Dear Bronny,
I’m sorry to hear about your stroke and the ongoing pain you are experiencing.
In answer to your question, you are not alone. For many stroke survivors, dealing with chronic pain is a major part of life after stroke. Pain becomes chronic when it lasts three months or more.
Pain experts emphasise that even if you can’t make your pain go away, it is almost always possible to reduce pain levels and to improve quality of life.
So how can you manage your pain?
For more information about treatment and types of pain, read the ‘Pain after stroke factsheet’. There is also a podcast and video about managing pain.
A number of stroke survivors have also written about pain on EnableMe blogs and forums. Click the community tab for 'what helps', blogs and forums (just conduct a search using keyword 'pain').
Please call StrokeLine on 1800 787 653 if you have any further questions.
All the best!
Kirsty
Bronny left sided pain can be the result of a change in perception of sensations in the right side of the brain or due to shoulder subluxation or both or a tear to the tendons.Speak to your GP get an ultra sound to check the joint if no tear see an experienced OT to assess they will be able to assist the muscles and perception
Hi Bronny, I’m sorry to hear about your pain. I experienced similar pain (I had a stroke nearly 18 months ago, also on left side.
Im sure everyone’s situation is different, but for me a combination of physic and acupuncture seemed to work. For a few weeks after my stroke I needed a sling to support the weight of my arm as I couldn’t hold it. Although my arm did it “dislocate”, it was sitting forward in the docket which meant the tendons kept dragging rather than sliding over the joint.
This was very painful and inhibited hand therapy. Over time this improved. I’ve recently added “swimming” or water therapy -that’s also helped enormously.
I think you just keep trying out different things til you find what works for you. I still have some discomfort but can generally manage it much better and as muscles in shoulder get stronger and stronger, they are better able to hold everything in place.
It can be slow progress, but I hope you get some sense of progress soon
I have very similar issues with my left shoulder. I have had an MRI and have been told that I have deteriorating arthritis and that the shoulder replacement will be necessary but that I am to postpone it for as long as possible. I have very restricted movement and a lot of associated hand spasticity. The shoulder surgeon assures me that it is not related to my stroke but I find it curious that I have no problems in my right shoulder at all. It is now beginning to affect my sleep and other activities that I previously enjoyed. I'm feeling quite desperate as I have been visiting a physiotherapist almost weekly, have had cortisone injections and variety of other strategies none of which have worked. I too am looking for answers
sorry but I'm not a doctor , but I have a painful right shoulder , it can be caused by you arm hanging down , it is quite common , the weight of your arm is being supported bye your shoulder , using a sling to support the arm could help , but it can be uncomfortable on the neck , best to speak to your gp about it.
Hi bronny
I had dreadful L shoulder pain after my stroke which affected my left side, it started about a month after my stroke. I was eventually diagnosed with a frozen shoulder after a MRI and had hydrodilation injections which worked for me. I’m one of the lucky ones I have nearly made a full recovery. I still can’t write very well and have problems with co ordination. Try and get as much OT AND PHYSIO as you can, do your exercises, set yourself little achievable goals everyday.Good luck with you rehab
leonie
Hi Bronny.
My partner Chris had a similar issue with his right shoulder. It was so painful overnight that he was taking three lots of painkillers every night to help him sleep. The biggest thing that has helped him has been seeing a massage therapist/myotherapist. I’ll qualify that and say that this massage therapist is pretty special and highly qualified and experienced in treating “frozen shoulders”. Not every massage therapist is necessarily qualified for this role, nor should I say is this the solution for everyone. This guy managed to reduce Chris’ pain levels significantly but Chris now has a much bigger range of motion through that shoulder than he did previously. Out of all the therapists Chris has seen this one has made the biggest difference. Probably the moral of this story is keep trying therapies and therapists until you find someone and something that helps you. Don’t get disheartened.
Joanne
I too have chronic shoulder pain, often worse on waking in the morn. Mine was due to complex fractures of the L Shoulder following a heavy fall. I find that stretching on rising helps, definitely water therapy or swimming and cold showers. Cold showers may seem anathema, but the soothing and anti-inflammatory effects are well worth the initial shock. Start with the water striking your back, as our backs are less sensitive to temperature. Shoulders are our most flexible joints being a beautifully crafted ball and socket. A well-lubricated, functional shoulder can rotate through 360 degrees, can reach north, south, east and west and is such a blessing. The one gratifying thing about Left shoulder pain is that it is usually the non-dominant shoulder, so is usually not needed for the heavy, repetitive tasks. It is the assisting, stabilising arm, but still extremely helpful. We do need good tendons, ligaments and soft tissues and often after dislocation, or stroke these softer tissues have been damaged. Another positive note is that our bodies have incredible recuperative powers, so even when all feels lost, impaired and fractured, we can regenerate, restore and recover. Chin up, shoulders away and keep stretching and reaching for the sky.
Hi Bronny,
Here are some more responses from the Facebook community
Annie: Have exactly the same prob Bronny. Was in both shoulders after stroke and limited movement. Begrudgingly had cortisone injection in rhs. Eased a bit after some time. Has improved a bit after abt 12 months but lhs does reoccur. I also have chronic arthritis and they diagnosed it as bursitis which is inflammation of the joint. Hope this info helps, hope it improves for you. Xo
Corrine: Yes 😞 I’ve just been diagnosed with frozen shoulder on my left side (stroke side) I’m told it’s extremely common after stroke as you don’t use that side properly after stroke. Im told the pain will go away once it completely freezes up then gradually gets better.
I feel for you, heat helps and lots of physio for mobilisation. I’m booked in for a cortisone injection too
Joanne: My physio got me to do shoulder rolls and a little bit of nurofen helped my left side after 5 years I still get it and do a roll every morning in the shower with warm water
Hope this helps
Jess: See if you can get an appointment with a physio or an occupational therapist that specialises in soft tissue therapy. I dont know where you live sorry so can’t recommend anyone. And lots of heat, use a heat pack, get some fisiocrem and i recommend trying salonpas heat patches which you can find at most health food stores or buy online. They are great for period cramps too
Jai: Same empathy for you mines my knee because I used to throw my left leg when starting to walk again remember at least you can feel that side now keep using and you need a massage darling cortisone might help just don't get it to much it can also detereate the bone to much xo good journey you survivor!
Jenni: Yes i was the same. 12 months post stroke had awful pain in left shoulder. Made sleep impossible. I wasted time n money having a cortisone injection after being told it could b a bursitis. But thankfully my physio was able to explain that the muscles holding up shoulder joint had deteriorated which made every movement painful. But with heaps of physio, wheat bags to sleep on, and occasional voltaren medication it came good. But the key was definitely being determined to do the hard yards with the physio exercises
Marcia: After my Stroke I started with right sided shoulder pain and it has since spread down and along my entire right side. I was diagnosed with central pain syndrome so it would be a good idea perhaps to consult a neurologist to determine what the pain is. Take care.
Bob: I once had the muscle in my shoulder calcify (not stroke-related). The pain was extreme, but as the docs said, if there is pain then its already healing itself. Pain peaked after a couple of days and then subsided. It's not pleasant but it might be that or similar. Best thing is to get yourself to a doctors.
Terri: I had this plus nerve damage in my left arm as left side stroke I have to take strong meds the opioid family like transformers ended cymbalta which I hate but it dies give me a quality of life so guess it’s worth it good luck txx
Narelle: Try an acupuncturist for pain.They got rid of my pain (tennis elbow). No longer taking codeine painkillers. I've had cortisone as well. Some successful, some not, but it can weaken your bones.
My Dad had 3 strokes and he had physio and OT and speech therapy