Has anyone experience with frozen shoulder?

[drivinmecrazy]

I've been diagnosed with frozen shoulder, the doctor said to expect up to two year recovery time. Is this right?
Frankly I was relieved it's 'just' frozen shoulder because I'd takes myself into a corner and convinced myself it was something more sinister.
It's affecting almost every area of my life and the thought of years of it is quite daunting.
Any helpful tips or exercises to relieve the pain, especially at nigh?

I had oesteopathy and that did help .Lots of massage .Plus a ?laser type thing .
Advice was to keep it moving ,pendulum exercises .Alternate hot and cold packs .Finish with cold .
Have had 2 frozen shoulders .

I’m going through it now - at about two months in and my physio says it’s moving quite quickly through the freezing stage, which is apparently good as it means the pain should calm down. It’s been awful - as a PP said it’s very debilitating and the aching in bed was sickening.

To echo other posters, it will be well worth doing all the exercises, even through the pain (you won’t do any more damage) to keep whatever range of motion you can.

I’m intrigued about skiing/altitude possibly helping - like I need any excuse!

It’s agony isn’t it?
I had mine for almost 2 years. I tried all sorts of treatment, nothing worked.
Then I changed my pillows and suddenly it resolved.
Maybe it was coincidence as the two years were almost up.

It might be worth a try?

Good luck!

I am 6 months into recovery for a frozen shoulder. The physio has helped in keeping my muscles strong. At 4 weeks in, my muscles in that arm got so week and I almost dropped a kettle of boiled water. Now they are built back up, I have no issues lifting (still can't go above my head but I am getting there).

One thing I found has helped is CPD oil. For me it's helped so much with the pain and helped me to be able to exercise the shoulder.

Happy birthday
I spoke to the doctor last week about my shoulder and that is what she has suggested, am off for an xray next week and have a consultation with physio. Mine has been like this for a year, hearing it may be 2 more was a bit depressing.

Actually yes I have been using a green Thera band to keep strength up

Yep. Am 18 months in along with tennis elbow to boot, all right hand side and yes, I'm right handed.

Mine froze a year ago - was useless until I cracked and went to the GP after about 4 months (couldn't lift it, wash hair, get dressed properly, etc). Steroid injection was amazing - pain almost gone the same day, and about 60% movement back the day after that.

I took up yoga about that time, to try and build strength back up and hopefully prevent it happening again. Probably back up to 80% strength and 90% movement range 6 months post steroids.

So one year on - not perfect, but functional enough. Will continue yoga forever if there's the slightest chance it will prevent that happening again.

Really recommend trying the steroid injection to see if it helps you.

The steroid injection I had at gps didn't do anything. They said it might not

Belated happy birthday @drivinmecrazy

You have my utmost sympathy, it's hell isn't it?!

Mine started the year I turned 50 funnily enough but I already had tennis elbow and a knee issue at the same time which, in hindsight, was mistakenly given priority. 2017 was a write off for anything other than medical appointments.

I tried physio, osteopathy, acupuncture (bad decision) and the only thing that gave me any relief was two separate steroid injections at the hospital. At the worst stage, I was maxing every painkiller I could just to function.
I burst into tears at one physio session where they refused the second steroid jab and I remember them asking kindly if I thought I might be depressed. I said no, I'm just bloody exhausted from constant pain and getting no more than 4 hours sleep for months on end. As @DontCallMeBaby says, amputation sounded a reasonable consideration at the time.

5 years on I don't quite have full range of movement in that shoulder but there was an underlying impingement issue prior so I can accept that.

The one thing that helps for sleeping is to lie on your good side, take a pillow, fold it in half and tuck it under your bad arm in a rugby ball hold. I still sleep like that.
I also carried an inflatable cushion everywhere in case I ended up in a seat without an arm rest.

How do you sleep with a frozen shoulder?
It seems so much worse at night.
I'm only managing to sleep in short spurts because the pain wakes me when I move in my sleep.
It's driving me bloody crazy

@drivinmecrazy

How do you sleep with a frozen shoulder? It seems so much worse at night. I'm only managing to sleep in short spurts because the pain wakes me when I move in my sleep. It's driving me bloody crazy

My method was to wait until I was knackered, take as many painkillers as was safe an hour beforehand and do the rugby ball with a pillow thing. That may get you 4 hours. Moving to be discouraged!

