Frozen Shoulder

[FrancesNiadova]

I've had a frozen shoulder for over 2 months now & it seems to be getting worse.
In the last 3 years, I've had a bad ankle injury & been on crutches/in wheelchairs & had breast cancer and a mastectomy with LD flap reconstruction. Both these were on the same side, so I was relying on my other side's shoulder muscle for crutches & to make up for the LD flap reconstruction.
Now that I am walking again, (about 10 months now, 8 months totally unaided), & no longer relying as much on my good side, I've gone and got this frozen shoulder.
Does anyone know what I can do to make it go away? I don't want to go doctor bothering again, EVER

I've had both shoulders 'freeze'. It's called 'adhesive encapsulitis'. Unfortunately, you'll have to see a doctor. It's caused by scar tissue building up in ligaments in the shoulder 'capsule' and the only way to 'cure' it is by physical therapy including manual manipulation to break up the scar tissue. It wasn't fun, but it worked.

I've had one and it's bloody painful!!

I kept thinking it would get better!! Till in the end I was sick of the intense feeling I got from just reaching for something, it went right through me.

I ended up having a procedure on it,can't remember the name now
But was injected with saline (prob something else as well) and blown up
Done via tv monitor to see exactly where to inject.

This fixed it

hm, really painful, had to sleep on my side with pillows in front and at the back so my arm wouldn't move. In the end went for the blowing up with saline and steroid. Left shoulder now OK, right restricted in movement but at least pain gone

Thanks for replying. I've got a V pillow, but it does keep me awake & is very painful.
I really don't want any more procedures, (I've had 7 major operations in 3 years), I just couldn't have any more.
I'll go to my GP & see what they suggest

Go and see an osteopath.

Thanks fluffy, that's a good idea.

Are you absolutely sure it's frozen shoulder? I've also had a double LD flap reconstruction and tore my rotator cuff (quite common apparently as the LD muscle keeps everything in place). It was absolute agony and misdiagnosed 3 times by my GP as frozen shoulder, it was my breast surgeon that spotted it.

It did get better, but I'm definitely now weaker on that side. Recommend physio and/or osteopath either way.

PS the doc did also prescribe diclophenac (sp? - voltarol) while it healed. I know it's hard when you've had it up to here with docs, but worth popping in for a referral. Hope you feel better.

IME GP's can't do much other than prescribe pain killers and refer for physio .
Physio's very over stretched and will diagnose and give sheet of exercises .Which you can access much more quickly by googling .

I've had 2 frozen shoulders ( still have to a point ) and my experience was same as acrossthepond .I found a good ,private physio who manipulated etc and broke up the stuff that was sticking ( not sure it's actually scar tissue ? ) . I'd go home and ice it .It took several sessions . Oh and she also used something ,can't remember namr ,something sonic ? on it that also helped .

It is really painful ,you have my sympathy .

Take omeprazole or similar if using diclonfenac .

Thanks for all of your advice. Tango, the thing is that it's the opposite side to my mx & LD flap reconstruction. It's also the opposite side to my injured leg, so it's the side I relied on with my walking stick!

Ah. Sorry OP. That'll teach me to diagnose over the internet.

Hope you find a not too invasive solution. You clearly deserve a break.

Frances so sorry to hear of your health problems. I've had one frozen shoulder and am now on my second so you have my sympathy. Mine started with shooting pains, followed by gradual reduction in movement and chronic pain in arm, then no pain but no movement and then gradual thawing. The first time I had a steroid injection when I couldn't stand the pain any longer but this time I had an injection much earlier although it didn't seem to help! I'm 9 months in and the pain has gone and am now doing exercises which does help and the shoulder is gradually getting better. But if yours is definitely frozen it's a long process but it will return to normal even if you do nothing. What I did find invaluable this time round was a TENS machine - I took it everywhere and really wish I'd had one for the first one - fantastic for pain relief! HTH

What about acupuncture