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Hi, if it helps, I just want to let people know that for some (certainly not all) a Frozen Shoulder does get better with time. Exactly 12 months ago I had minor irritation in my right shoulder and ignored it till eventually it became more severe and quite painful. I put up with constant pain (day and worse at night - involuntarily gave up sleeping) for about 2 months and finally saw a Doc. Xrays revealed an inflamed bursa & tendon and a torn tendon to boot. I have no idea how I did that! Had steroid injection into the bursa & was put on strong codeine. Sorry to say but it got worse before the inflammation started to ease about 3 weeks later. I went through Xmas hol's high on pain killers and increasingly unable to move my arm - by then the diagnosis was frozen shoulder. Have been going to Physio since January and it has done wonders...although painful treatment at first, after about 6 visits to him I am now on the home stretch and don't need to see him for another 2 months. Have been off pain killers for around 4 months. My range of motion is ALMOST back to what it was. It may never be the same but I am not in pain anymore, however I do occasionally feel a sharp niggle in the joint so I take care and try not to overuse the arm when that happens. I live in Australia & love to swim in our beautiful oceans. Last summer it was near impossible. My Physio has promised me I will be swimming again this summer - fingers crossed! I really hope this helps someone who may be feeling nothing but pain and despair with this condition. For a while there I was scared that this would never go away and it worried me - yes I cried a lot. I now have much more respect & sensitivity toward people who live with chronic pain everyday.
3 likes, 8 replies
hope4cure mentalpause
Posted
I agree living in chronic pain evey day is a daily struggle.
Sometimes I can't pic up a book other times it's a turn and raise of the shoulder causes extreme pain. It almost according to X-ray bone on bone.
My range of motion is limited. I move a lot slower and mindful of the things I do to preserve the integrity of my shoulders.
Its due originally to a torn rotator cuff injury. As in the true diagnosis of my condition. Actually in reality frozen shoulder is simply a condition of the tendons and muscles that have been damaged.which limit movement.
I sounds like you have worked very hard to regain the mobility in your shoulder.
Im in the U.S. our summer is just about turning into Autumn. The warm weather helps a lot.
I do do therapy as much as possible and wear a shoulder support at night. My shoulder does just pop out slightly of joint easily.
As in my case I have extra space in all my Joints which makes them susceptible to injury.
I hope that you will be back in the beautiful sea swimming this summer.
How lucky to live in Australia such a beautiful country.
bobbysgirl mentalpause
Posted
Hope4cure - I agree with you warmth is a great help. Unfortunately we have not had a summer in Northern Ireland. I'm not joking. There is a saying 'one Swallow does not a summer make', well 4 - 5 warm, sunny days does not a summer make! I think it was working in the garden, in a cold wind yesterday that did for me!
How I envy you mentalpause, Swimming in the sea! We are 6 miles from the Donegal coast and the Atlantic. I've not had the courage to PADDLE there this year - way too cold.
I was just thinking, it's so nice to be here 'chatting' to two ladies on opposite sides of the world. Such different places/circumstances, but so much in common.
mentalpause bobbysgirl
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sheri12 mentalpause
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Sessions last about 15 minutes. time breakdown consists of- 10 minutes of acupuncture, 5 minutes of intense shock wave therapy which is suppose to break down the scar tissue and encourage the area to start healing again- do not take an anti-inflamatory- and then manipulation and stretching. First few appointments I was in so much pain. I declined pain killers bc of the type of work I am in. I found extra strength tylonel thank goodness worked and the topical Bell roll on pepper cream joint relief worked at night with heat. I had to practice hanging my arm and swinging it and creeping my hand up a wall. I could not do either as my arm felt stuck in several places. Throbbing pain stopped and mild aching only. Third and fourth session started to be able to reach my arm up and out. Now on 6th, still some aching bc of some postural issues- almost full movement in arm. Was recommended to take some joint lubricant - one type has shellfish so I couldn't take it bc of an allergy- I will start taking it tomorrow. I was told to avoid a cortesone shot as it just masks problem and does not treat actual problem. I am hoping that this therapy continues to be successful and is not as frequent. I would recommend the investment as it apparently cuts the recovery time in half and helps with the ability to unfreeze shoulder much sooner. I wanted to share bc I did not see much on this. All the best.
Chocolatebabz mentalpause
Posted
I do feel better after physio but am still having pain (which moves around a lot) when I raise my arm above 45° from straight out. During my physio 'massage/manipulation' they can move it higher but everything seems to seize up again between sessions.
To sum up, I'm coping but still get pretty down from time to time mainly just at how long this has dragged on. I see online timelines of 30 months or up to seven years and I just want to cry!!
Ladybug3737 Chocolatebabz
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Ladybug3737 Chocolatebabz
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Chocolatebabz Ladybug3737
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