Frozen shoulder

[greyinganddecaying]

Has anyone had this? Did it go away on its own or did you need surgery/injection?

I have it now in both shoulders. Limited movement & painful. I don't sleep well because the pain wakes me up.

There's a long waiting list for injection here and I've heard it doesn't work for everyone.

Any advice?

Had it. Painful. Very painful. Poor you !

Physio can help. But it takes time.

I ended up having a manipulation under general anaesthetic to free it up.

Horrible. You have my sympathy

I have suffered several times over the last 20 years, I always go to the chiropractor 2-4 sessions usually sorts it out and they can generally get you in at short notice.

Thanks both - I've had 2-3 months of physio and no improvement. I just want to rip my arms off!

GP said to me 'it will go away on its own in 18 months' like that was fine! I asked for physio but only got given a few exercises which I could have found on Youtube. It eventually improved after 2 years. No pain now but reduced movement.

I only had it on one side and that was bad enough but it did go the three stages of freezing, frozen and thawing and eventually went of it’s own accord.

Physio helped but by then I was already in the thawing phase. Having it in both shoulders must be awful. You have my sympathies!

Honestly try a chiropractor, totally different to a physio.

I was sceptical but 3 sessions of acupuncture sorted mine. It was brilliant.
Lots of physios use this now.

God, both shoulders at the same time must be excruciating. I think I wouldn't have been able to work. I've just come out of one after 18 months. I didn't do anything about it until about 4 or 5 months so don't know if earlier intervention helps. I was going to suggest physio - it helped increase my movement - but I can see you're already doing that.

Best tip for me was to not restrict your movements because of pain (I know). Pain doesn't always mean something is harmful. Just checked now and I can't stretch that arm as high up behind my back as the other one now. Maybe I should get some more physio. But it does end.

You have my sympathies I had it in one shoulder, that was bad enough. It took about 6 months to fully go. I did exercises that I found online and did them twice a day, everyday. There was a tv programme a couple of months ago with Kate Garroway, that showed a patient having an operation for this and went into detail on what can be done, but basically it’s a build up between the shoulder joints.

Dh had months of physio and eventually an injection which has restored some movement.

After wasting £££ on a physio, I paid to see a private consultant who put me on his NHS list for a steroid injection. It took the zinger pain away but was a few more months before I got the full movement back. Sadly the other shoulder is freezing now, so I'll have to go through it all again.

I had manipulation under GA as well. Still get some pain in it 30 years later.

I caused great amusement in the hospital, apparently I started to wake up as they wheeled me to the recovery room and decided to see if I could move my arm. Arm goes up and I try moving it around whilst happily smacking the orderly round the face several times. Fortunately I wasn't properly awake and only heard about it later, poor man I felt awful but everyone else thought it was funny.

OP is it miserable, I hope you get some help.

I currently have my second frozen shoulder.

Had my first one during lockdown. Had various painkillers and then physio.

Had no improvement and had injections. They didn't work so I had surgery. After recovery, physio and a further injection it was finally cured. Now completely normal and no issues.

Now my other shoulder is frozen. I am having regular injections as I sought help sooner with this one.

I am trying to avoid surgery this time. Mainly because I am in a work project and I don't want time off right now. But I will probably have to seriously consider it in the next 6 months.

My movement is limited but I am starting Pilates next week with the hope of getting some movement in it

Yes had one frozen, physio did nothing, he did an injection but not guided and it did nothing at all. Ended up having surgery on it and it’s much better now. Had a glorious week of being able to use both shoulders and then my other one has started to go. It’s horrible - have an appointment next week to look at it and will try guided injections/physio this time to try and stop it getting so bad.

I’m on my second. I had hydrodilation where they inject water and steroids into the capsule to try and burst it. It didn’t quite burst the capsule for me but it gave me a much greater range of movement and stopped the agonising zingers.
Swimming really helped too.
Three and a half years in I’m probably back to 85% movement.

Poor you ! I had one severe one which didn't respond to physio and was released under GA. Left it too long before seeking help so injections provided limited relief. Second time was in it straight away and had injection and physio immediately which gave me a window of time to exercise constantly and warded off deterioration. Does your GP offer injections? Mine offers them and worked really well.

Thanks again. It really is a pain, I can't go swimming as it causes me so much pain when I try to swim with my arms. I can't even fasten/unfasten my bra without excruciating pain.

I've had acupuncture, which didn't work. They've put me down for the dilation injection, which is guided using ultrasound (I think). It's about 6 months wait for that. They've said they won't do surgery/general anaesthetic do to other health issues.

I'm seriously wondering if I should scrape together the money to go private - although I'll be even more cross if it doesn't work if I've paid for it.

The hydrodilation worked immediately for me. I think it was about a 5 month wait when I had it. I couldn’t even reach my left armpit to wash before it. Afterwards the range of movement was much better, about 50% and the pain was much less. I started swimming after the hydrodilation as recommended by my physio. Wouldn’t have been able to beforehand.
I had to buy stretchy non wired bras and do them up first then step into them.
I feel for you. It’s one of the most painful and inconvenient things I’ve ever endured.

I am worried that I may be getting a frozen shoulder, I’ve had pain for a few weeks, diagnosed as Rotator cuff injury, it seemed to be gradually improving, but today it is so painful, even sitting still, whatever I do. I can hardly move.
I did some gentle exercise on Thursday evening, and it was a bit stiff when I woke up yesterday, a little bit more painful than it had been. But I did normal things, now this sudden horrible pain.
Is this how it happens ?

My frozen shoulder was initially diagnosed by the clinic as a rotator cuff injury, but I was fairly sure it wasn’t (the clinic only did phone consultations) The physio I saw privately immediately agreed it was a frozen shoulder and explained that with a rotator cuff you can lift the arm while supporting with the other hand, but with a frozen shoulder the joint is really immobile. It is fine to exercise a frozen shoulder, and it will help it keep functioning

Are you taking any pain relief? Naproxen would be a good call if you can get a prescription

No pain relief , had an agonising night. Literally crying with the pain. Managed a couple of hours sleep and then just fitful dozing. I am finding it hard to type as it all hurts.
When I saw the nurse weeks ago she lifted my arm and that was ok, but now I can’t move. I am waiting for the OOH place to call me back now .

Oh poor you! Please do really push for a prescription; you can take ibuprofen in the meantime but naproxen is a stronger version; it has some side effects when taken for a while but is really good as a start

I am not embarrassed to say I medicated with alcohol also; the pain is so horrible that anything that distracts is good

For nighttime, are you propping your arm up? Using pillows to raise the arm, opening up the shoulder joint but supporting the weight of the elbow makes things more comfortable. Obviously lying on the good side with the bad arm up

I was seen at the injury clinic today, they thought it was dislocated but x rays show v swollen with multiple calcifications - what causes this ? Have been given Cocodamol and Naproxen. Referred for an ultrasound . It is so horribly painful. The nurse mentioned it might need surgery ? Also that it was likely to turn into osteoarthritis. So I am upset and worried. I was fine two months ago now I can hardly move.

Also stressed about taking the drugs as I don’t react well to opiates (sick) or anti inflammatory drugs ( stomach pain)

I had it. Ignored it for a while. 18 months of physio. Two jabs that didn’t work and eventually surgery. Another 3 months of physio and these days it’s mostly ok. I do a physical job so I try to be more careful with it.