Has anyone managed frozen shoulder pain while waiting to see the GP

[Hwanda]

I have bren diagnosed by chiropractor with frozen shoulder. Still need to verify it with GP but appointments take forever. It is excrutiating at times and 7/10 at best. Nightime and getting dressed is most painful. I have done whole heat/ ice /pain killer thing . It's been 6 weeks now. Anyone experienced similar and managed to get it sorted?
Dreading going back to work in a couple of weeks and trying to raise arm to write on whiteboard ( primary teacher).
Anyone advice welcome.

Mine too. Recently had Subacrominial Decompression Arthroscopy to clear out adhesions.

Frozen four years. I did everything. One good thing is the pain eventually stops being so constant and drops. But mobility remains gone. At four years I got another physio and at that point I was terrified of the pain when I was forced into motions or movement I couldn’t do. The pain would spike in less than a second from 0 to 10 but immediately go, like an incredibly fast contraction! - he got me to work though those and I’m about 85% mobile now.

I had steroid injections and shoulder ablation twice and different rounds of physio. Early physio made zero difference. It’s like it’s hell bent on doing what it’s doing to do.

Get that pain under control though. Push like mad for suitable pain relief because that can be managed.

was the surgery a success and what was it like to recover from you don’t mind me asking?

I had hydrodilation and the first time it was a complete success, it was incredible.

but slowly the FS crept back, I had it again and it has no effect.

at year four and a new physio, I started to see positive changes. That could have been to my frozen shoulder simply freeing up, or the physio did some magic. I just don’t know anymore.

it’s an awful curse and one the professionals are not interested in really solving.

I got a lot of sympathetic clucking “women your age… very common unfortunately…” “no real reason we know of why… propensity to auto immune diseases make you a more likely candidate” so what?! AND? A distinct lack of actionable solutions!!!!

My other shoulder/arm is being painful in the last two weeks, a result of nothing at all, and I am dreading a FS on the other side. I’m trying to ensure I keep it as mobile as possible okay in case, and try to stop it setting in….

I feel your pain - started with bilateral fs 18 months ago .Had capsular release surgery in April on the left side and with lots of physio have regained about 80%of the movement and now working on the strength whilst waiting for the right side to be done ...to be honest the first 6 mon5hs was the worst and it left me completely debilitated to the point I couldn't even pull my own pants up without extream difficulties resulting in 4 months on the sick as I it was impossible to function with both shoulders out of action.

HRT
TENS machine
Physio: round me you can self-refer for NHS physio but if not 2-3 sessions of private physio and be diligent about the exercises.

i’ve had it in both shoulders (not at the same time thankfully); first time took18 months before full recovery and full range of movement; second time much quicker as I knew what to do.

And arrange pillows to support a sleeping position (I am pa side sleeper and needed to prop arm).

I have had awful shoulder pain for the last while and it was all coming from infection and inflammation from my back molar .I had a root canal treatment done today and it's gone!

@Boobyslims v little pain after the surgery and I now have, I reckon, 98% of my original movement back. It’s v important to do the exercises religiously asap after the surgery.

It’s supposed to slowly unfreeze itself over time, but the day before my surgery, I could move it approx 1 inch away from my hip so couldn’t really continue like that!!

Private physio sessions and using a heated shoulder pad every evening - plus continuing to workout at the gym with my PT to keep the joint as mobile as possible. This is my second bout (different shoulder) and the experience has been much better than the injection and surgery that I experienced last time. Has taken 11 months to recover this time.

It was only a few weeks ago but surgeon thinks I should recover almost full rom. Still working on physio as it is over 18 months since I could last move it properly (fs post injury) . Has been a better recovery so far and less painful than feared.

I'm mostly housebound (chronic fatigue caused by cancer treatment) so when my shoulder froze I looked online and found these https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/how-to-release-a-frozen-shoulder really helpful. I also spoke to my local NHS physio who prescribed strong painkillers and confirmed that the above exercises were okay to do. I used a topical painkilling gel and shoulder ice pack regularly too, after doing the exercises.

