Painful frozen shoulder - steroid injection???

[thebeachismyhappyplace2]

Been in so much pain for the last week or so with right shoulder and arm, literally can’t move arm. Physio has said all the signs point to Frozen shoulder and has suggested having a steroid injection. But I’m keen to find out more about it? Would love to hear people experiences of steroid injection and if there were any side effects? Any tips for getting through Frozen shoulder? How long does it last? Will the steroid injection cure it?

I’m 20 months into my second frozen shoulder. The first lasted 3 years.
The first time, I had a steroid injection and it did help with the really really painful stage but not with the mobility of the shoulder. I did get full mobility back eventually.

The second time (different shoulder) I had hydrodilation together with steroids and that that also helped with the severe pain and helped me regain some mobility although it’s far from being cured. Only side effect was a headache for a couple of days from the steroids. It’s just a matter of waiting now. I found swimming helped (before lockdown).

Sounds horrendous. Has it affected your mental health?

I had this, it’s extremely painful, I initially had a steroid injection and a very small amount of physio, 6 sessions....it did work, the injection was not painful and no effects other then it did work. A few years a later my shoulder started to ache again, I was quick to go back to the doctors and got another injection which settled it again. Fast forward a few years again it came back much much worse, just had a baby and could hardly move my arm. I had them moved from the UK to Ireland, went to docs and got referred to a consultant, MRI on shoulder done, tendonitis in shoulder properly diagnosed.....they could see calcium deposits. They were talking about doing an operation on it, the one the previous poster mentioned, I didn’t want this because I was breastfeeding, baby very small, so had 2 sessions initially if physio a week, went down to 1 and this went on for probably 7 months. To my relief the physio did work, the consultant was surprised but I did really focused on doing the exercises etc. After all the physio he did too give me a steroid injection just to completely settle it down and 3 years later I can say my shoulder has never been better! I’m swimming loads and absolutely no aches or pains. I feel it is fixed now. Good luck, you havd my sympathy it’s unbelievably painful

Thank you Kudos - your story has given me some hope. It’s so painful and making me feel so low. It’s good to hear there were no side effects from the steroid injection too

I've had two frozen shoulders - with the first I eventually gave in to the pain after about 8 months and booked to have manipulation under anaesthetic but then backed out and opted for a steroid injection which didn't hurt but the pain gradually went and I eventually got all mobility back. With the second I went straight for a steroid injection but it didn't get rid of the pain. I bought a TENS machine which was a lifesaver and I can't recommend it highly enough. No drugs and you have control over how often and at what intensity you use it. I went to physio classes at hospital which did help. I would say there isn't 100% mobility though.

No problem happyplace, yes I can completely understand how this can get you down, it’s extremely painful and can be difficult to sleep. I can assure you that lots can be done. When I finally resolved to deal with it properly I was able to get lots of help. I actually went to the doctor and she prescribed me difine (?) strong anti inflammatory which helped with the immediate severe pain, from there obviously on to consultant, physio, home exercise plan, injection. In the physio she would basically put heat pads on my shoulder for about 20mins them once it was nice and relaxed she would manually stretch out my shoulder by sort of pulling my arm, that was to sort of break down the adhesions inside....at least that’s how it was basically described...so that my shoulder again had full rotation and my arm could move normally. It might be worth asking your physio for a recommendation for someone to do the injection, when I was in the UK there was one particular doctor in the surgery that used to do these injections, I guess its a specialist skill, they obviously need to get it to the right spot. So in summary my advice would be to definitely get some pain relief and absolutely do not hesitate to get the injection , I hope you feel better soon

I feel so sorry for you, it’s a dreadful pain, can make you feel sick even.
I had a difficult time with my frozen shoulders, and several years of pain, I opted for manipulation under GA, where they dislocate & reset the shoulder. It worked well at first, but later caused other long term problems.
If I ever need further treatment I’m going to opt for acupuncture and exercise as a first step.

