"Frozen Shoulder"

[Mrs. Bradbury]

Anybody experience this? I've been having symptoms for months now and finally googled "lack of range of motion arm" and this sounds like what it is. I'm the right age, sex, and the muscular pain (not joint) is exactly as described.

If you have or have had this, what did you do? Here's the budget tie in: if this is going to resolve itself in 2 years no matter what I do, I don't want to spend money on it needlessly, unless treatment makes a huge difference. My biggest concern is regaining my range of motion in my right arm. I'm not a contortionist but I'm pretty much used to doing anything I want, bodywise, and this is definitely cramping my style. I can't put my right arm behind my back and raise it more than above my hip bones. In contrast, I can put my left arm behind my back and have my forearm rest between my shoulder blades.

Thanks for any advice and experience you can share.

 

[Marionnette]

Anybody experience this? I've been having symptoms for months now and finally googled "lack of range of motion arm" and this sounds like what it is. I'm the right age, sex, and the muscular pain (not joint) is exactly as described.

If you have or have had this, what did you do? Here's the budget tie in: if this is going to resolve itself in 2 years no matter what I do, I don't want to spend money on it needlessly, unless treatment makes a huge difference. My biggest concern is regaining my range of motion in my right arm. I'm not a contortionist but I'm pretty much used to doing anything I want, bodywise, and this is definitely cramping my style. I can't put my right arm behind my back and raise it more than above my hip bones. In contrast, I can put my left arm behind my back and have my forearm rest between my shoulder blades.

Thanks for any advice and experience you can share.

Have you been to a doctor and have a diagnosis? Your symptoms could be due to something else and you don't want to aggravate it by challenging your shoulder when it should be resting.

I saw an orthopaedic surgeon and then underwent several months of PT to resolve my shoulder problem. I had a frozen shoulder as a result of a fracture. The muscles froze up while the joint had been immobilized. You don't want to mess with something like that on your own.

 

[miralys]

If what you have is truly frozen shoulder, then it is my understanding that it will not resolve itself. I was diagnosed with it, and tried all sorts of do-it-yourself fixes (stretches, exercises, etc). It got to the point where I could not even do simple things with that shoulder, such as shampooing my hair, putting on a jacket, reaching for things on a shelf, because I had lost my range of motion. The irony of a joint that becomes "frozen" is that it hurts to move, so you quit using as much, which makes it that much worse when you need to move it. My understanding is that the muscles in the area become scarred over time and the dysfunction of those muscles causes the pain.

What finally cured me was swallowing my pride (and setting aside my negative opinion on chiropractors) and seeking ART treatment. Within three months I had my shoulder back and spent less than the surgery or physical therapy others wanted me to do. That's just my story, your mileage may vary. Below is the website.

http://www.activerelease.com/

 

[Princess Nancy]

I suffered for 6 months with a frozen shoulder. I was really miserable. I went to the chiropractor and it only got worse.

Finally, I went to the Orthopaedist. Within a week I met him at the hospital. They put me to sleep and moved my arm all around breaking up the scar tissue. I woke up and while my arm was still numb, it was fully mobile. My DH moved it around every hour for me. By noon the next day the nerve block had worn off. I had NO pain and I could move my arm probably 90% back to normal. I did 4 sessions of PT and I did my PT at home everyday.

At my followup I hugged my Orthopaedist and thanked him! I am enjoying my summer and thrilled with the results!!

Good Luck!

 

[hsmamato2]

why would you wait for 6 months or 2 years with this? that sounds absurd.... spend some money on your health,which is extremely important! I have a trusted chiropracter/natural practicioner of medicine, when something goes wrong, it usually takes 1-3 visits to resolve in his office- if there are issues that go beyond his expertise, he orders x-rays,etc.
either a regular doc,or a good chiropracter is a good place to start. Anything that prevents normal movement should be cause for alarm....and deserves more than google self treatment....

 

[ShiPooOwner]

My dr. misdiagnosed and I didn't have a frozen shoulder as he indicated. I actually needed a shoulder replacement (similar to a hip or knee replacement) which was discovered in xrays done by an orthopaedic surgeon. I think you need a professional opinion to make sure that's what you really have before you make a decision on what course of action to take.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I had frozen shoulder last year and it was resolved by working with a physical therapist. I was a lot better after one month, but did not have full mobility back for about 9 months. I am still continuing with the fitness program offered by the PT to get into, and then stay in, better shape. -- Suzanne

 

[NMAmy]

DH and his twin brother were both diagnosed with frozen shoulder. DH went to the orthopedist who told him he could have surgery that may or may not work or he could wait to see if it resolved itself. DH chose to wait and it doesn't bother him any more. His twin had the surgery and also doesn't have pain any more.

Go to the doctor and get a real diagnosis at the very least. Then you can make an informed situation as to your next step.

 

[FergieTCat]

I had a frozen shoulder, which was the result of a bone spur on my rotator cuff. The doctor thought it might have been caused by leaning my telephone on my left shoulder over and over for the past 25 years (!!)

He tried to resolve the issue with cortisone shots, which only provide relief for a month or two. I eventually had orthoscopic surgery to remove the spur. As my shoulder also has osteoarthritis, I don't have 100% movement. But at least it moves!

You should definitely see a doctor. These things rarely resolve themselves. My doctor specialized in sports injuries.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

OP here. Looks like I will see my local doctor and go from there. Like some PPs, I'm not a fan of chiropractors, but the ART technique sounded interesting - but there aren't any practitioners close to my home or work cities.