Sympathies. It does pass eventually but the light at the end of the tunnel is a little way off

This is me right now. I'm 12 months in. I had surgery 3 weeks ago to manipulate under GA and they also had to remove some bone.
It's agony. The pain is horrendous, and I currently have referred pain in my arm too.
Steroid injections were my friend before surgery though, you really need to see the shoulder team at your orthopaedic clinic.
I have a lot of sympathy for you OP.

get a Vpillow and wedge yourself into it with your head on the top ^ of the V and a pillow leg in front and behind.

you might need to adjust the height of it with ordinary pillows so yiour head doesn't droop, but I found it kept me straight when lying on my side and stopped me moving about too much and waking up with the jolts of agony!

Mine was on and off for about three years...when I went to the physio she was surprised I was right handed as that side was pretty wasted
Physio/tens and painkillers and heat patches...that was in the days when diclofenac was used and the pharmacist recommended using the paracetamol with codeine as a supplement in between times after I cried in the queue in Boots waiting for my prescription.
Thephsio also gave me one of the stretchy bands and exercises which helped a little.

Can't believe no one has used acupuncture. Clinically proven, my sister used it and after a few sessions had a huge improvement.

@Pinchoftums

Can't believe no one has used acupuncture. Clinically proven, my sister used it and after a few sessions had a huge improvement.

Had never even considered acupuncture. Will definitely give it a go though. Thank you!

I swear by these ,lots of them ( 2 frozen shoulders ,major oesphageal/stomach surgery which means I have to sleep propped up )

www.amazon.co.uk/Contour-Shaped-Orthopaedic-Support-Support/dp/B093799LLV/ref=sr_1_59?dchild=1&keywords=cylindrical+pillow&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1622533881&sr=8-59

The lovely oestopath I used for my 2nd frozen shoulder used a technique called "dry needling" .It helped .

Perdito, dry needling is good but acupuncture is more effective and also can sort out other issues at the same time!

I had FS a few years ago and went through the classic 3 phases - pain, freezing, thawing - and came out the other end with full function after about 9 months. I had physio and kept as active as I could , eg, played tennis with underarm serving, which was possible as it was my non-dominant arm so I couldn't throw the ball up to serve but could play all other shots. Now, several years later, I'm having problems with my other shoulder but don't think its frozen. Hope that gives you some encouragement OP that it might be less than 2 years.

Can't believe no one has used acupuncture. Clinically proven, my sister used it and after a few sessions had a huge improvement.

I mentioned it earlier - it's what fixed mine. I could actually feel it working (or that's how it seemed!) - needles went in and the pain went and my whole arm felt warm and tingly. I think I had 6 or 7 sessions (on the NHS! - this was years ago though) and it was better.

Dh is suffering from one on right hand side. Little pain except at night but very limited movement. He is having physio but not made much difference so far. Unfortunately a trip to the alps is unlikely atm! Has anyone tried hydrodistension?

I'm getting so very peed off with my shoulder.
For one it's not just my shoulder that hurts and for two I cannot get over doing something so inconsequential (ie pulling the duvet onto me or shutting the bloody curtains) and feeling as if I've dislocated my whole arm for a few minutes.
I hate the restrictions it's putting on me and I hate myself for forgetting that some seemingly simple tasks will cause pain.

But most of all I feckin hate waking up ever out or two just because I have the audacity to turn over!!!
Another night that sleep will not come easily. When will it end?!?

I'm sorry this is so painful for you. I'm also experiencing this at the moment, after a diagnosis a couple of months ago. I too was relieved it wasn't sinister but was shocked when I was told that it could take up to three years to fully recover.
As PP's have said, try physio, I changed my therapist after my diagnosis and now go to a specialist in deep tissue massage. She pulled my exercise programme right back to the basics and focused on building strength, little by little. It's been a slow process but I do now see some small improvements in flexibility and a slight easing of the pain.
I find if I keep good sleep hygiene and go to bed at the same time I don't have a difficulty in falling asleep even if I'm in pain. When I inevitably wake up during the night I just read or watch Netflix to try to get sleepy again. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.
Another aspect is weight gain, as I've had to give up some sports but thankfully can still walk and cycle to keep fit.

Probably the hardest thing has been getting used to reduced mobility and allowing extra time for everything. I feel like an old woman some days and just wish it were gone! But there's no quick fix unfortunately.