I fell off the bike 14 months ago. Landed on my shoulder, some pain, but mostly good range of motion, so with my doc I decided to "let it get better." It was imaged and verified no breakage, no dislocation. I was lucky not to have broken my collarbone.

Now reading Will Dehne's post, it sounds very similar to my situation.

Five months later it was getting worse, so she (the PCP) got it imaged and got me into PT. Four months later my strength was mostly restored, motion was mostly restored, and I have some daily exercises, plus I'm clear to do some upper body weight work. They used a transcutaneous diffusion of cortizone using an electric current across my shoulder, but otherwise no drugs or surgery.

The overall strategy was,

see what's wrong (x-ray, MRI, or whatever),

bring down the inflamation initially (maybe some drugs or localized meds),

perform strengthening and stretching exercises in a non-injurious program (PT supervision), and

then go on self-management (home exercises, glucosamine, watching out how I do things).

I think it works. I don't expect it's gonna be "all better," but normal life is pretty much back. Re-injury is always a possibility.

My docs said surgery is a possibility, but it is risky in the shoulder, and not always a more successful than therapy. Also the healing has the same issue as with non-invasive treatment, that it takes a long time. Few people can actually keep a shoulder still and allow it to heal.

You need to be able to drive, lift water glasses, and do what you need to. Get it looked at. My dad ignored a similar injury, and the totally frozen shoulder plagued him for the rest of his life.

It might hurt through most of this process.

Road Fan