Shoulder: Calcium deposits anyone?

[Patches]

Anyone dealt with this?

Been struggling with a gimpy shoulder for about 3 years now... turns out I have a pretty good sized calcium deposit. If I remember correctly from my discussion with the doctor, the deposit is sitting on top of the supraspinatus, pushing up into the bursa and causing my pain. Before getting a doctor I did the PT, ice and rest thing for 2 years with no results.

In January he gave me a magic cortisone shot in the bursa that eliminated all pain until recently, but now its starting to come back a bit.

In January, my doctor had said that he might try one more cortisone shot and if it came back again he would attempt to aspirate the deposit. My recollection might be off- he may have said the aspiration attempt would be next.

Anyways- anyone had this procedure done? What is the recovery time?

Trying to figure out if I can squeeze in a procedure in a few weeks and recover by mid-late July for Argentina...

And I know I should just ask the doctor, but he is 4 hours away.

[drmark]

If its not to bad have another cortisone shot. If that doesn't work, at athroscopy the calcium can be expressed and removed. The recovery is fast and shouldn't get in the way of our plans for nearly three months from now.

[Patches]

Thank you DrMark!

I see from your other posts that you aren't a fan of SLAP repairs. My doctor feels the same way. My MRI (w/ contrast dye) shows a SLAP lesion; my first ortho guy wanted to fix it, so I got a 2nd opinion (my current doctor) who said more or less "no way- everyone has a SLAP lesion under contrast dye, its probably the calcium deposit, so fix that first". Very interesting.

Am I doing harm to myself by procrastinating on another cortisone shot or aspiration? My understanding is they usually resolve themselves, but its been three years. Should I just wait until it hurts so much I can't sleep again, and then have the second procedure? Not sure what is worse for me, the cortisone or the inflammation.

I don't mind pain as long as I can get at least some sleep. I'm trying to figure out what puts me in the best shape in say 3 years, not what will make me happiest in 3 months.

Oh- is the aspiration done under general, or can they just strap me down and use an amnesiac (I think thats what its called- where you feel everything during the procedure, then forget about it 15 seconds later)?

Thanks for the advice DrMark.

[drmark]

I would get the shot today. There is little to lose and much to gain.

[Patches]

Thank you DrMark! I'll schedule an appointment today.

Also, check your PMs...

[Vinman]

ask about some rehab to get ionto treatments with acetic acid. Acetic acid is used ti treat inflammation and calcific tendonosis