Frozen Shoulder

[Ciano]

Hi all

I am 2 months with this and GP says it could go on for 15 months. 😥😥😥

Of course it's the side I sleep on so not getting decent nights sleep and waking up in agony. Getting injections every 2nd week but not doing any good.

Just wondering if anyone else had any experience and advice?

Many Thanks

[meboo]

I'm almost recovered 12 months on. I'd say the most of the pain was in the early months and then it was weird as the pain got better but the movement didn't. I simply couldn't move it! I got sports massages to keep the muscles around it moving as I found that, as the months went on, my back started to stiffen as I was holding it oddly to support my shoulder. Now I just get a dull ache when I have used it a lot and I can stretch my arm almost as much as on the other side.

Its frustrating - mine came from nowhere. I'd hope that your pain would start to improve soon. I found a lot of info on the internet that said the 'freezing' stage lasts 6-9 weeks and that is the most painful. The 'frozen' stage can be 4-6 months and this is more stiffness than pain, then the 'thawing' can take 6 months to 2 years. I was horrified when I read how long it could last, but once the pain settled, I just got used to it. Good luck!

[dizzymum23]

I feel for you as suffering myself at moment, had it since beginning of the year and has got worse over the months, restrictive movement, uncomfortable sleeping, painful taking off clothing and lifting heavy items I.e. Kettle of water. Only positive I can say after suffering with same 5/6 years ago that within 18 months it just clears up. Last time I was told to stretch up the arm wiggling the fingers to exercise the arm. I'm hoping the pool will open asap so I can get back to doing some light swimming, hoping that will help. I have a microwaveable heat pad i use some evenings & take ibuprofen occasionally and try to go to bed as late as possible to at least have a good chance of getting a good nights kip

[JLH]

Both my shoulders went and it does take a long time to recover and is very painful -I had physio to try and help with movement but didn’t really help too much . Are you having steroid injections every two weeks ? That seems quite a lot - I had one steroid injection on my first shoulder (that was my worst and lasted couple years ) but was told that should last for few months . After injection the pain got much worse for few days then settled and it was a bit better . Hope it passes soon - I always say I would rather endure child birth again than have the pain from my frozen shoulder.

[djewkes]

I’ve had both frozen shoulders too, I had physio plus injections, I had a total of 3 injection in each shoulder... think they were spaced though every month or so... they did take ages to finally clear and were very painful. I remember using a pillow under the affected arm and learning to sleep on the unaffected side. Ice packs or heat packs may help, trial and error.

[THE WIZARD]

Feel for you, bloody awful pain. Mine took 2 years approx. Never bothered with the injections my doctor said they probably wouldn't help so I just had physio every other week over 6 months! Then one a month but I religiously did the exercises physio gave me, every single day. Worked for me.

[Morganza]

You have my sympathy. It's the most painful condition I've had - and that includes two childbirths with no drugs!

Mine did last almost exactly 18 months in each shoulder. I was on three types of pain killers but they turned me into a zombie so I had to stop taking them (also messed up my digestive system but you don't want details on that...) I was unable to drive for a time, couldn't blow dry my hair, couldn't get dressed by myself. If anyone was to bump into me I could feel shock waves throughout my whole body. It was awful.

I found heat pads helped. I would arrange several pillows in order to be able to get some sleep, but did find sleeping upright in a chair was better. Physio was excellent, although sometimes was too painful to continue. It was good when I started to recover and you could feel the mobility return.

I read about the Bowen technique being a wonder cure - did nothing for me.

I had one steroid injection and it made a huge difference. The good thing is that once it was gone, healing was very quick. A few years on I have full mobility in both shoulders.

Look after yourself -it's horrible.

[sam7]

Mine started in the June, noticed putting my arm back to put on cardigans gave me a little discomfort, gradually built in levels on pain and reduced movement, by the September I was waking during the night, extremely painful from November to January (had physio in October but it was obvious it was not doing anything), pain started going in Feb but it took probably another year from there before I had full movement back (admittedly from about March onwards I had no pain unless I tried to move further than my shoulder wanted and by then I had got used to stretching with the other hand)
Wont lie it was one of the move painful things I have lived with, had to sleep in the spare room for about 2 months as I was on off awake all night.
A tens machine did help, heat pad, massaging with tiger balm,

[JLH]

Originally Posted by Morganza

You have my sympathy. It's the most painful condition I've had - and that includes two childbirths with no drugs!

Mine did last almost exactly 18 months in each shoulder. I was on three types of pain killers but they turned me into a zombie so I had to stop taking them (also messed up my digestive system but you don't want details on that...) I was unable to drive for a time, couldn't blow dry my hair, couldn't get dressed by myself. If anyone was to bump into me I could feel shock waves throughout my whole body. It was awful.

I found heat pads helped. I would arrange several pillows in order to be able to get some sleep, but did find sleeping upright in a chair was better. Physio was excellent, although sometimes was too painful to continue. It was good when I started to recover and you could feel the mobility return.

I read about the Bowen technique being a wonder cure - did nothing for me.

I had one steroid injection and it made a huge difference. The good thing is that once it was gone, healing was very quick. A few years on I have full mobility in both shoulders.

Look after yourself -it's horrible.

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I have to agree the unexpected pain from relative harmless things were the worst . I remember coming in from walking the dog and he pulled on the lead so pulled my arm . My god the pain - I shouted many unprintable words , my front door was still open at time and new neighbours were over the road and they just stared at me ! They must have wondered what area they had moved into 😀 I even cried a few tears that day and I don’t normally cry over pain just emotional stuff 😀

[Libbyimo]

My poor wife had this a few years back, first shoulder the pain lasted for weeks and weeks tried everything the docs offered with no effect, an op was recommended and done ,small scar on the shoulder ,pain stopped. Second shoulder started only months later the pain was excruciating for her , waiting list of around 3months just to see a specialist, so we went private , she had a manipulation done under a general anaesthetic ,problem solved , people should not underestimate the pain that can be caused by this ,it’s debilitating, my wife lost her job as well !