Calcific Bursitis

Bretts_daddy · January 29, 2018, 12:28:05 PM

Just figured I'd throw this out there and see if any of you have experienced this. I have been having an awful time with my right shoulder (of course, my dominant hand/arm). It started as a nagging pain last spring but I just figured it was old age starting to creep up on me (I'm 44), take a couple of Advil, grin and bear it but it started to intensify slowly and by late Fall I was in excruciating pain whenever I moved my right arm. I went to the doctor and they took an ultrasound and it came back as Calcific Bursitis. My doctor gave me a cortisone shot and after a week it finally kicked in and I felt fine for the next 2-3 months but just before Christmas I could feel a little pain every now and again and it has gradually gotten worse until now I am right back to where I was (if not in more pain), everything hurts, sleeping is a struggle since I'm in pain whenever I move plus I'm usually a side sleeper (the right side of course), taking a shower in the mornings is painful but the worst part is I can't even pick up my 7 year old son without being in pain...even driving is problematic as I have to make a concerted effort to get my right arm to do what I want it to do as my body is trying to keep it from moving too much so it doesn't cause me pain. I made the casting motion the other day and the pain was instant...there's no way I could fish right now as casting would be painful and performing a hookset would be agony. You can't live on Advil popping it like candy or you'll have stomach/liver problems. Luckily I live up north in Vermont and all our lakes and ponds are still iced over but April starts trout fishing and bass season starts in May/June (for keepers). My doctor said after the first shot that if it didn't work we might want to consider surgery. Have any of you gone through this before? How did you treat it? If you had surgery how long did recovery take? If I have to have surgery I want to get it done quickly and recover in time for fishing season to begin!!!

Lipripper · January 29, 2018, 12:51:00 PM

Sorry to read about your pain and the cortisone shots work for a little while but you have to keep going back for more of them. I had two bad knees one worse than the other. The shots help one knee but the other one I had to have the joint replaced. I was able to go several years with the shots for the other knee joint before having to get it replaced. Maybe they will work for you again enough to keep you going till fishing season is over. I know it's bad when you can't pick up your 7 year old son without being in pain.

Bretts_daddy · January 29, 2018, 03:38:36 PM

Quote from: Lipripper on January 29, 2018, 12:51:00 PM
I know it's bad when you can't pick up your 7 year old son without being in pain.

Luckily I can still pick him up with my left arm but I tell you what, picking up a 57lb. little sack of potatoes like my boy with just one arm is a chore, especially when it's your non-dominant arm...lol. What really sucks is when he hugs me or touches my arm in some way and i yelp in pain or flinch. makes him feel bad that he hurt daddy but I'm always quick to tell him it's not his fault and daddy will be better soon.

Smallie_Stalker · January 29, 2018, 03:52:55 PM

I can sympathize with you on a couple of counts. I have bursitis in my left shoulder as the result of an accident but it is not calcific, at least as far as I know. I had to have my entire shoulder reconstructed, my rotator cuff re-attached on both ends and a plate with two screws in my upper arm. My son was only a few months old when it happened and I lost about 15% range of motion in that arm and that was after 3 months of physical therapy. I still need pain meds for it from time to time.

I couldn't lift my boy up to ride on my shoulders or piggy back rides without help. Robbed me of certain quality of life experiences IMO. I made the mistake of going with a personal injury lawyer and after waiting two years they didn't get me squat compared to what I thought I should have gotten for what I went through.

Team KaRu · January 29, 2018, 04:49:57 PM

I've had two knee replacements with one replaced due to the pain from arthritis. I'm a little older than you so this type of pain has carried over a few decades. The 4 surgeries on my shoulders/rotator cuffs did nothing but give me confidence that they would not fall out of socket again the pain was lessened but SLEEPING COMFORTABLE is a dream right now. The cortisone injections work, tho when I need them. I guess I am just saying that I play the revolving over-the-counter pain med game. But I try to put distance between them as you noted they will eat away your liver over time. (I have read that somewhere too)
My favorite relief is still ice packs. Go out and buy a shoulder fitting ice pack and use if this type has given any relief to you in the past. Hope there are some better tips here for you.

Oldfart9999 · January 30, 2018, 07:38:20 AM

I had surgery on my right shoulder 3 years ago in March, I was back fishing in August. I had surgery on my left shoulder last year toward the end of May, including having the bone scraped, I was back fishing the beginning of October, the arthritis is still there but when it flares ice and stim take care of it.
If you can stand it then cortisone every 3 to 4 months may get you by for a few years but when it becomes more often than 3 months most Doctors won't do it, they recommend surgery. Do the surgery, you may lose a bit of fishing time now but long run you won't have the pain and life over all will be much better.
Rodney

geneinnc · September 24, 2020, 08:01:03 AM

Never even heard of it. Another for the growing list of things to look forward to.

Hang in and I will ad you to the prayer list.

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apenland01 · September 24, 2020, 09:19:10 AM

A cortico shot is okay to get things calmed down, but you need to do a treatment like regenerative medicine or proleo therapy. You need to do something other than cortisone. CS decreases the cartilage in your joint slowly over time and is not a therapy. It is a pain relief for a few few weeks to months, but the pain will continue to return.

Wizard · September 24, 2020, 10:29:27 AM

My remedy sounds like a joke but it's not. My family worked in the steel mills. When bursitis struck their joints, older doctors recommended they use fruit PICTIN. It was used to can fruit. It came in a small can at the food market. Swallow the whole can at one time. It could take several days to work. Doctors no longer recommend old remedies that worked.

Wizard

Deadeye · September 25, 2020, 09:00:58 AM

If your not already, go see a Pain Managment Specialist, not a regular Dr.

I could not stand or walk for longer than 10-15 minutes in 2012-2013. After seeking the Advice of a Neurosurgeon (not an Ortho) he advised me to NOT have surgery and see this one Pain Managment Dr.

I followed his advice. At first he did a Series of Shots (when I hear someone say their Dr gave them A Shot I know they are NOT with a Managment Dr) one set of 6 Shots in my Lumbar and Hip areas each week for 3 consecutive weeks.

Week one. Nothing.

Week two. Some relief.

Week three. Bit more.

Week four Bingo! Woke to no pain.

I had to have shots done every 3-months for 2-3 years to keep walking. Now I am able to go almost a whole year.

7-Years and still have not had Surgery.

Finding the Right Dr makes all the difference.

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