UKC

I have shoulder problems, bilaterally, which MRI imaging has been shown to include tendonitis in the infraspinatus, supraspinatus and subscapularis muscle tendons, along w some bursitis, and a little involvement of the bicipital groove biceps tendon. The left shoulder also has some cartilage damage, which I suspect may be where a good deal of the pain is coming from.

My question is where within a moderate distance of here, I might be seen by a very good shoulder orthopaedic surgeon to fully evaluate matters. I am in Rutland/Stamford Lincolnshire, and I wonder if there is anyone locally, at somewhere such as Addenbrookes, and also including London hospitals if need be (I travel to London for social and leisure purposes such as the Proms, quite a bit)?

Thank you in anticipation.

Rob

PS I also may have trouble with cervical nerve root lesions, as I had a major injury in 2007 and ended up with a plate round about C5-C6.

Can't help, but interested to hear how you got such a thorough investigation so far (MRI etc). Is it through an NHS pathway, or private physio/ortho? Just curious, as my perception is there's sort of no point in trying to sort out 'sports injuries' through the NHS, but I could be completely wrong.

There was a lot of frustration with communication with the GP's Sx, and eventually got an MRI scan for both shoulders about 10d ago via private means, about 3 months after I first had an appointment with an over -telephone physiotherapist and then a contemptous GP (whom I felt thought that I was being a wimp). The MRI was after 3 months. Since then I have seen the same GP and he behaved differently to me when he read the MRI report, presumably being more convinced of the validity of my problems.

No doubt I'll get at least another dislike for this post.

Not from me. 

Well, well done persisting, even if it has meant shelling out for the private scan. Best of luck for your future treatment. I hope you can get sorted.

So are there no recommendations even for a shoulder consultant based in London, or Cambridge?

Please give me some ideas as to whom might be useful in being evaluated..

Thank you.

Rob

Professor Funk at Wrightington. He is known to be the best shoulder surgeon for climbers. You can choose to be referred here through NHS.  Not sure of the situation re wait times etc his private clinic is in Manchester. 

Thank you.

I have had a look at something of his online information. Manchester is a little more difficult for me to get to, when I generally work most days, but I may be able to plan to have a half day off or something.

London is easier as I can be in Kings' Cross in 45 minutes by train from Peterborough, or Cambridge by car in 45-60 minutes by car from Stamford. Nevertheless, I may still go to Manchester.

I must say that I hate not being able to go in a reasonable time via the NHS,  and it is against my philosophy, of all being able to be treated on the NHS: Yet my problem is starting to affect my ability to work for longer times, and so, much to my shame, I am inclined to go privately.

I highly recommend The Arm Clinic at Wilmslow Hospital. They have a number of shoulder specialists including Neil Jain and Len Funk who deal with a lot of professional rugby players and goalkeepers. I had shoulder surgery there in March of this year.