Frozen shoulder excruciating😫

[ArseInTheCoOpWindow]

I’ve had it for 6 months. Seen 3 crap nhs physios and now waiting for a second opinion from the last one who thinks I’ve got atypical frozen shoulder.

I’m going mad with pain, and despite being on antidepressants I’m crying every evening, so it must be bringing me down too.

I want to cut my arm off. The pain is unreal. How is it acceptable to be in so much pain and nothing gets done. I can’t drive either.

I’ve asked for a steroid injection but they won’t do anything g until the ‘urgent’ 2nd opinion 6 weeks away. I can’t take anti inflamatories, so just eating dihydracodeine and paraceatamol. But it’s still fucking unbearable

Been there. Got the t-shirt, although I couldn't put it on....

Mine was a rotator cuff injury, but equally agonising. The best thing I found was a TENS machine. I literally couldn't sleep due to the pain without it. It was an enormous help.

I watched a tv programme about 3 weeks ago that explained frozen shoulder and it was very interesting n that basically the inflamed area stops the shoulder from movement. The treatment this lady had was quite severe and looked extremely painful and it took about 6 months to rectify. I’ve had 2 frozen shoulders now, last one was last year. Nighttime was the most painful I had to rub pain relief gel on my shoulder 3 times a day, but along with exercises I found online and heat pads, did manage to slowly reduce inflammation and increase movement over a period of 3 months.

Just to add, I had lots of saline injected with the steroid so if not quite a full hydrodilatation, it was along those lines. I could hear/feel the capsule popping as the fluid went in. Most odd and maybe a tiny bit uncomfortable but honestly not painful.

I agree with the arm pain too. To get any movement I was using my shoulder and arm muscles more, bendingy wrist at funny angles to get in my pockets etc. I also had shooting pain down my arm and also a tingly numb sensation.

I also suggest osteopath. Something that I have found really worked for me is sleeping with a pillow under your arm (if you sleep on your side) pull the pillow right in to your armpit and keep it between your body and your arm.

I’ve found the pillow under the arm useful.

I paid to see a private physio yesterday😫he did deep tissue massage on it, and l have to say it has felt a bit better.

Pain gone down from 10 to 8

user1471453601
Could you possibly recommend a tens machine please as my dh is suffering the same as OP. Many Thanks

Apologies for jumping in, and I’m sure user will also have recommendations, but for @Margaretmatcher - this Boots tens machine is the one I have.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow I ended up with private physio for mine. After the first session I was physically sick with the pain but after few sessions I had full range of movement and was much better.

OP said she can't have naproxen unfortunately.

Ah sorry I missed this.

I dont feel well enough currently, with something else, to take in the whole thread.
I had frozen shoulder twice, about 10 years apart. once in both arms. 1st time didnt have the injection. 2nd time did.

Each time the physios were great.

The 2nd time, the injection had to be done by a physio with extra qualifications. And he was the only physio in the group qualified to give it. We had a bit of a chat, as it turned out I knew his sister.

The other thing that helped me a lot was heat. Especially at night. As could have heat on the shoulder running through a lot of the night.

Not sure any of those things speeded up the healing. Apparently whatever anyone does with a frozen shoulder, the healing time is still the same.

But the heat especially made the pain feel a lot better.

Yes, l was told heat would help. Dh bought me this warming shoulder thing at Christmas, that l didn’t want.

But it’s been helpful now.

My sympathies,OP. Like a PP I have had two frozen shoulders. The first wasn’t too awful and resolved naturally. The second was hell. Neither physio nor hydrodilation made any impact, except to my wallet. Steroid shots gave temporary relief courtesy of the NHS, but only for a week at a time.

Finally I had private surgery because I could not bear it. The pain and sleep deprivation were driving me spare. Surgery went brilliantly and I have had no further problems. The NHS waiting list in my region was particularly awful. I hope that it is better where you are. I know you sound encouraged by the options several PPs have suggested and I hope one of them works for you. But I wonder whether you might get on an NHS shoulder specialist’s list whilst pursuing them? So that if you do need surgery you will have moved up the waiting list in the interim

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

I think it’s atypical as it’s manifesting in the upper arm as referred pain. The shoulders OK.

My gp ( who is generally lovely) said that it was up to physio to do injection referral. So I’ve got to wait until May. I just can’t afford to pay anymore out.

So far this month I’ve spent 400 quid on other medical issues as we seem to have no nhs anymore. I can’t afford to keep shelling out😢

Frozen shoulder fairly typically presents as upper arm pain - particularly if its idiopathic (not caused by injury). I'm 5 months in to my second FS. Yes - its excruciating but it will resolve. My shoulder is mostly fine. My arm isn't.

I am with you, OP. I am 16 months into FS on my left arm, and it's now.manifesting in my right arm. Its not nearly as bad as the first time around (because I'm on heavy medication) but it's still awful. I am terrified that in a few weeks, if it goes on as it is, I won't be able to bathe, dress, etc., never mind go to work. I am sleeping in batches of a few hours, have to get up while my arms sort of reset themselves, then go back for another couple of hours.

