Do I get the physio or the steroid injection?

[alanzs]

Just a thought. Are you sure it is the shoulder itself? I ask this because I was having pain over a long period of time in my left shoulder. I chalked it up to crashing bikes, sports injuries, age, etc. The doctor had xrays done and said that there was nothing particularly evident. But the pain persisted. I complained enough and he sent me to get an MRI. Turned out it was the C4/5 disc in my neck pressing on the nerves causing the pain in my shoulder, not the shoulder muscles/bone at all. Just a thought....

[Oakie]

Just a thought. Are you sure it is the shoulder itself?

Yep. I saw the pretty pictures myself. Quite interesting watching how it all moves in there (if you can figure out which bit is which).

[ElCoyote]

Hmmmm, had the physio thing (infra-red, ultrasound, acupuncture, hot cups etc) and they gave reasonable relief but only for a very short term. Had a series of cortisone (ultrasound guided) injections which lasted longer but was at the stage of requiring a shoulder "decompression" after the 3rd one started to wear off.
I started on Glucosamine/Chondroiton (sp?) tablets and they have kept it under control for the last 5 or so years.
Similar to you I had done the damage with years of throwing-type sports (tennis/softball etc). I could hardly throw a ball for my dog or go to the gym at one stage but now it gives virtually no problems.

Agree with that. I presume anti-inflams and muscle relaxants have been tried. Acupuncture is good but only if administered by a qualified person. Physio ditto. PM me if you need the names of the appropriate people. Been there done that. Glucosamine/Chondroiton should be taken with fish oil tablets to get maximum benefit, but understand this is not a quick fix but must be continued even if you think it's not working.

[ElCoyote]

Just a thought. Are you sure it is the shoulder itself? I ask this because I was having pain over a long period of time in my left shoulder. I chalked it up to crashing bikes, sports injuries, age, etc. The doctor had xrays done and said that there was nothing particularly evident. But the pain persisted. I complained enough and he sent me to get an MRI. Turned out it was the C4/5 disc in my neck pressing on the nerves causing the pain in my shoulder, not the shoulder muscles/bone at all. Just a thought....

Stole my thunder, my problem was C6 and manifested itself in shoulder. Ultrasound and X-Rays did not find problem but MRI is very accurate. Following 2 weeks in Aus doing nothing more strenuous than lifting a pint it settled down but I still think Glucosomine helped

[JMemonic]

Personally I would go Physio first if you are getting through ACC and this problem has been recurring ask for a physo based gym program to build up the muscles and strength.

Mum used to get hyrdocortisone injections for her knee, they work off in less time each time and she could not walk for a day or so after.

At the end of the day ask for professional advice, geat as much info as you can, its your body, you get to choose.

[Kickaha]

I went to my Doctor re something similar, he was away and the locum sez "rotator cuff injury" off to physio for you

3 months of physio and the physio sez, strength is ok but you still shouldn't be getting that pain go back to your GP

regular GP is back on board and he sez "we can give you a steroid injection or more physio but it's waste of time treating it if we don't know for sure what it is", off to xray and ultrasound and then we'll refer you to a specialist

Ultrasound shows a torn tendon but the Speciaist sez, I see that all the time it's something else we better fire up the MRI machine

MRI machine shows up some other stuff, so they carve me up to fix it, grind some bone away, trim up some muscle and tendons and show me a fantastic time on the self administering morphine

Me personally I'd be going further up the food chain than a physio or GP to get it sorted before I bothered with the physio or any injections

[Usarka]

Me personally I'd be going further up the food chain than a physio or GP to get it sorted before I bothered with the physio or any injections

Good call.

[Naki Rat]

Here's my 2c worth..
I'd go with the physio/ultrasound treatment first, and use the Cortisone(steriodal injection) as a last resort, simply because one you have them, you need to have more of them and so on.
Also, doing some building of the muscles in your shoulder is a good idea to helpo stabilize the joint, but at the same time, overdoing it is likely to have a bad effect.

yeh.

Pretty much what he said but worth adding that cortisone works by generating tissue growth, which potentially includes stimulating cancer growth. So good if one shot does the trick, but a slippery slope if it doesn't. Your specialist should confirm this.

Also if applicable cortisone will antidote (nullify) any homeopathic remedies you are taking at the time.

My suggestion, confirm the site of the problem, build up the supporting muscles with physio/controlled exercise and get into some acupuncture to manage the pain. Having just come through a knee joint replacement I would highly recommend protecting what you have while that remains an option.

[Oakie]

Thanks all for your input. At the moment I'm leaning towards letting the physio have a crack at it for a couple of months at that seems to provide the best chance of a long term fix. Following that, a bit of weight work to build the area up.
Sounds pretty much like the choice is the physio which may take 3 months to fix it or the injection which may only fix it for three months.

[Forest]

Also if applicable cortisone will antidote (nullify) any homeopathic remedies you are taking at the time.

That's hardly surprising. Given that homeopathic remedies have absolutely no therapeutic effect.

[BarBender]

Me personally I'd be going further up the food chain than a physio or GP to get it sorted before I bothered with the physio or any injections

Good call.

+1


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[fireball]

when i busted my shoulder (dislocation and continual subluxations due to muscle fade) i had the same options physio or the roids in my case i had to take the roids to be able to even start physio as i neded to get some movement back to rebuild the muscles. but i had to remind myself even though i couldnt feel pain what i was doing would be hurting.

3 roid jabs later (with 18months of treatment) and physio my shoulder is still fucked they are one of those things that will never come right.

so its more of a what will be best for you option if physio alone doesnt work i do reccomend the drugs and/or a combo of both.

[alanzs]

MRI machine shows up some other stuff, so they carve me up to fix it, grind some bone away, trim up some muscle and tendons and show me a fantastic time on the self administering morphine

Yeah, same here. Had a fusion done with bone graft from my hip. That morphine pump was fucking brilliant. It's been a little over three months now and I haven't felt this good in years. I have full range of motion in my neck, and there is no pain at all in my shoulder. The numbness and tingling was gone immediately after the surgery.
You don't realize how much pain intrudes into your life till its gone.