Frozen shoulder

[ArcheryAnnie]

Am just posting to offer a bit of solidarity to anyone else with a frozen shoulder. I'm now on ny second, and had no idea it was like this before I had one. I had vaguely thought it was "shoulder is a bit stiff", not "someone's replaced my bones with lead ones that aren't the right shape and don't quite fit, they dipped these new bones in acid before sewing them into me, and booby-trapped them with tiny grenades for when I move my arm slightly in the "wrong" direction ".

I can't lie down for longer than about 4 hours because lying down makes it hurt more. You can imagine what this is doing to my sleep patterns. How are you all doing?

I sympathise. Had frozen shoulder 10 yrs ago, my right arm was literally stuck bent in front of my chest for 5 months as the main tendon in the arm completely calcified. It looked like a bone on xray. I've never had pain like it, far worse than childbirth, meningitis and and toothache. I was hospitalised with the pain and put on morphine. I literally lost 6 months of my life with this.

I ended up having surgery to debride the shoulder joint, it's been fine up until recently and I've had those familiar twinges.

You have my sympathy.

Had it in both shoulders some years back. I have a very high pain threshold (2 drug free births and don't get anaesthetic at dentists) and it was agony. The painkillers turned me into a zombie where I'd spend hours staring into space. I could lie down to sleep- spent months "sleeping" upright on an armchair. If anyone bumped into me I'd see stars and feel I'd pass out. Couldn't drive. Mobility was greatly reduced.

Physio helped. Not only the exercises and massage and stretching, but the physio wrote to my GP asking for higher dose painkillers so I was expedited along the pathway. (Private physio as advised by GP, he told me if I waited on an NHS physio my recovery would be three times as long)

I've always had IBD but the painkillers made it all so much worse. Always a dilemma what to do - pain or the runs?

Cortisone injection made a huge difference. I was warned by GP that success rate was low but it seemed to be the turning point for me. Recovered quite quickly and never looked back.

It's a horrible, misunderstood, belittled affliction. I found it really debilitating physically and mentally.

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

I got through it in 18mths. My only real advice is see a good private physio who will manipulate, not just give exercises, as soon as you can bear it. Wish I'd seen one sooner. I did have cryotherapy and the therapist also taped it. The tape was soothing, although the physio said no to any cold treatment.
I still need to stretch it or it gets stiff.

I'm definitely in the thawing stage since getting this at the end of 2020. I've just tested how far up my back I can push my right arm - it's amazing to remember how excruciatingly painful this was. Really awful, yelping pain. I'm slightly worried I'll get it in my left shoulder now.

No miracle cure suggestions but I paid for a private physio which really hurt as he pushed it as far as he could but, it definitely improved my mobility. He also told me not to fear pain😄 Pain doesn't mean stop moving so I pushed through as far as I could take. And he also said try not to hold yourself so you don't move your shoulder but I know that is easier said than done.

I did get an NHS referral quickly as well (paid for the private as assumed I wouldn't) but covid meant it was all hands off but was the way in to getting an x-ray.

Just found this thread after last nights visit to the physio revealed my 'dodgy shoulder' seems to be early stages of frozen shoulder ☹️ I wish I could remember exactly when I started to notice some pain but I can't! But it's been at least 3 months so I reckon I must be in the freezing stage. It's not super painful yet though - except if I stretch or move my arm too quickly. Should I expect it to become excruciating?? Or does anyone ever have a case of 'mild' frozen shoulder, is that a thing??

I'm worried it'll affect my ability to drive (is in left side, so gear change side) or to garden which is the thing I love the most and do to stay sane...

I was given exercises to do - hopefully they'll help? Haven't seen a GP but I guess I could if it gets worse. Hope you're doing ok OP, thanks for starting this thread, good to know I'm not alone.

SilkieChick solidarity, and I hope yours gets no worse!

My.main bugbear at the moment is the (tiny) amount of sleep I'm getting, plus the pain has radiated up the side of my neck into the back of my skull. On the plus side, I have finally (after a year and a half of begging....) been referred to orthopedics, so we will see how things go.

Thanks @ArcheryAnnie! Funnily enough I've had a few similar back of skull headaches in the past few days and wondered if they're connected... also a bit of minor discomfort/tingling in my left wrist. Fun times, I guess I just have to wait and see how it all develops.

I've had it in both shoulders, luckily not at the same time. The first time I had it, steroid injections helped massively. The second time not so much. I think mine has just about cleared up, but it's taken almost 3 years.

@SilkieChick I couldn’t drive or do the things that keep me sane (yoga and other exercise). Couldn’t get my hand up to the steering wheel. Hope it doesn’t get that bad for you. 3 weeks on from hydrodilatation and I have a lot of movement back. It’s still stiff and sore but I’m functional again. Not the instant miracle I’d hoped for but a huge improvement nonetheless. I still can’t do things like yoga or do my bra properly but I’m working at the exercises and having regular physio.