"Frozen shoulder" sounds so trivial, but there's no pain like it. Totally understand you when you say you want to cut your arm off.
My arm muscles get very tight and hot and painful, and the pain shoots down to my hand and across my collar bone.

Naproxen did nothing for me, and I had a massive bad reaction to opioids. I'm currently on pregabalin, which is a wonder drug and the only reason I haven't gone mad over the last 16 months. It doesn't seem to be managing the right hand side though.

Acupuncture saved my sister. See if there is a multibed clinic near you as these are much cheaper.

This could be me!
I have frozen shoulder now in both sides although my left side is much worse.
Started last September and has slowly got worse to the point that dressing and brushing my own hair is agony.
Having physio but it's not helping and I've been referred to injection clinic, rang this week to check waiting times only to find out my referral never went through
It's agony and disturbing my sleep, making it hard to work and generally making me feel down.

I really feel this will never end, my physio said I'm still in the freezing stage and I could have another 6 to 18months ahead of me!?! How can I hold down my job and life whilst dealing with this pain?
Luckily my family are supportive at home but there's still lots not getting done and it's so depressing.

I'm glad I've found others in a similar position but sorry to hear that others are in such awful pain like me.

I'm surprised at GPs not offering the steroid injection. Are you at very small health centre?
I'm registered at quite a big health centre with physios, midwives, podiatrist etc based there too.
There's a GP who is trained to offer the injections so the wait is only couple weeks

I also know people at other health centres who have had steroid injection from their GP.

I'm so sorry you're suffering and they're making you wait. I don't understand why they have delayed you, as others have said the pain and tingling down the arm is pretty standard.

I'm on my second frozen shoulder and thinking back, they insisted on useless and agonising physio for ages before finally giving me the first of two steroid injections. This time round, at my initial physio assessment I stated quite firmly that I wanted an injection asap and no mauling about because I have been down this road already. It was done the following week and a month on, it's slowly starting to wear off.

In your shoes, I'd consider another call to your GP. If your pain cannot be managed with the drugs you're able to take then they need insist that the hospital speed up the injection.

Sorry I haven't RTFT - can I ask how old you are? I am 50. Had a frozen shoulder for 2 years and was advised by a friend to look into HRT. Eventually was prescribed Oestrogel and within days pain was easing. 6 weeks later and I have full movement in my shoulder. It might be coincidence, but worth looking into if you are of the correct age. In the 2 years prior to HRT saw 2x physios, osteopath, painkillers etc. Hope you get it sorted soon.

Oh OP I’m sorry you’re going through it, frozen shoulder is awful. I’ve had it in both shoulders, one after the other. Both times it lasted a year or so. It was all in the upper arm for me, I don’t think it’s atypical to feel the pain there, it’s just what it is.

If you’re at frozen stage, I have to say not much helped. For my first, I had 3 steroid injections. They did absolutely zilch. For my second frozen shoulder, I didn’t bother and the progress of the condition was exactly the same.

Things that helped me at frozen stage:

OP, you’ll know what a zinger is. You knock or move your arm in a certain way and that brings on a painful shock in your arm so severe you can’t believe it. Horrid. Just try and keep the arm as still as you can.

Heat didn’t give much relief for me, frozen packs helped soothe it.

I drank lots of alcohol to get me through.

In a while, I can’t say when but it will happen, you’ll notice that the zingers stop. You can move your arm slightly more every day. That’s when you can start gentle physio to ease out the movement. The one where you place your fingers on the edge of a work surface and keep your arms straight while gently bending your body over is great.

After a few weeks/ months this will give you movement back and your pain won’t be half as bad, as your shoulder thaws out.

There are lots of FB support groups for frozen shoulder so try looking them up too.

Sorry I can’t be more positive. Frozen shoulder is a long process ime. There is an op that they do, I’ve heard good things about it?

I can empathise, it’s agony. My shoulder is much better than it was two physio’s later, but no way near totally cured. But probably the best it will ever be. Heat can help, massage too if you can bear the pain. Good luck.

Oh my you poor thing I have had it twice.
The health care must be different where you are as in Australia both times within a week I had a cortisone injection.
The first time under ultrasound at a hospital
The 2nd time as soon as I felt it coming on I went to the GP and he did it for me in his surgery. He said he could feel exactly where it needed to go so no need to go to the hospital.
Why are they waiting so long to treat you properly?
I really feel for you, I remember the pain so clearly.

Sorry I should have added the first time it was completely locked as in next to no movement at all.
The second time wasn't as frozen but I explained what happened the first time and he treated it straight away.

I have had an 18 month journey with my frozen shoulder.

Initially, I had physio which didn't work and copious amounts of different pain killers.

I then saw a Consultant and had 2 steroid injections. This helped with the pain but not the mobility of the shoulder.

I had an operation to cut away the tissue, more physio, more painkillers.

I then had 2 further injections and intensive swimming. This seemed to do the trick. This shoulder is now great. Decent movement (slow at times) still can't do up my own bras and undressing/dressing can be challenging at times but I am happy with the result.

The other shoulder has now started To freeze. I have tried to catch it early and had an injection a few weeks ago. This seems to have stopped it for now.