If you’re having trouble sleeping because you’re afraid of rolling onto the shoulder, I found a V shaped pillow (or ordinary pillows in an inverted V) made me feel more secure so I could then get to sleep.

As for hydrodilatation.
They fill the shoulder capsule ( the tissue around the joint which has become thickened and tight resulting in loss of mobility and pain) with saline and steroid via an injection. It is uncomfortable rather than painful..a local anaesthetic is given at the same time. The aim is to break down the thickened tissue and essentially "burst" the tight capsule meaning the arm can move again. A steroid is included in the injection meaning you also get the benefit of the steroid jab. Its becoming a much more widely used treatment and is better than a simple steroid injection alone as it treats and removes the cause not just the pain and inflammation.

My DM had a frozen shoulder for a long time and although we were all sceptical at first, tried acupuncture as a pain reliever. It helped tremendously to the point that when her acupuncturist was on holiday and she missed an appointment she could really feel it and was desperate to get back. Wanted to mention as a potential pain relief option!

Berty - that’s really funny you should mention acupuncture as a couple of friends I was out with this evening mentioned this as a treatment. I’m going to look into it!!

They do go away on their own. I opted for a no treatment approach (having met with an orthopaedic consultant). It took 3 years to resolve 10 years ago and is now - thankfully - a distant memory,

Silver - how on earth can someone live with this amount of pain and no mobility for 3 years?? Impossible. And why would you want to put your life on hold when there are treatments out there?

To be honest, I don’t know of a way to cure a true classic frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) other than time. Steroids and Hydrodilation can help with the pain and to some extent with the mobility. It might be different if it’s a shoulder injury caused by tendinitis or an accident. You get used to it. I certainly haven’t put my life on hold.

I had my first a few years ago, now completely healed and fully mobile. I saw a physio at the time and she gave me exercises but told me it would basically heal on its own.

My other shoulder started freezing in April. It was really painful from April to July and since then the pain has been easing off. I’m assuming that it’ll start to thaw soon and I’ll get the motion back over the coming months.

How did you manage to get on with everyday stuff though as I’ve completely lost mobility on my right arm so not sure I can go back to work, drive, cook etc

DP has this, had it since just after lockdown, so far is just having physio.

How did you manage to get on with everyday stuff

Either find some inventive new way of doing things, or ask for help, or avoid doing them. Choose meals that you can do pretty much one-handed. It’s a pain but I guess no worse than if you break your arm.

I tried to keep swimming last time with one-armed breast stroke. Of course that’s not an issue this time as there’s no swimming anyway.

I did the one armed swimming too once the worst of the pain was over.
I can drive my own small car but struggle with DH’s which is much heavier.
Getting dressed is still an issue. I had to buy stretchy non wired bras as I can’t reach behind my back so I do them up and step into them. I wear stretchy dresses or tops or jumpers. I struggle with anything fitted like jackets. I pull clothes off by grabbing the back of the neck one handed and yanking over my head.

I work in IT and am right handed so I have to have my chair at maximum height so my elbow can rest in on the desk so I can use the mouse.
DH does the hoovering.
I had to wait for months for hydrodilation on the NHS and I didn’t sleep at all well. DH moved into the spare room as I could only sleep diagonally with my arm on extra pillows for support. I did have a low dose of seratraline to help me try sleep for the first few months.
I’ve learned to do a lot of things left handed too or by keeping my arm close to my body and only moving from the elbow.

