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Has surgeon recommended capsular release too early?

Posted , 15 users are following.

lindajt96
lindajt96

Hi - I am new to the goup & hope I can get some advice here smile. I injured my shoulder in Jan this year when I slipped in the garden. It immediately felt a little painful but I naively thought it would heal itself. I continuted to have a slight pain in my upper arm then in mid April the pain started to get worse & I noticed that I was losing movement in that arm. Then went to see a physio for 4 weeks & he identified it as an FS. Through my health insurance I went to see a surgeon about 2 weeks ago (he seems to be quite well qualified, specialises in shoulders & teaches surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in London). I am still in the "freezing" stage as I am still getting a lot of pain. He says my FS is "severe" due to amount of movement lost. He thinks injections would not work (did not say why) & recommended a capsular release. He reckons he has a 1 - 2% failure rate with this, and that if the shoulder went stiff afterwards he would do MUA (which I do not want - it sounds painful!). I am concerned that his attitude seems very "gung-ho". I have read that this procuedure is usually done in the "frozen" stage. Has anyone had experience of capsular release in the freezing stage? I am really unsure of whether or not to go ahead with this surgery and cannot seem to get some solid advice from anywhere. Thanks in advance for any help / advice.

1 like, 64 replies

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  • ruth48098
    ruth48098 lindajt96

    Posted

    Hi Linda,

    I will have to look up capsular release as I am not sure what it is. My apologies for sounding skeptical however are you able to get a second opinion concerning the injections? ( I had a wake-up call many years ago when I was told by my dentist that I urgently needed $5000.00 (alot of money in Canada) of work done. I went for a second opinion and I didn't need anything right away ... which was true ...I switched dentist and needed a cavity filling a year later.) All this to say (if it works like Canada) a surgeon gets paid when he does surgery. He could be absolutely right on with this however I would had a second opinion.  I had severe FS and the injections really helped. I had one each month for 3 months

    • bobbysgirl
      bobbysgirl ruth48098

      Posted

      I know what you mean. As a teenager I was told by my NHS dentist I needed loads of fillings (all paid for by NHS). I am now convinced I didn't and am reaping the whirlwind of a gob full of mercury.mad

      Linda, I am still waiting to see a surgeon regarding whether he can do ANYTHING for me. It does seem a case of NHS - let 'em wait, private - kerching.

    • lindajt96
      lindajt96 ruth48098

      Posted

      Hi Ruth - I think my worry is that the surgeon just sees me as a way of getting money into his bank account. Thanks for the advice - I will look into getting a 2nd opinion.
    • lindajt96
      lindajt96 bobbysgirl

      Posted

      Hi - haha - I thought it was just me that had a mouthful of fillings! Yes - I agree - NHS is slow. We are very lucky that my husband has private through his work. Hope that you get seen to soon.
    • Oliveria
      Oliveria ruth48098

      Posted

      In sorry to ask ruth??im suffering from this condition from a long time and wondering which kind of injections you are taking about?? I m so interested to know. Thanks a lot and really wishing you the best.

      Manny blessings!!!

  • debbie36227
    debbie36227 lindajt96

    Posted

    Hi Linda! I had capsular release surgery with MUA back in February. It seems my ROM has improved slowly. Everybody is different so I can't guaranteed if you will get better with this procedure. Good luck

    Debbie

    • lindajt96
      lindajt96 debbie36227

      Posted

      Hi Debbie - that is a good point that everyone is different & I had not considered that. Hope that you continue to improve.

  • janetmcc
    janetmcc lindajt96

    Posted

    Hi Linda,

    I'm in the same tiemframe as you are. New Years Day for me! I can say that now in July the pain is greatly reduced but the ROM is still not there. I went thru some intense PT for 6 weeks based on the Othopedic Surgeions recommendations and when I returned and thought he'd do surgery, he said no. At that point I was very disappointed but he explained the risk of the surgery was higher than the hopeful results. I would love to sleep though the night again but if I had to go thru this whole process of healing again after surgery I think I'd lose my mind. I am waiting on nature to take it's course as I read over and over again that it does go away. I tried a deep tissue massage with hot stone therapy last week and feel like that was helpful for flexibility and some pain reflief as I wait for the thawing to continue.

