I have had a problem with my right shoulder for a few years. I saw a doctor who did cortisone shots, MRI, did physical therapy, etc. Then saw the surgeon who told me I had the worst case of bicep tendonitis he had ever seen, but nothing surgical he could do. Now my left shoulder is killing me because of using it so much. I have to go in Friday and have a cortisone shot for it. I know he is going to want me to do physical therapy, but with the fibromyalgia I cannot do repetitive exercises. I can do yoga all day, but pulling on a rubber band will cause me so much pain the next day that I am on the couch with an ice pack for days. I am at my wits end with all of this and next week I have to have surgery for a female problem. Aaaaarrrrrggggg!

I have two problem shoulders, dextrose Prolotherapy gave me 3 yrs relief about 6 yrs ago...my issues are from gym equipment. Both shoulders are problematic, I'd never do surgery for sure....there are many exercises and my rheumy gave me some I do daily....

Shrugs for one with both shoulders....bending over and dangling one arm at a time and moving clockwise and then counterclockwise....with each arm. Then standing adjacent to a wall and with fingers climb up wall and then down....does a lot of release work.

I had one cortisone injection in the right arm over a year ago and it gave me some relief but not any since...remember cortisone will break down our bones.

Laying down or sometimes just sitting I get one arm at a time over my head and then the other arm and then both....gotta keep them moving.

Perhaps ask the doc to write a script for massage therapy or if doc insists on PT, there are some therapists that will do cranial sacral release which may loosen shoulder or you can talk them into massage therapy.

Wouldn't bicep tendonitis benefit from a strong anti inflammatory? I take Mobic or Relafen which are very effective.

Much luck on shoulder and surgery.
D.

Not sure if I suggested out thoracic outlet syndrome forum to you already, but it does have similar and related symptoms to what you describe.. and we have many links & posts on various self care & treatments.
Check out the sticky threads there.. you don't have to have all the symptoms of TOS for the therapies/selfcare to be helpful...
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum24.html