is what I was having for 6 months!) It only got worse. I could barely feed myself and couldn't wash my hair!
The way I was grabbing the heavy stuff out (that was 'high & ahead of me and also on the left') reminded me of weight lifters picking up dumbbells and holding them out to the left & right at shoulder height & then going higher - it causes maximum stress to every bit of the shoulder!!
Watch out for that sturdy step ladder too, @cranky_granny ... they can bite you in the bum too!
I pretty well avoid ladders now.
I also concentrate hot water on my shoulder every morning in the shower - at the end, I turn the heat up as high as I can tolerate and concentrate it on my left shoulder (less so on my right, as it is going OK.)
Have fun with cleaning out your pantry @Cath62 - that job is on my list, too! I am sure a lot of tins are 'out of date' too!
take care ladies xx
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I have had problems with my right shoulder on and off over the years and found out I have bursitis. So yesterday I finally accepted a cortezon injection in the burser. Maybe that is what you had been experiencing all these years. No operation required.1
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Thanks @veenaga and welcome to the forum! Feel free to tell us your BC story so far in 'Newly Diagnosed' category.
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Yep, I'd had the cortisone injections into both my shoulders over the years prior to my procedures being carried out - but cortisone only relieves the symptoms - it doesn't 'fix the actual problem/injury' that caused the bursitis. And you are also limited in the number of cortisone shots that you can have in the one area. Sometimes, only allowed the one!
Bursitis is a fluid filled sac that develops after an injury, to protect the surrounding area (usually between the bone & a tendon.) It can be drained (if done early in the piece) but if left too late (being regional, mine took time to get all the XRay/scans done that proved the bursitis was caused by an injury) then it can become thick like custard & then it can't be suctioned out by a needle (which happened to me.) If the inflammation doesn't go down after the cortisone shot, it is usually an indication that surgery may be required due to torn tendons, or actual impingement of the shoulder.
The shoulder is pretty well the most complicated set of bones, tendons & muscles/ligaments in the entire body - and if just one of them is damaged, torn or chipped, it needs to be addressed fairly quickly - often with surgery - as otherwise it will just continue to get worse.
If you find that your shoulder is restricting your arm movement (eg you can't do your bra up behind your back, or can't reach up & wash your hair ..... or can't lift your arm higher than horizontal - that is the time you need to see a shoulder specialist - usually a surgeon.
take care0 -
Ohhh sorry to know this.0
