Frozen shoulder. Fuck me, the PAIN!!! Help!

[Couldhavebeenme2]

Just been diagnosed, fortunate to have had the steroid injection which has reduced the pain to dull ache during the day (still a nightmare from about 5am though). Am still taking painkillers when I need to.

Just caught my arm on a hot oven tray and automatically recoiled my sore arm. Big mistake. Huge. Felt like I'd been struck by lightning and could hardly breathe through the pain. 10 mins later and after scaring my kids to death, it's settled down but my fingers are still a bit tingly.

Please tell me the mumsnet vipers have some sort of old wives tale remedy of dead frogs/virgin sacrifice*/spell that will make this horrible condition less painful?

*may have sacrificed the chicken that's been cooking for an hour to the dog after it fell on the floor

I've got one now. That screaming pain has subsided and now just have restricted movement. Still hurts at night if sleep on that side though but not that burning pain.

What helped me was physio - very painful but sort of released some mobility. But it was also the physio saying pain isn't harmful. So keep stretching and keep using the arm as you would rather than changing the way you use it. I still can't do up my bra and I think I may get an MRI soon (have had an x-ray). I think it's just (just!) another post-menopausal thing as well. I am worried about the likelihood of another though. And is the diabetes link linked to only type 1?

Frozen shoulder is a painful condition. I have had it, as have a number of my friends. I hate to tell you, but it seems to take a year before it gets better.

I really found physio helpful in coping with the pain. You will do range of motion type exercises within the pain free range. Try leaning forward, letting your arm fall forward and relax. Then do some pendulum type exercises, like stirring a pot. It helps keep it mobile.

Heat or cold can help. Use the one that works for you, neither are magic. Also you could use the rub in voltaren, it might help.

As far as one handed things, you can get thing to help but I would think keeping the arm moving is more beneficial. You need to ask for help to do things like change bedding etc.

I hope it gets better auickly.

Not sure what stage PPs are at with saying physio helps, but I found at the crucial frozen stage, doing any kind of stretching or swinging arms forward would really really not have been a good idea. You have to be thawing to attempt physio imho. At zinger stage you cannot attempt stretching.

OP I was freelance when my first frozen shoulder came on, so I started asking clients if I could do work from home and they said yes and I basically never went back to working in offices as I previously had.

Agree with PuppyMonkey** about physio in painful stage.

There is no way on earth I'd be able to manage it without either screaming, swearing, or blacking out because of the pain or a combination or all at once.

I was specifically told by my physio not to attempt exercises until pain had gone. I was also advised to not put in a sling, but that it may help if out and about as people will tend to give room rather than barging into you. (I've had someone barge into me in the street and it caused a subluxation of my collar bone because everything is so tight).

I had physio at around the 5 month stage so past the yelping - just. I hadn't done anything until then as hadn't realised what was going on. Just thought I'd been sitting in a funny position at my desk. The physio sessions (only had 2) hurt but in a good stretching way.

I have had frozen shoulder for over 6 months.

So so painful. I had a steroid injection and physio. Although the injection (and heavy duty painkillers) helped so I could get through the day. The physio didn't improve movement.

I had keyhole surgery 10 days ago. Stitches out tomorrow. I can now move my arm. But I have a long way to go in terms of physio to get full movement back. It is very sore

I am also on 60 mg of codeine, 3-4 times a day and 1000 mg of naproxen.

Everyone is different but I did not say swing your arm forward. Lean forward and let it fall naturally. Then gentle pendulums within the pain free range. It helped me keep it moving just a bit and not completely tensing up.

You can find the pendulum exercises on the internet.

I had a frozen shoulder, turned over in bed & felt something that felt like my arm had been ripped off, it took my breath & made me sweat so much I rang 111, they advised painkillers & heat, I ended up sleeping half sat up with a spare duvet & every pillow I could fund to support my arm & shoulder. When it was no better 3 months later I saw my GP who sent me for an ultrasound which didn't show anything. I had a steroid injection which didn't help & I got referred to a shoulder surgeon who operated & did a decompression, it took 6 months from the op to be able to use my arm again.

I haven’t had FS but am recovering from a shoulder injury and surgery. I had to enlist the kids in the kitchen tbh. First 2 weeks friends dropped us meals.

To strain things I put a sieve with the handle wedged under a heavy chopping board. Got the kids to cut things. I ended up ordering hello fresh 3 meals a week and my teen cooked those up. They had to help with loading dishwasher etc. Laundry I’d put in the basket then scoot it to the laundry with my feet. Didn’t bother ironing. Lawns my teen again had to do. Bra I put on back to front (still have to as limited movement) then shuffle it around. Hair brushed by toddler then I got it cut shorter to manage better, brush and no styling. I can finally get it in a side low pony to keep it out of the way but that’s a sore task. They had to help me get dressed for ages too, I had to buy some button up shirts, I can now get in and out of T-shirts with contortions.

Had to learn to write left handed and it became quite legible. Vacuuming, forget it or delegate. I’d use a broom to keep on top of the wooden floors and get one of the kids to hold the pan to scoop it. Kids had to take the rubbish bags out.

Everything is so inconvenient, you have my sympathy.

Sorry OP but my experience was that I needed manipulation under general anaesthetic. The surgeon commented that it was one of the most frozen he'd seen -couldn't physically lift my arm more than about 10cm! Surgeon said that FS 'seems to affect skinny women of a certain age'. Typical surgeon comment but TBH I think he was trying to be nice

So fecking painful. And then I got an impinged shoulder on the other side and had to have surgery on that too (they shaved the bone that time) ouch doesn't cover it.

My advice is to get a proper diagnosis and get as much physio as you can. Sleeping virtually upright, supported by a million pillows also helps.

I am sending you healing vibes and viper solidarity if that helps.

So sorry you are going through this. My husband had frozen shoulder in both shoulders two years ago. Not much helped although Voltarol and a tens machine helped a bit. Both his improved massively after he had an infected wisdom tooth removed and did a bit of swimming. It was a grim summer tho but luckily they cleared up quite quickly and his movement is back to normal. I really hope yours clear up quickly. Xxx