Bone Spur and Bursitis in the Shoulder

[frogguruami]

Basically I have a bone spur in my shoulder that either aggravates or causes bursitis. When my kids were little I was treated with regular cortisone injections. I have only had minor problems in the last few years with it since I no longer carry my children around! However, since beginning NROL the irritation has returned. Is there anything I can do to minimize this or am I SOL since there is a bone spur causing the problem. My doc gave me the impression that surgery is the only way to get rid of it but I am not ready to go through that and the pain isn't bad enough for me to have a cortisone shot. I would like to not get to that point if possible!

Any help would be appreciated!

[UConnJulie]

Any kind of postural work should help ... anything that retracts and depresses your shoulderblades, improves thoracic extension and rotation. YTWLs might be good (if they hurt then don't do them as this might indicate that you are fraying the tendon on the bone spur). That is fairly typical conservative management. Have you had any PT for it? If not, that might be a good route. Most surgeons would send your for therapy before surgery. But, to be honest, many of these types of things need surgical intervention. Sorry!

[frogguruami]

Thanks! I can do Y, T and W with minimal discomfort but I can't even get into the starting position for L without a lot of pain. That is all un-weighted.

I have never done PT because my doctor doubted it would do any good because of the placement of the spur. I am not prepared to have surgery just yet so I guess I will have to reconsider cortisone injections.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.