    • lindajt96
      lindajt96 janetmcc

      Posted

      Hi Janet - I had thought that I would "wait it out" but I have lost about 90% of movement, & I think it was the fact that I can no longer drive which pushed me to see if there was anything that could be done. The hot stones sounds great - my gelpacks which I heat in the microwave are my new best friends! Best of luck.

  • grahame87245
    grahame87245 lindajt96

    Posted

    Linda, I had capsular release. The surgeon that did my shoulder took the view that the surgery should only happen when the shoulder is fully frozen. Different surgeons have different views. My advice though would be go for it. I had mine done on a Friday back to work on the following Monday. Still painful and had to do a lot of physio, I suppose it was a couple of months before I had a decent rom and no discomfort. The best thing was that gut wrenching pain when you knock your arm was gone immediately. I can't actually see the scars as it was a keyhole job. If you can I really would have the op. When you wake up your arm will be completely numb. So you will need to have someone to collect you. Start movement immediately though with help. Take every pain killers you are given. Trust me it's worth it. Good luck

    • lindajt96
      lindajt96 grahame87245

      Posted

      Hi Grahame - that is quite encouraging - thanks. It is quite interesting that it was a couple of months before you felt decent. I think I had naively assumed that it would be quicker than that! I my shoulder was fully frozen I think I would be all for the surgery - I am just worried that the surgeon is looking to do it too early. Thanks for you feedback - much appreciated.
  • alison41082
    alison41082 lindajt96

    Posted

    Hi, I'm in kinda in the same situation! Although my FS is from a surgery itself! I am only 6 weeks into the freezing stage plus I am only 8 weeks out of a pretty major surgery! My surgeon has already talked about doing the release surgery but wants to wait a little while! He ordered me a contiuas passive motion machine for my home and I also do pt 3 times a week! I too am worried to do the surgery to soon! The treatments I'm doing already only seem to p*ss it off more! I cant do the MUA as I have screws and metal tacks from my surgery that still are trying to heel! I'm in so much pain and just getting frustrated I had planned on a quick1-2 month break to heel but now I don't see any end in sight! Super frustrated and depressed! Let me know what you decide but if it started in January it's seems like enough time has past! I don't plan on waiting more then a couple more months before I consider surgery! This is ridiculous??

    • lindajt96
      lindajt96 alison41082

      Posted

      Hi Alison - sorry to hear that you are suffering - major surgery & then FS - that sounds awful! I agree - it is the pain with this FS that is just so relentless and hard to bear. I am currently thinking about getting a 2nd opinion on the surgery if I can. If my shoulder was actually "frozen" rather than "freezing" I would go for it. Anyway - will let you know what happens. Best of luck with yours smile.

  • sue27335
    sue27335 lindajt96

    Posted

    Hi Linda,

    I had steroid injection 4 months in with FS and it did nothing, 7 months in I had capsular release op and the best thing ever. I would say I'm mostly pain free and ROM is approx 80%, as oppose to minimal movement. I too was told I had severe FS.

    I know everyone is different but I would recommend the op. I still have physio sessions and do exercises at home twice daily. I have got my life back. Good luck whatever you decide

    • lindajt96
      lindajt96 sue27335

      Posted

      Hi Sue - thanks for the reply. Glad to know that the surgery has been good for you, but you had to go 7 months before you had it - that is a long time! From your response & Grahame's I am inclined towards the surgery - it is just whether I have it now, as the surgeon says, or whether I hold out until my shoulder is "frozen". Hard to know what to do!

    • grahame87245
      grahame87245 lindajt96

      Posted

      One thing that I would add, is the surgeon that sorted my shoulder described it as getting you closer to the finishing line. Although there are many different views, I would say trust the guy you are seeing. Have the surgery and start to get your life back.
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