Frozen shoulder after labrum tear surgery
Posted , 13 users are following.
Hi, I am a 46 year old woman. On June first I underwent my first surgery ever. I had a torn labrum slap tear, biceps was cut and attached down my arm a little way do to it being shredded up at the top, acriom was hooked so that was shaved down and quite a few bone spurs were shaved off! My rotator cuff was not torn just p*ssed off! I also have some bulging and degenerative neck problems. The surgery seemed to go fine I was very nervous going in too surgery but felt pretty good after! At day 10 I was still feeling pretty good although my neck was really starting to get sore from sling! After that things went downhill! I started getting shooting pains down my arm that would just about toss me to the floor in pain! My neck was agonizing and I seemed to be getting worse every day not better! At three weeks I showed up for the start of my pt and she removed my sling and started her evaluation. The look on her face was alarming but I had no clue what was happening just figured normal surgery stuff! Well apparently I had gotten extreme frozen shoulder which she avoided telling me but texted my dr! I am now 8 weeks out of my surgery and 6 weeks into frosen shoulder! I do pt 3 times a week and exercises at home daily! I did a week on the heavy steroids and also take meloxicam! I saw my surgeon last week and he ordered me a passive motion machine for my home! I am not improving still feels like the freezing is just starting but I am also still recovering from surgery so it's hard to separate the 2! Has anyone else used the passive motion machine for therepy for FS? This is awful I can do stuff for about 4 hours a day then mainly the pain is too much! I'm so afraid this is just the beginning of the FS! Is there anyone else currently dealing with this and surgery recovery simoutaniously? Please tell me how this should play out!
1 like, 34 replies
ruth48098 alison41082
Posted
Hi Alison,
I haven't had an experience like yours however have had the searing pain and totally understand how debillitating it can be. I have had arthography (one injection a month for 3 months) and it really helped with mobility and pain! I don't know if this is an option for you however would ask your doctor just in case. Hope you get some relief soon!
alison41082 ruth48098
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ruth48098 alison41082
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Hi Alison,
Yes it is a cortisone injection done in a hospital using flouroscopy (sp?). If you google "arthrography and frozen shoulder" you can get a good description.
LessrTuberosity alison41082
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Hi Alison, I am a 41 yr old female and I have been in the same situation. I broke my humerus on March 20 and had surgery twice over the next two weeks. I had a torn rotator cuff tendon, posterior labral tear (2-4 0clock), and debridement/shaving of bone fragments plus the fixation of the lesser tuberosity bone. I had arthroscopy the first time but open incision the second time. I can tell you that what we have is postop stiffness, which is not the same as idiopathic frozen shoulder. There are differences in how ROM comes back. Some good, some bad. Studies have shown it typically resolves within six months, but if it doesn't, it may require surgical intervention. I was so limited after surgery that I couldn't move my arm out from my body enough to wear an abduction pillow sling. I had -45 degrees of external rotation. After 16 weeks of intense therapies 5 days a week and 3-4 hours of personal stretching a day, I am now at neutral but still have a tone to go.... I can drive, but it's painful. I found the intense night pain went away at about 10 weeks, so I slept through the night. It returned a bit at 13 weeks as I started doing more strength training. I lift 2-3 lb weights now and use bands. However, my shoulder blade is stuck out since I have no external rotation. I will see the surgeon at 6 months and decide if he is going in again to release whatever is jammed! Very frustrating, but hang in there, it does improve, but you have to work through pain if you want results faster. I stretch multiple times a day until I cringe. Then ice like crazy and use a tens machine .
alison41082 LessrTuberosity
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LessrTuberosity alison41082
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That's great progress on ER! That pain is def the worst I've felt. I have not had shots because they hinder tendon healing and can risk a r-tear but I will ask in September if I'm not recovered. My surgeon showed us a flyer for the passive motion machine but it was $1000 and he wasn't sure it would help so I didn't investigate it yet. I walk 5km every morning swinging my arm and jog parts of the route where I can. Deep tissue massage and intense stretching by a sports therapist has helped me the most. And the hot tub at the gym! I go back and forth between hot and cold pool about three times a week. I can't possibly do any more rehab, so my body must just have its own agenda!
frozen_stiff LessrTuberosity
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alison41082 LessrTuberosity
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frozen_stiff alison41082
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Try youtube :convex concave movements of the gleno humeral joint: and show it to your therapist
j93246 alison41082
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Do you I've in the states I had a similar situation after a labral repair.
alison41082 j93246
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Ya I'm in so cal! How long was your recovery?
j93246 alison41082
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Unfortunately I'm 2 years postop and still in a ton of pain. I've had 2 capsular releases without relief. It's extreamaly frustrating I'm not sure what to do. I doubt you'll end up like this. Your really fresh out of surgery hopefully it will loosen up. I live in northern ca.
j93246
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alison41082 j93246
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j93246 alison41082
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Try to stay positive it's really tough being in pain all the time. If you ever have questions I'd be glad to help. Where's most of your pain mine is all in the front. How did you tear your labrum
AP53847 j93246
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It sounds like I have a similar situation to you. I originally had surgery 2 years ago and since then have had a MUA and 2 capsular releases, PT, massage, and accupuncture. Nothing has worked and still only have 0 degrees of ER and can't get my arm behind my back. Has anything changed with your situation? Have you found anything that has helped? I agree with you that this is extremely frustrating and confusing.