I've done something horrible to myself...

[surlycurly]

So I woke up on Sunday with the most horrific pain in my shoulder. I've had a shoulder problem before (other shoulder) but this time it is like its popping out of joint when I move it a certain way. It's my left arm and I can't drive. Doc says it's a frozen shoulder. All I know is that when I move it in front of me, it locks and loses strength and is so sore I feel like I could vomit. Anyone had anything similar?

No one? Just me then? A mystery of modern medicine. What are the odds...

Physio may help, but it may well be a long haul, sorry.

Thanks. It took an age with the other one. But this doesn't feel the same. Just wondered if it was something people had experience of?

I’ve done this. Hurt like a motherfucker.

No idea how I did it. Couldn’t lift my arm up much. Had a bit of a stint on anti inflammatories my gp referred me to physio.

@ememem84 did you have the feeling of it popping out when you lifted it up? Or it locking? The pain is horrendous when it happens. I had to physically move it into a different position today as it had locked in a painful one. I literally cried.

Yes ive had a frozen shoulder, absolutely horrendous pain. My arm was stuck like it was in a sling and i couldnt move it in any direction more than an inch. Took 3 months of private physio. The longer its left the worse it is to resolve so see someone asap

I have a frozen shoulder after having rotator cuff surgery. My consultant told me frozen shoulders are largely a middle aged female problem. I’m 50. I would ask to be referred to a ortho consultant and ask for a steroid injection. You then need physio within a few days to get it moving again. They will also investigate whether there are any other issues going on, such as a rotator cuff tear. There is also a treatment call hydro dilatation which can be very successful.
www.wwl.nhs.uk/Library/All_New_PI_Docs/Xray/Rad%20017%20Hydrodilatation%20for%20frozen%20shoulder%2011.20%20v4.pdf
Good luck with it 💐

Take it to a physio. You'll be protecting it which means muscle loss which means longer to fix it - get it to a physio (pay if you can) asap and it'll be a quicker recover.

I did this about 6 weeks ago, it has only this week begun to feel a bit (and I mean a bit) better.
It’s horrible.

I had that several years ago, had no physio and it took 2-3 years to clear up. Go and see somebody.

I went to the out of hours gp with it, and then my own gp on Monday- I have a steroid injection planned for tomorrow. I'm still waiting in my NHS physio referral from January so I'll definitely go private or through the OH at my work. I'm just in much more pain this time. And not being able to drive is a kick in the behind at this time of year!

So sorry for you OP. I had one a few years ago - it hurt like fuck and took a few months to get better. I did not see a physio but it seems like sound sense to get some help early on.

I had this and it jolly hurts.
It’s VERY important that you move it otherwise it will take longer to get better.
With the top of your arm straight and the bottom half of your arm across your body hold your wrist with your other hand and gently lift your arm so it is above your head.
It will hurt but it helps to stop it locking.
I did this about 3 times morning, afternoon and evening.
Take the strongest anti inflammatory that your body can cope with.
My gp gave me a double dose of diclofenac slow release but I don’t think you can get that now.

Thanks for the tips- I am having to use my other hand to lift my arm- even to put deodorant on today- I had to lean my hand on my dresser and kind of lunge and roll. H e oddest looking thing I've done in ages . Putting clothes on and off is misery inducing however but it's too cold to be naked.

Here's a link to a youth video that I watched and did these exercises also I read the comments as well about not doing the exercises too many times in the day

I've had frozen shoulder, and it is the most dreadful pain, often makes you feel sick. I feel so sorry for you.
If I had it again, I would opt for acupuncture and physio. I had mine manipulated under GA, and though it worked in the short term, in the long term it resulted in damage to the cuff which later had to be surgically repaired.

@AdaColeman lord above, that sounds horrific. I'm hoping the injection tomorrow will give me enough relief to stop the vomit worthy pain. And thanks for that video @MsPepperPotts - I'll have a look tomorrow. For now it's cocodamol and bed.

Poor you OP [off topic aside - having had frequent shoulder pain I have a theory that 90% of female shoulder injuries are caused by getting out of sports bras and the other 10% reaching for things positioned too high]

@EvaHarknessRose probably just the size of my boobs causing the blooming problem.

A blessing and a curse.

Yes, no pain like it and the nausea element also came and went. In fact, I also found it affected my gait and so on as I think I was using my whole side to try to protect it and was pretty anxious about it either consciously or not. I (still) try to cycle bags I carry rather than have the same all the time, although the amount of time I lose keys or whatever else is really annoying.
A doctor should probably send you for an ultrasound to see if there is any damage, but it is unlikely to be quick right now. The best thing I did, but this was eventually, when I was starting to improve, was go to a very good (recently qualified and very up-to-date) osteopath who used a combination of acupuncture including dry needling, and massage and manipulation. Sore, but do-able. I had about 5 sessions over 3 months, expensive but worth it by far.
I was also advised to drink loads of water and non-inflammatory liquids (managed this with alcohol but can't kick the caffeine). Tried internal soluble magnesium and vit D but this seemed to make no difference. Also taking fish oil and glucosamine, though glucosamine can disagree with you a bit.
Good luck.

I found that a V shaped pillow or two pillows put in an inverted V shape, helped me sleep, as they stopped me rolling onto the painful shoulder.

If you can find a Bowen therapist, they can do wonders for releasing off frozen shoulders.
It’s a very very gentle form of treatment that releases the fascia, doesn’t work for everyone but it’s amazing for those it does work for. The great thing is you normally know within a couple of sessions if it’s working, they won’t keep you coming back for more 3 times per week like a chiropractor would.

Have they actually examined it to ensure that it isn't dislocated?

I had that when mine was actually out of the socket (got told afterwards by the then useless bastard now ex that he'd seen it had dropped and there was a big lump sticking out the back - my fucking humerus). It popped (well, exploded) back in three days later with the most pain I'd ever been in in my life. It was certainly worse than the three previous dislocations I'd had as a kid. Your symptoms (the lifting it up, for example) match exactly.

The damage to the ligaments around it took a very, very long time to heal and took a sling, then physio, then a steroid injection and then several months after that to go back to normal.

Since then, I've partially done it once more - it woke me up when it popped back into place as I turned when sound asleep one night after a couple of weeks of it being sore and a bit weaker than usual. I thought there had been a gunshot outside, but DP (and the DTwatCats) all heard it coming from me - and the pain that kicked in a few seconds later made it clear where it had come from.

I have the suspicion that some doctors don't understand hypermobile joints or that some dislocations can go back without surgery/medical intervention if you happen to move in exactly the right way.

Well thank you all for the input- there are lots of ideas here. I have all sorts of other joint issues so will be getting referring to a rheumatologist this time to investigate more. I have been told I have slack collagen and may be hyper mobile so that's perhaps the issue and I may be partially dislocating. I've dislocated various other bits of me.

Sleeping is rather dire. I may have to buy a v shaped pillow. The timing for finding an osteopath etc is terrible. And also I don't live somewhere with lots of options- getting anywhere without a car is going to be a PITA. Thank you soooo much for the responses. I think people think I'm exaggerating but when it locks, it's beyond awful. I appreciate the shared stories.

Hope you get some rest tonight curly, and all goes well tomorrow.