What kind of doctor do I need for a frozen shoulder or rotator cuff injury?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

I am on my second frozen shoulder - I think, if it's not something else like damaged rotator cuffs. My first isn't as painful now, but has lost a fair amount of mobility. The second is still at the stage where I get jolts of sickening pain if it gets moved a fraction too far the wrong direction.

Would a physiotherapist be a good first port of call? Who is the right person to see to find out exactly what has caused my buggered shoulders?

Not in UK, so won't be seeing a primary care practitioner first.

A course of physio improved mine massively. It was accompanied by Naproxen to get rid of the pain.

That's great to hear Blossomtoes, was that about six sessions? How is the mobility?

I had really good results from physio too.

I didn’t find a physio really helped much. I got a referral to an orthopaedic specialist and what really helped me was a hydrodilation injection with a steroid. www.shoulderdoc.co.uk/article/1257
I think hormones can play a part, a lack of joint protective hormones around menopause. Unfortunately if you have one you are more likely to get a second.

Good luck, it’s the most painful thing.

Mobility is completely restored, I can do my bra up at the back again now. I seem to remember it was about three sessions but I did the exercises I was taught religiously. I feel for you, it was horrible.

Mine was really helped (cured) by sports massage.

You want a physio and to be absolutely religious in doing any prescribed exercise

I’m also seeing a physio but got a script for Naproxen from the GP. It is the worst pain I’ve ever had!

I’m interested in the link with (a lack of) hormones - I knew it could be age related but hadn’t thought of that. I am also battering through the exercises in the hope I can hurry it along but it is really hard.

Physio - but only if you're going to do the prescribed exercises.

If you haven't already done so, you can give it a few weeks of rehab by yourself at home.

This could save you £££'s

What age are you Op?

I had really good results from a physio who used first acupuncture then the Neil Asher technique (but the treatment was very painful).

@AbsentmindedWoman the physio said the main way to tell whether it’s a rotator cuff injury or a frozen shoulder is that a rotator cuff you can usually manipulate with the other arm, but the frozen shoulder just won’t move at all!

See an orthopedist first and get an exam and radiography done before deciding on a course of treatment.

I'm surprised that a PP needed a prescription for Naproxen. It's available over the counter in the US.

My mum had a frozen shoulder once, and just had to wait for it to go.

I was worried I had one a couple of months ago, but it turned out to be a rotator cuff - immobilising and icing for a couple of days and it was completely gone.

2 years I couldn't clip my bra strap myself.. Physio didn't help at all.. it was resolved in 15 minutes with a Steroid injection... miracle 😱

I'm surprised that a PP needed a prescription for Naproxen. It's available over the counter in the US

I wish it was here, every ache and pain in my body disappeared, it was like being 18 again.

Orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in shoulders, they may initially do an arthroscopy, before acromioplasty and rotator cuff repair if that's what's needed.

I would try all of the above. I certainly have!
I've had physio, steroid injections and hydrodilatation by an orthopaedic surgeon. None of these really worked. The pain has mostly disappeared but the lateral movement is still restricted. The surgeon told me 95% resolve on their own eventually but it can take a couple of years.
Another thing you should do is get checked for diabetes - frozen shoulder is much more prevalent in diabetics. The surgeon was surprised my gp hadn't done this straight away.

Physio has helped me gain some mobility but I slip doing the exercises sometimes when it feels it's improving. I get complacent. I still can't do up my bra though which is the biggest annoyance but I've certainly got more mobility back. So I'd book a few sessions just to get you started.

Best advice I had was that the pain won't harm you. I was holding myself in ways to reduce moving my arm/shoulder but you need to use your arm/shoulder as much as possible as though it's not freezing/frozen.

Can you access a steroid injection, it was instant relief for me .. so good.

I had a rotator cuff injury, took about 18 mths to heal completely, had physio and did the exercises, I also had a shoulder strap (Amazon)which helped me sleep better at night as it stopped my sore shoulder from dropping when I lay on my ok shoulder to sleep, it helped keep it in place. Feel for you I never want one again!

If you can get your arm above shoulder level its not a frozen shoulder but something else.
Like other people have said, frozen shoulders often you just have to wait for them to resolve depending on what stage they are in can be months.
If its something else physio will help but yeh you have to do the exercises.
Steroid injections help some people.
Go to your GP and get them to give you some painkillers and a referral to physio.
Hope you get sorted.

My rotator cuff issue was solved by manipulation by an excellent remedial massage therapist. Two sessions, two weeks, less than £100 quid. Amazing.

Frozen shoulder is a different kettle of fish and may need a lot longer and a lot more interventions.

@Blossomtoes

I'm surprised that a PP needed a prescription for Naproxen. It's available over the counter in the US

I wish it was here, every ache and pain in my body disappeared, it was like being 18 again.

God really? I'm in constant pain, I wish there was a black market for it!

(My pain is not just my shoulder)

Can anyone tell me what they think is wrong with my shoulder and I'll try some home exercises first before booking a physio or whatever. No chance getting any via GP.

I can't do my bra up behind me
I sleep on my stomach but I'm finding it very difficult to find a position where my shoulder is comfortable and obviously it's waking me up several times a night
I can lift my arm up as long as I do it carefully and find the right angle

Any suggestions?

A physio may not see you until you have a diagnosis, I had a normal xray but an MRI showed impingement syndrome which needed keyhole surgery. Painkillers, physio and steroid injection didnt help much, the physio discharged me after 3 sessions.