I took it very carefully and slowly and didn't force my shoulder (basically avoided/carefully built up to any exercise or movement that was overly painful). It took 5 months to regain full movement and 6 months for all severe pain to be gone. I now do daily physio exercises in both shoulders, to reduce the chance of a recurrence.

Crop top bras (put on via my feet and legs) were easier than normal ones and I avoided any tight or difficult clothing. The most painful was trying to put fleece jackets on or off over long sleeved tops, so I lived in stretchy wool jumpers that were easy to take on and off, other oversized tops and baggy jeans (pulling tighter trousers, leggings etc. up hurt me too much).

@Hwanda you have to move a frozen shoulder but it is painful.
I was taught.
A) cross bad arm over your body so forearm is horizontal across your stomach.
B) With good hand hold wrist of bad arm and gently lift bad arm up in front of body as far as possible without too much pain.
Do this 5 times in succession several times a day.
Take ibuprofen as instructed.

I was also going to suggest the Harvard exercises the PP posted.

Also these ones from BESS:

https://bess.ac.uk/frozen-shoulder/

Resistance bands are good for physio.

I’m on my second frozen shoulder (once you’ve had one you’re more likely to get it again, usually in the other shoulder).

Last time I did the physio and took ibuprofen and kept it moving, and was lucky that between the pain starting and it thawing it was only about 3 or 4 months, and I regained full movement.

This time I was lucky to get a next day GP appointment who prescribed 4 weeks of naproxen (with omeprazole) and I’m doing the physio. Sleeping with the affected arm propped on a pillow helps, as does melatonin for sleep.

I’ve been off sick since April with this or similar, I’m in agony, particularly at night and in the morning, my first physio appointment is tomorrow, so nearly four months of just putting up with it. I’ve had to buy new button front clothes, front fastening bras. It’s my dominant hand so I’m struggling to do even the most basic of tasks.
sending empathy @Hwanda

What pain relief please? What I’m taking now is too sedating but not taking away the pain

Acupuncture was unbelievably good for my very sceptical sister. Not from a physio, though, as they don't have much training.

I second this approach - preferably someone recommended.

Eeek how does one person get 4 frozen shoulders?!
I’ve had 1 since new year. The pain was really bad for a few months, but now I don’t have any pain, just still have the lack of movement. I’ve been on the waiting list for quite a while for the hydrodilatation injection.
This thread has reminded me that I should
still do the exercises!

It was 2 shoulders each freezing twice rather than 4 shoulders freezing!! Good idea to keep up with the exercises. Lovely when you get back to normal.

I also went to a private physio. Had an operation on one shoulder followed by months of physio and lots of exercises. Few years later the other shoulder started to be problematic - two years of private physio sorted it out along with twice daily exercises which I am still doing 10 years later. Has worked so far.

I always go straight to a private physio. One session and follow on exercises solves most problems.

First of all check that it actually is a frozen shoulder and not something like cervical radiculopathy or a rotator cuff injury. It’s really common to have it misdiagnosed, especially in menopausal women. Phone 111 and give them your symptoms. Mine sent me to the local walk in centre straight away (I think they suspected a heart attack) and I was seen almost immediately. They gave me proper drugs that allowed me to function. I also found an electric heat pad (about £20 on Amazon) really soothing, and rotate ibuprofen and paracetamol every two hours. I have so much sympathy for you. I have never felt pain like it. Massage made it feel worse even though I was craving it. Mine eased up a lot in about 6 weeks - 2 months - but it’s still only about 92% better 2 years later. I definitely have a bit of weakness in my hand.

I had frozen bilateral shoulder surgery. Solved it for a while only. Then realised it was polymyalgia. Probably a waste of surgery. Steroids sorted it.

Ah, wow that was bad luck for you. I suffered enough with my one in the early months, so I really hope I don’t get it on the other shoulder, plus I didn’t know it could come back again in the same shoulder. 😱

Westcott hello I have PMR and my shoulders are particularly painful at the moment. Been on steroids 2 years . Can I ask if you are now off steroids and pain free ? Thank you

I didn’t bother trying to see the GP. I saw a physio privately who sent me to a gym where someone he knew injected me with something - steroids? Literally one injection and it improved very quickly in terms of pain and I recovered full range of motion.