For the poster who didn't understand me waiting, the reason I considered waiting it out is money - my husband is ill and one of the possibilities is cancer, and my daughter has a chronic illness, so a lot of our income is already spoken for. A major illness can devastate your financial security; we weathered one with my daughter and are now facing another just 3 years later with my husband.

Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[smokeyblue]

OP here. Looks like I will see my local doctor and go from there. Like some PPs, I'm not a fan of chiropractors, but the ART technique sounded interesting - but there aren't any practitioners close to my home or work cities.

For the poster who didn't understand me waiting, the reason I considered waiting it out is money - my husband is ill and one of the possibilities is cancer, and my daughter has a chronic illness, so a lot of our income is already spoken for. A major illness can devastate your financial security; we weathered one with my daughter and are now facing another just 3 years later with my husband.

Thanks everyone for your help.

I've never had a frozen shoulder, but I've had bursititis and tendonitis over the last 10 years and it is so painful. Ive had to do two courses of physical therapy for flare ups. I learned exercises, strectches and strategies to help with the pain. Now when it acts up its a cue that I havent been stretching enough. Maybe even a few sessions could get you on a home regemin that can get you back to where you feel comfortable.

It seems like you really can't affort to not take care of this. What if your shoulder interferred with caring for your ill family? What if it interferred with your ability to make a living? It's going to be a financial burden if your insurance doesn't cover these services well (assuming you have coverage), but you should try to find a way.

 

[azdizzymom]

Sorry but how in the world does this belong on the budget board. There is a community area and others that are more appropriate. Why not call the doctor as others suggested.

 

[Marionnette]

OP here. Looks like I will see my local doctor and go from there. Like some PPs, I'm not a fan of chiropractors, but the ART technique sounded interesting - but there aren't any practitioners close to my home or work cities.

For the poster who didn't understand me waiting, the reason I considered waiting it out is money - my husband is ill and one of the possibilities is cancer, and my daughter has a chronic illness, so a lot of our income is already spoken for. A major illness can devastate your financial security; we weathered one with my daughter and are now facing another just 3 years later with my husband.

Thanks everyone for your help.

I happy to see that you'll be going to your family doctor for a diagnosis. The internet is a great source for information but it is a poor clinician. I wish your family the very best. Please get yourself well so that you can be there to support them when they need you.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

I had a frozen shoulder, which was the result of a bone spur on my rotator cuff. The doctor thought it might have been caused by leaning my telephone on my left shoulder over and over for the past 25 years (!!)

He tried to resolve the issue with cortisone shots, which only provide relief for a month or two. I eventually had orthoscopic surgery to remove the spur. As my shoulder also has osteoarthritis, I don't have 100% movement. But at least it moves!

You should definitely see a doctor. These things rarely resolve themselves. My doctor specialized in sports injuries.

I had the exact same thing last year! During the arthoscopic surgery they removed the bone spur and cleaned out some of the arthritic damage in the shoulder and it's as good as new!`

 

[Sadie22]

I had persistent shoulder pain and range of motion issues which resolved through doing exercises as prescribed by my doctor and by ceasing to sleep on that side with my arm raised over my head. I sat in on a lecture by a chiropractor who explained that sleeping in that position pinches a nerve and may result in permanent damage if the practice is continued too long.

Diabetes may be a cause of adhesive capsulitis, so make sure your doctor rules out diabetes as a cause of your problems.

 

[jrsmom]

Yes, and I just finished a little over two months of pt and I am happy to say that it is all better now. My pt gave me exercises to do everyday and I still do them and I think they really helped.

I actually had torn the rotator cuffs on both arms and was worried that I would need surgery, but the pt worked! My left shoulder was so much worse and was frozen. We happen to have good pt coverage on our insurance...thank goodness.

 

[FredinFL]

See a doctor. I went and it was a problem with my rotator cuff and I went in for physical therapy, which helped tremedously. It was an "impingement" where further, continued inflamation could have led to a tear, which then needs surgery.

If your doctor recommends surgery right away, get a second opinion. My first doctor wanted to do surgery right away, the second doctor said if they did the surgery, I would have to do the PT anyway, so let's try that first.

Saved me a lot of pain. It feels great now.

 

[John VN]

I suffered for 6 months with a frozen shoulder. I was really miserable. I went to the chiropractor and it only got worse.

Finally, I went to the Orthopaedist. Within a week I met him at the hospital. They put me to sleep and moved my arm all around breaking up the scar tissue. I woke up and while my arm was still numb, it was fully mobile. My DH moved it around every hour for me. By noon the next day the nerve block had worn off. I had NO pain and I could move my arm probably 90% back to normal. I did 4 sessions of PT and I did my PT at home everyday.

At my followup I hugged my Orthopaedist and thanked him! I am enjoying my summer and thrilled with the results!!

Good Luck!

EXACTLY the same treatment and result with a friend of mine who told me about his frozen shoulder 2 weeks ago.

 

[travelbug]

I had a frozen shoulder as a result of a fracture. The muscles froze up while the joint had been immobilized.

Same here. I developed a frozen shoulder while recovering from a complicated broken shoulder, and while I was going through months of PT. The therapist was great and he did his best to have me overcome it through the therapy, but that didn't happen. Ultimately I had a MUA procedure (manipulation under anesthesia) and recovered very quickly after that.

I'm glad you're planning to go see your doctor and go from there. Good luck!