Frozen shoulder

[lemonyellows]

I have frozen shoulder and it's getting worse on the other side now. Getting more and more difficult to manage.

I have been recommended for hydrodilatation. Has anyone had any experience of it? I'm assuming they won't treat both shoulders at the same time but haven't had my appointment with the consultant yet.

Thanks.

I had full movement immediately. I had list movement for so long that I had to build up strength

List = lost

@poetryandwine that sounds great. Glad it worked for you so well. Was it painful?

Really not painful. I can’t take codeine. They insisted on sending me home with some Oramorph (sp?) which I never opened.

The mantra was ‘keep ahead of the pain’ so for the first 24-36hrs I took the ibuprofen and paracetamol according to the timetable and had no twinges. (I think the nerve block lasted about 8-10 hrs). Then I got curious what would happen if I started spacing them out more and the answer was ….. nothing. Within a couple of days I had stopped. But again, I took the exercises very seriously as they were the surgeon’s biggest concern.

I even wondered whether I had really had a properly frozen shoulder. The surgeon showed me the pre-surgical images. The hallmark of a frozen shoulder is that something is occluded, and mine was, completely. After surgery it was completely clear.

@poetryandwine thanks for this. That is really hopeful. My consultant has booked me in for this on one shoulder and manipulation on the other. I am apprehensive but it is unbearable at the moment and I can't wait possibly years for this to fix itself. I can't take ibuprofen or other NSAIDs so a bit worried about pain relief but I guess they will sort that out for me.

I too will take exercises seriously. There is no way I want to be in this position again.

Best wishes, @lemonyellows .

@lemonyellows no consultant, was referred to physio and physio referred me for the steroid injection which is a 4 - 5 week wait.

Still off work. Little to no progress in range of movement. With the pain it's good days and bad days. Last week was bad all week but today is a good day so far anyway.

Not sure what I'll do if the injection doesn't work. Is anyone else off work with it?

@dancemom I had a steroid injection by my GP physio and it didn't really do much if I'm honest. I didn't have to wait he just did it at the GP surgery. Maybe yours will be by ultrasound guidance.

I'm not off work. I mainly work from home. I think I would struggle if I had to go in often, as it's so hard to carry anything of weight like a bag or laptop.

Mine is painful today. Both sides. Counting down the days to my op now even though I am also dreading it.

@dancemom if it doesn't work you need to be referred to musculoskeletal team at the hospital.

Thanks @lemonyellows good to know there is a next step if the injection doesn't work.

Was it extremely painful?

@dancemom no it was fine. I think he put some anaesthetic in too. Frustrating you have to wait so long when you are off work. Maybe ring to see if there are any cancellation slots.

I have a frozen shoulder. Hydrodilation worked at first, but after 2-3 months the pain/limited movement returned. On the waiting list to have it again now, if that doesn't work it'll be surgery.

The procedure itself is fine.

It's just been referred to as a steroid injection so I'm assuming it's that I'm receiving and not the hydrodilation

I suffered first with right frozen shoulder then a year later the left. Oh the pain , it went right up into my neck . I bought a microwavable heat pad, it helped for a while. Mine both lasted up to a year. Showering and hair washing was so awful . I live alone so no help or support. Massage helps , heat pad is wonderful. In time stretching the arm , I used to hold the banister and lean backwards gently stretching. I have been told once you have a frozen shoulder it never comes back . I so hope so . Feel for you all .

My first massage gave me a few days of relief but my second one didn't have any effect so I'm unsure wether to keep it up. I'm doing my exercises every day but I'm not seeing any improvement.

Hair washing, pulling up trousers, putting on a bra or even a top and even trying to insert a tampon are all struggles currently 🙈

Sympathies to everyone suffering with this awful thing. I think I've had it twice, once on each side - I say 'think' because one arm was getting very, very painful and stiff but a steroid injection nipped it in the bud somehow and it never went into full-blown freezing. Hurrah for the NHS before it was broken.

Then the other shoulder went a few years later and I had the whole agony - unable to left my arm or put it behind my back at all. It was my dominant arm too, and I couldn’t drive either. GP couldn’t have been less interested this time and didn’t want to refer me to anyone so in crazed desperation with the pain and sleeplessness I went private for another guided steroid injection + hydrodilatation. It gradually brought results though it wasn’t instantaneous.

I spent a fortune on private physio that did precisely nothing to help. Was left with residual achiness in that arm (although interestingly my current - new -physio says any remaining arm pain is referred from my neck).

I'd really recommend a TENS machine, there were times when I spent days hooked up to mine and it definitely helped.