Recent Shoulder Operation....

[yelenots]

4 weeks ago I had a Arthroscopy Bursoscopy and Subacromial Decompressionon my Right Shoulder and since then I had been in a lot of pain - not too much with my shoulder but the muscles in my arm, and its swollen. I am having physio and doing my exercises 3 times a day but the pain in the muscle in the top of my arm to the elbow is unbearable - especially at night and first thing in the morning....I just can't move my arm when I get up.
I have told the physio and she just asked when I was back to see the consulant (10 days) and suggested I put an ice pack on every 2 hours, which is virtually impossible! She used ultra sound to see if that helped.
Does anyone know why I'm in so much pain?
By the way I'm taking codeine painkillers.

Thank you :-)

[Sqad]

Seems a long time to be in pain, but this sometimes happens.
Do you feel well in yourself, have you got a temperature and is the swelling red and painful to the touch?

If any of the above are present, then you may have an infection in the joint (unlikely) and need to see your doctor.

I would prefer Ibuprofen 600mgms twice daily than codeine.

[yelenots]

Thank you for your reply.....i've no temperature and the swelling isnt red but sore to touch...right on the muscle! Just cant move my arm much because of the muscle. The area where I have had the operation seems fine and doesnt bother me as much as the rest of my arm! I had been taking 600mg Ibuprofen before the operation for quite a few months for the pain but have had to stop as my blood pressure went up, had a swollen ankles and a rash, all side effects apparently of all I've also been prescribed Tramadol.....are they better to take than Codeine?

[Sqad]

OK...then it's unlikely to be infected and i would hang on until you see your Consultant at your follow up in 10days time.

[yelenots]

Ok thank you :-)

[NoMercy]

Its not uncommon to still be tender 4 weeks following ASAD .

Were you given post op instructons such as high arm elevation and range of movement exercises?

[yelenots]

Yes been given lots of exercises but not high arm elevations! Been again this afternoon and I was advised to try and get an emergency appointment with the consultant at his clinic tomorrow - unfortunately there are no free appointment so I have to phone at 9am - physio thinks it maybe post op swelling (not DVT) but its so painful and I cant sleep :-(

[NoMercy]

If you need an emergency appt you won't necessarily see your consultant or one of the upper limb guys but whichever orthopaedic consultant is on Trauma at the time. If there's the slightest chance you have an infection you need to be seen immediately. You may need an arthroscopic washout .