One of my goals for 2019 was to take care of me. Already completed would be an eye doctor exam(with new toric lenses for astigmatism), my PCP physical and doing the Smile Direct aligners. Well, that last one isn’t complete. I still have 2 months to go, but it’s in process. Also on the horizon will be a mammogram and colonoscopy. Like I said – 50 years old and getting all the things done LOL.

Long-time readers know that I have had shoulder issues for a few years. About 3 years ago, I had horrible pain in my shoulder and got a cortisone shot, which worked fantastic. It wore off about a year ago ish and I have had nagging pain and weakness in the shoulder. Nothing really terrible and it didn’t seem bad enough to do anything about it and there was the hope it would get better on its own. This year it started waking me up at night and was limiting strength exercises. Overhead presses, lateral raises, planks, pushups and the like were off the table because they caused pain. So – it was time to get a referral to see orthopedics.

Sometimes I don’t know why I wait so long to do things. It’s like when I feel a headache coming on, I don’t take anything for it thinking I will tough it out and then have to deal with it later when it’s bad instead of nipping it in the bud. I think I have a pretty high pain tolerance – to my detriment. Anyway, after an exam, it confirmed my suspicions of impingement syndrome (former ortho transcriptionist self diagnosing). My rotator cuff tendons are inflamed and are getting caught in the subacromial space of the shoulder when I move it. Which then ends up being a viscous cycle kind of like when you bite your cheek. There is also the possibility of a partial tear of my rotator cuff. X-rays showed no bony issues or arthritis, so there is some good news.

The ortho told me that he wants me to get back to regular use of my arm and that is the end goal. So, first up is getting the inflammation under control with a cortisone shot.

It didn’t really hurt that much because you get the numbing freeze spray, then a shot of novocaine and then the cortisone.

No strength exercises for about a week along with a course of anti-inflammatories. Then I’m supposed to start doing all the things with my shoulder. Pushups, planks, overhead stuff – whatever was bothering me. And then in a month I’m going back for a reevaluation.

If the shot continues to work, that will be the regimen for the foreseeable future until they stop working. If I am still having pain at that visit then an MRI will be ordered to see the full issues in the joint. There is no point in doing one yet since the treatment right now would be the same with or without the MRI. There is a surgical option as well to make room for the rotator cuff tendons by shaving down the acromion, which as yucky as that sounds – at least I do know there is a solution in the end so that my shoulder will function properly. But, conservative treatment for now.

It’s a relief to be started on the path, I have to say. My shoulder definitely feels better today. A bit achy from the shot, but my range of motion is much better. I have my fingers crossed get good relief from it. And then I was also told not to overdo it once it started to feel better. 😀 Duly noted.