I'm sorry you are in such pain, Bill.

Have you tried Icy Hot? I have never tried it, but I have heard of people trying it.

My brother had bone spurs in his shoulder from carrying around a guitar forever (he's a musician) and they said he could either do physical therapy or surgery, so he did months of physical therapy and hasn't needed to do any surgeries yet.

Hope you feel better.

Bill, I just had a tendon repaired and bone spurs removed in similar area. The surgery was laproscopic. They don't cut it open and grind them off. They make little incisions and use robotic tools and then shave off bits and suck them out through the tubing. I called it a miracle to my shoulder doc and he blushed, ha ha. Having them remove the bone spurs that were impinging on my rotator cuff tendon has been a pain reliever. (But having the tendon repaired has been extremely painful.) Now having surgically removed bone is painful and bone bleeds so we get some swelling in our arm and bicep area and bruising from the bone bleeding while being cut. Before surgery we did all the injections and taking it easy, icing, etc. I use salonpas on my bad hips and other muscle injuries but it makes my pain in the shoulder worse. I think it is the camphor and menthol that makes my shoulder pain worse. I also found the NSAID creams, OTC here in USA under the name Voltaren also makes my shoulder ache more. You could try it on your shoulder if you have interest as the NSAID reduces inflammation. All pharmacies sell it here, the small tube is $10. I've found that the generic brands are highly perfumed and I stick to the more chemical smell of the name brand. Another option is lidocaine patches, which are a topical pain reliever and most have no menthol but read the ingredients. My skin is very tender on the shoulder area and pulling these patches off is worse pain than the shoulder tendon impingement. I am allowed by my gastro to use the patches and creams but not ingest NSAIDs. Now Voltaren on my knee or feet is wonderful, so I don't understand this. Only the MRI gave us the best information but the CT showed some of the issues. I will say that this has been a daunting recovery as I don't tolerate narcotics nor can I do NSAIDs.

If you are on original Medicare, going to an Intensive Rehab Facility for 10 days after a shoulder replacement could be extremely helpful AND medicare pays for it minus your copay. Double check this, but I believe an IRF is paid as medical not as PT outpatient. But you want a real IRF not a glorified nursing facility that does PT light even though you are in-patient. PT outpatient is expensive, I am doing it now. The Medicare website has the ratings of all the skilled nursing facilities that use Medicare.

Just trying to give you some peace of mind.

PS: I looked up the terminology used on my surgeon's bill for exactly what he did on well known medical websites and the long term outcome is only "good" for about 70% of people. The arthritis you and I both have creates those darned bone spurs that catch on the muscles and tendons. Use cold packs, really get that shoulder cavity cool (its hard to cool down a shoulder than to ice a finger or knee is that the doctor told me). Ice is the best pain blocker for me, I am also on a muscle relaxer, no true pain drugs or narcotics. Do less, try to not use that shoulder and try to sleep in a recliner, or sitting up in bed, for a few days so the shoulder isn't moving in sleep. We tend to "torque" it into a rolled position in sleep and same with driving. Notice how you hold the steering wheel, that pulls those muscles and tendons over the shoulder bone spurs. Consider - Use a sling on that shoulder to rest it. I am right hand dominant but use my left arm for all chores, driving, cooking, so really my left is my main arm. Its been awful learning to not use that left arm and rest it. I did not ever do that during the 7 months pre Surgery. I iced and rested it but I used it way too much. Now I am constantly telling myself drop that left arm, don't use it. This stuff is difficult, I am still not sleeping well but its a bit better in the second month after surgery. I sleep on my side so this has been an extreme challenge. I wish you the best.

thanks Urbangardener....the doc recommended voltarin but I have not bought it yet....I think yesterday was because I took Tylenol not Ibuprofen which I took late last night and today the arm seems much better....
anyway thanks....I go to talk to doctor tomorrow and with my puppies here if I go to rehab as you suggested they need to go to kennel....which I have done before but it is pretty cold right now to put them outside day and night at the kennel I use....

Have your doctor prescribe you the 5 miligram lidocain patches. You can buy the 4 miligram ones otc the the 5 miligrams are better. Use it for 12 hours on and 12 hours off. It takes a few hours for the medicine to work it's way into the joint but you won't have any pain at all. I use them for low back pain and I love them.

Thanks, Bob, on the patches being prescribed. There’s a new OTC med called Advil dual that combines low Tylenol and low Ibuprofen. I took one, not two, after surgery but then got the intestinal issue that NSAIDs do to me. I thought it worked well. I lifted something last night and now my surgery shoulder is hurting and I’m mad at myself. Take care and I hope you can find relief!

Bob I tried to get the lidocain patches in 5mil and my insurance denied it saying it was only for cancer patients....or some such nonsense...

I am seeing another ortho about total shoulder replacement as my ortho has given up doing that surgery 10yrs ago...he said my arthritis is such that this is the only solution to my issue in shoulder on right....

so now I have an appointment with his recommended doctor and I am getting my PCP to give me the referral....

so I guess I will buy a tube of Voltoren....and try that...

Hi billwfriend my aunt had a shoulder replacement and she said that was the best thing she could have done. I hope and prayer you find some kind of relief because i know how chronic pain feels. Hopefully your doctor will find some kind of med to help with pain. You do not have any place where you live to help assist with your aid? Stay strong and i wish you the best.