Usually the pain is pretty manageable when I am doing normal activities. But starting yesterday (after the entire day spent driving and sitting in meetings) my shoulder is painful non-stop. The pain is sharper, constant, and runs from my shoulder blade down to the back of my hand. I think this is the worst it has been. Usually I try to not take anything but I’m popping the dangerous combination of Advil and vodka tonics.
so very sorry all of you are dealing with this…
I had the RFU shoulder a few years back, so bad the pain once made me black out, but recovered with cortisone and about a year of PT. Almost full range of motion back. Then it started up again last fall, and got progressively worse till I was about to go back to the doctor but then I did my exercises very religiously and it started getting better. It is so much better that I can feel the arthritis in my hands and fingers once again. I hope I never have a pain so bad I can’t feel the shoulder.
I’ve pretty much given up on all the drugs but alcohol. Gin and tonics work best for me. Two do the trick. This is not a joke. I wait till 4 pm.
Making some progress going to PT (= pain therapy). The day I can hook my bra again normally I will declare victory over RFU shoulder!
I hear you @GertrudeMcFuzz. Doing the hook in front and spin around trick here! Completely had to give up on the sports bra though - I can get it on with a weird contortion method, but no way I can get it off over my head.
@alh, I don’t care for gin, but the 1 Advil, 1 vodka tonic prescription is helping quite a bit right now. 
re pain- I have fibromyalgia, osteoporosis and rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.
Fine line between increasing activity during the day and not being able to sleep all night because I am moaning with pain.
Sleep is when you heal, if you can only take meds once a day, that is when I would do it.
I also rotate NASIDs, I do take them almost every day.
I also swim several times a week, as well as walk and do my physical therapy exercises.
Self massage. Epsom salt baths.Fire balm, which has menthol/camphor/clove/cinnamon/cake put/wintergreen/ rosemary & cannabis.
I also use edible cannabis at bedtime to reduce inflammation and promote sleep.
I’ve started taking glucosamine & MSM. it helped my older dog quite a bit.
I don’t drink, unless I am going out, then I might have one.
I used to have a glass of wine at bedtime, but while it initially relaxes me, I think the quality of sleep was worse.
It’s really a matter of trial and error.
Just don’t drink with Tylenol.
The sports bra challenge! My g/f had shoulder surgery, and can’t use her old bras. I joined her on a hunt for a sports bra with front snaps. A seasoned saleswoman told her to try Macy’s.
mom…, I took half of the Flexiril pill after a while. Between the L shoulder, and the R elbow, every time I moved in bed I would wake in pain.
I found the cortisone shots very helpful, and never felt pain. My orthopedist sent me to a pain doctor for shots in neck. Those 9 shots (3 each time) hurt at the moment, but then no pain afterwards. I’ve heard of people being in pain for days, and don’t know if the doctor missed the mark or what.
Alh, I’ll join you with the gin. Thats all I use nowadays, except for occasional days. The shower helps a lot, and going to the gym daily builds strength.
Barfly, I hear you. No way can I drive more than an hour. I never want to relive that tingling pain down thru the fingertips. After a year, it did stop. Hope your pain goes away too.
I have a front-zip sports bra that I used for exercise sessions during my frozen shoulder period.
Barfly, I had that whole arm pain that you’re experiencing. Some days would be much worse than others and Advil didn’t make much of a dent in the pain but it helped some. I think it lasted a month or two but eventually subsided. I still experienced the sharp searing pain when I reached up or out, but the dull aching pain went away.
In my case, cortisone shots only offered temporary relief. The first one missed the mark entirely and didn’t help at all. The doctor injected me through the front of my shoulder and I guess he didn’t hit the right spot. The next one was injected through the back of the shoulder and gave instant relief but that only lasted a few days. The third one, also through the back of the shoulder, didn’t do a thing. None of the three shots was especially painful, though.
Hoping your pain gets better soon. I know how miserable you’re feeling.
Think I’ll go hunt for a front closure sports bra. I’ve been wearing my regular bras for working out, and they just don’t do the trick, nor are they as wash and wear as my sports bra. What kills me is I just got rid of a sports bra that would have been perfect. I never wore it since I preferred the pull-on types with no hooks. Wish I had it back!
Re: sports bras - I’ve been stepping into mine & pulling it up. Not very elegant, but it works. I am feeling SO much better in the last week since I started the PT. I actually went 24 hours without Advil & think I can continue that today. I will try to be better about using ice after doing my exercises as an alternative anti-inflammatory. My therapist advised hot shower or bath before the exercises & ice after.
Stepping in and out of the sports bra doesn’t work for me. The motion of pulling up and down is impossible with my shoulder, and I can’t manage it with my right arm only. That sounds like I’m really uncoordinated!
Don’t even attempt to pull up SPANX
Found front hooking sports bras at Walmart! Now for a brag, I can now wear the regular over the head kind (finally).
I’m on day 2 without any pain meds. So far, so good. A few times today, I’ve had a little pain, but just put some ice on it, and it passed. I went for a massage today, which was great. Painful at times, but that’s typical. Tomorrow is first day back at PT, though, since the cortisone shot.
@jasmom, did you ever think that you’d be bragging about being able to wear a regular sports bra? And that the rest of us would be so proud and a bit envious of you? This is what RFU Shoulder has reduced us all to.
True, true… Or being able to shuck an ear of corn, or pull open a door with either hand, or scratch an itch (well at least some itches).
Oh my. It took me a few years to open a bottle of water. pickle jar? When elephants fly…
I will never be able to lift my bag into the overhead compartment again. That’s okay. I can deal with it. People are helpful.
First steroid shot was amazing. Was a mixture of a quick acting medication, that made it clear dr hit right spot, as my shoulder really loosened up, but that wore off in an hour or so (drug that the NFL players use during a game I believe), and then, 2nd medication in shot kicked in about 2 weeks later, as expected, and helped with constant pain.
It was the first of 2 or 3 shots, as needed, 2 months apart. Then stretching exercises and take ibuprofen per orthopedic surgeon; had gain in range of motion. I was surprised he was not big on PT, but it’s because he thinks it can increase inflammation (he definitely wanted an ibuprofen regimen to contain inflammation)–I personally think it depends on how well the Physical Therapist has been trained. Looking forward to second shot, mid-month.
What do people do who live alone? I don’t zip dresses, unhook bras, twist open jars, reach over my head, etc
I can’t believe how common this apparently is!!! That right there makes me feel a little better. I’m going to read each and every post here.
My husband got me a heating pad at Christmas, and I really feel like that has helped - if you sit around at all, watching tv, at the desk, in bed reading, whatever: try a heating pad.
Also, my PT was like a holy god - I just loved him, and just knowing he was there trying to make me better was therapeutic.
Other than that, I guess, exercises, time, and painkillers.