Is physiotherapy meant to be very painful?

[RothRoth]

I started physiotherapy yesterday for a frozen shoulder. I was expecting it to hurt when the physio tried to move my arm up so it was vertical but it was agony. I''m not a wimp at all but I was crying out in pain as she just kept forcing it further and further.

Is this normal. She gave me some exercises to do to gradually move it further over time which what I was expecting, but not the forcing it on the first session.

I would say it should hurt some but maybe not as much as you’re describing. However I would also expect that the first session is more of an assessment (with some suggestions etc) and hopefully know she sees what your problems/range of motion/pain threshold is, next sessions will be better. But I’d definitely make sure you tell her the pain was so bad.

How does it feel now?

it can be. especially if they are actively stretching a large muscle or really dig into layers of muscle.
muscles can stay sore for a couple of days, just like after doing more exercise than usual.

next time you can take paracetamol or ibuprofen before the appointment.

I'm in long term physio and unlikely ever to get much better, its damage control and pain management more than anything and it hurts for me, especially if I haven't been for a few months and everything is locked up. I get into a vicious circle where I try not to move it because it hurts and my muscles get so tight from guarding it that they basically have to be forced. Sometimes acupuncture can help to ease it.

My first session back I was pretty much just sobbing into his jacket while he tried to get my arm moving, going sorry, sorry, I'm so sorry. It was worse than childbirth I swear. Downright traumatic for us both.

op, that doesnt sound right to me. I am not a physio.
I have had two frozen shoulders with physio sessions each time[2nd shoulder I had a steroid injection, 1st one I didnt].

What @PleaseStopExplaining says basically.

Only going by my experiences, my physios did not put my arms up vertical. Quite frankly, they couldnt have gone anywhere near that anyway.

I wouldnt have expected her to force it further and further with you in that much pain.

I have needed to have physio multiple times in the past ranging from a broken arm resulting in atrophied shoulder, after ACL/MCL/LCL repair surgery, broken foot and ankle, and trapped nerve. For the shoulder and knee, I needed to take pain killers before and after physio as well as use ice packs. My physio did tell me it would hurt, no pain, no gain.

Talk to your physio for what is expected.

Thanks for your replies. She did say that I needed to take painkillers before seeing her which I hadn't as I thought it would make it harder for her to assess the problem.

It's very achy today but I've been doing the exercises so I think it'll be hurting for some time to come.

I'll see how it goes next time.

Don't be tempted to rest it. Keep doing the stretches and exercises even if its stiff. You will regret it if you let it stiffen back up.

When I was having physiotherapy my physio warned me that something he was about to do would hurt. By God he was right. I was in pain afterwards as well, was told I would be, but it was theraputic pain IYSWIM. Keep doing the exercises.

It can be. When I had physio for my should I came out in bruises from neck to elbow! It worked though.

@RothRoth

Thanks for your replies. She did say that I needed to take painkillers before seeing her which I hadn't as I thought it would make it harder for her to assess the problem.

It's very achy today but I've been doing the exercises so I think it'll be hurting for some time to come.

I'll see how it goes next time.

Don't make that mistake again. If they want you unemedicated they tell you. If they say take painkillers take everything that is safe to take!

Never be brave when told to take painkillers. They are part of the healing process. If you don't take them you carry yourself far more protectively and your joints don't relax into their natural formation. And that means that, at best, you prolong the physio and, at worst, might make some of it pointless!