After two months of shoulder pain, I finally went to see the doctor. An X-ray showed calcific tendinitis. I'm seeing a physical therapist now and it's helping. Will this problem go away for good? Or should I expect another attack at any time?
Shoulder pain and loss of motion are common symptoms of calcific tendinitis. Patients can be very debilitated in their daily activities from this problem. Typically there are no symptoms until the condition is on the mend.
If you can wait long enough, the problem will resolve on its own. That's why it's considered a self-limiting condition. Physical therapy for joint mobilization has been shown to give patients good results. Shock wave therapy is another treatment option that is safe and effective.
If the symptoms don't go away, surgery can be done to remove the calcium deposits and wash any other tiny crystals from the joint. The problem can come back but it is not a certainty. Many patients are never bothered again.
Glenn Ross, MD, et al. Acute Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder Mimicking Infection: Arthroscopic Evaluation and Treatment -- A Case Report. In The American Journal of Orthopedics. December 2006. Vol. 35. No. 12. Pp. 572-574.
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Calcific Tendonitis
I had arthroscopic surgery in August to remove a calcific growth on my left shoulder . This growth had increased significantly since the original X-ray in April . Since then I have had a flare up at end of September which was put down to a "splurge" of calcium back in to the joint . I had severe pain and little movement until I received a cortizon injection . In December the same thing occurred and it took almost a week before I had movement back and the pain subsided . I have been told that this can occur again as I am 45 , have had wear and tear , arthritis and the fact that when I was 20 I had dislocated my shoulder on several occasions and never had treatment .
Is this something I can expect to happen again and is this injury in any way related to previous dislocations ?