How did you manage to get on with everyday stuff

Actual frozen shoulder n (adhesive capsulitis) is absolute agony. It's not just discomfort and a lack if mobility. It s absolutletly life stopping. Lots of other conditions are sometimes labelled as frozen shoulder incorrectly and it is possible to carry on in a normal ish way with restricted movement and a bit of discomfort. You hear lots of accounts if people claiming they repeatedly have the same dgpjlder freeze which us impossible the changes in the capsule around the shoulder which cause the condition can only happen once in each side. Mis diagnosis can lead to a misunderstanding of the condition.
Pp is correct jn that it has a general life span of approximately 3 years. In this time it increases and at this point is the worst, reaches plateau stage then gradually improves. Hydrodilation aims to push the process In to the decline stage so eith a little physio the pain has pretty much reduced and mobility is being restored. For severe cases the capsule of tissue around the joint which has toughened and thickened causing the condition can be cut via a minor keyhole surgical procedure.
Pain treatments are offered if the pain is terrible which it can be. If hydrodilation doesnt weork medications can be tried nerve blocks and topical treatments. You don't have live with the pain until it improves.

Agree with what GlamGiraffe says. I believe that it’s thought to be an auto-immune condition and 90% of those who suffer from it are women which is why it is poorly researched and little understood. The pain can be absolutely sickening especially after sudden movements.

I’ve had it in both shoulders - one at a time iyswim first the right then the left.

Mine both lasted a year or so each time. With the right I had 3 steroid injections which made not the slightest difference. With the left I didn’t bother and my recovery time was the same.

Most painful thing I’ve ever had. The zingers? You know what I mean if you’ve had it.

I was freelance so worked from home throughout mine. I did manage to drive by contorting a bit to reach the gear stick. Luckily the arm position of the driving wheel was ok even at my completely frozen stage. But yeah I did try not to drive unless absolutely necessary. Trying to move the rear view mirror? Impossible.

You have to wait until a certain stage after freezing, you begin to get fewer zingers and you start the thawing out stage - then you can begin doing gentle exercises which eventually lead to movement returning.

Nightmare condition though.

Good luck OP.

There is little you can do to deal with the pain. Slerp with pillows cocooning you and supporting the shoulder and arm. I used a sling (which although inst generally advised as ot reduces mobility), for periods of times I found it toon the load and slight movements off the arm which helped a bit. Because I gave extreme hyermobility In my shoulders it was much worse (which I know doesnt sound like it makes sense). I changed everything I did. Resigned myself to the fact standards had to change (like cleaning and cooking). Get an old lady style wheelie trolley instead of carrying shopping, change yo different shoes as it makes a difference to your shoulder, change your handbag yo the smallest lightest cross body one. Rest your arm up whenever you can. Remember that carrying in the giid arm also affects the bad shoulder. Slide things along the kitchen work tops dont carry then things like that. You literally have to do everything differently for months. I was eventually referred to a specialist in pain medicine who did a nerve block (didn't work) but then gave me local anaesthetic patches (brilliant) until it calmed down . I would seek a referral to an orthopedic shoulder specialist as if it's a "real" frozen shoulder it can be treated. If they try to send you your just physio that isnt the answer.

I used a sling for a bit too, not only for support but because it made other people give me a wide berth and I was terrified they’d knock into me.
I have hypermobility too but had never made the connection.

This was a pain unlike any other I've ever had and I normally have a high pain threshold. Painkillers for two months which barely worked then my GP decided to give me a steroid injection.

He said they were quite difficult as you have to find the exact spot where it's needed. Luckily he did and I'm not exaggerating, the relief was almost instant.

The only side effect I had was raised blood sugar for three or four days. I'm diabetic so it affected me more but I think I'm right in saying it normally raises it in non diabetics but not enough to be a problem and not long-term.

Hope yours clears up soon OP.

Aww thanks butterpuffed - good to hear a happy outcome.

And thank you to EVERYONE else too for your advice and experiences. It’s actually just comforting to be able to talk about it with others who have gone through it as don’t think hubby/friends quite get how f*cking awful it is! Think people see me a bit of a drama queen. Incredible how this condition also affects you mentally. Feel so low.

Anyway I’ve decided to try acupuncture first (got appointment tomorrow) and been told that if it doesn’t work after 2 sessions then there’s no point continuing with acupuncture - completely trust this practitioner as he’s a friend. And So if this doesn’t work then I’ll try the steroid injection.

Praying for a miracle 🙏🏼