Bursitis...Cortisone???

[Lilly-Pilly]

I have been diagnosed with bursitis in my shoulder. It was extremely painful for the first week and a half, with minimal range of movement and extreme pain throgh the rotator cuff, the front of the arm and around my should blade. Basically my whole left should front and back was affected. the second week it was improving
I am a massage therapist and was told to take three weeks of work which is just not a possability at all. I did cut down on my work and took it easy, was applying ice al using voltaren topical gel. I Although massage is a condraindication on the bursa, i have had massage on the back to help with the pain.
This week is the 3rd week and its gotten worse again. I can't lie on the side, and most movements with that arm is so painful. When I'm keeping it still it is aching and burning.

I was reccomended by the doc to have a cortisone injection to help it, but i've only ever heard bad things about them. My fav doc said not to have it because it interacts with the pill somehow and at the moment i'm having a terrible time with the pill anyway. My osteo who I have been seeing for 1o years also said I shouldn't have it.

Nothing else is working and its not getting better so I dont know what else to try.

Has anyone had any expereience with cortisone?? Or bursitis??

Thanks

[sjs]

I had bursitis in my ankle and after a couple of cortisone injections it never came back. There were no side effects I can think of. After the first injection the pain was less and lasted about 3 months so I had another one and that left me with no pain. That was a couple of years ago and I have no more pain.


Hope your shoulder feels better...

[Lilly-Pilly]

Hey susan, thanks for the reply. Do you notice any weakness in the ankle now?
Cortisone is meant to weaken the joint/area and as a massage therapist thats not something I want to be doing with my shoulder! Just wondering if one needle would weaken it

[sjs]

Hi Dee, No I haven't noticed any weakness at all in my ankle so all in all in was a good outcome for me. HTH, and good luck!

[Lilly-Pilly]

thanks! Going to see an accupunturist tomorrow and will hopefully avoid the cortisone all together! But if thats what it comes down to I may not have much of a choice