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bilateral frozen shoulder Need advice

Posted , 23 users are following.

mamaelaine
mamaelaine

I have bilateral frozen shoulder. Right is worse than left but both are in the freezing stage at the same time. I am 4 months in and the pain is getting worse instead of better. Had one cortisone shot (in the right (dominant) arm) and will have one in the left arm this coming week. It did not help at all. I am waking up at night with my arm jammed which is causing excruiating pain. I can't seem to find a comfortable position because I have it in both shoulders at the same time. I'm exhausted.

Eating has now become very difficult because raising my hand to my mouth is not only difficult but very painful as well, again because I have it in both arms I can't simply just use the other arm.

I'm looking for some help. I need advice on ways to make my life easier because I understand that the frozen stage will make things more difficult. Just how limited will my ROM be? Right now my hubby helps dress me, puts my deodrant on, etc. How bad is this going to get. I'd like to know so I can mentally prepare. I'm getting quite down over this. Luckily I'm a therapist so I'm busy pulling from  my toolbox and doing therapy on myself but man this is hard. I've had numerous medical setbacks over the past three years so I was pretty ticked when this hit me out of the blue. I still find this hard to accept and am researching it like crazy. I am a former nurse so I understand the medical jargon quite well but it is still frustrating to read all the medical journals and see idiopathic as the cause.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated smile

1 like, 29 replies

29 Replies

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  • Burtpies
    Burtpies mamaelaine

    Posted

    I know exactly how you feel as I have it in both shoulders too. 

    Sleep wise, it’s very hard. I have found that my recliner chair works the best as I’m elevated which helps me rest the arms and I’m cocooned in so there is no tossing and turning onto either painful side. 

    Be thankful for the help you get from hubby. I’m live by myself and have found it extremely hard. 

    I have just been booked in for othrosopic capsule release on 9 th dec. Right side first as that’s the worst then left when I have rom in the right. The surgeon seems to think this is the best thing when you have two as it is usually quite successful.  

    Good luck with it all. 

    • Debcos
      Debcos Burtpies

      Posted

      Having it in both my shoulders is quite a challenge, the Left is the worse and the right seems to be catching up as it's getting intense now as well!Does your Doc think the surgery will help you? I am at wits end and haven't been able to sleep at all. Taking 800 mg Ibuprofen along with morphine takes the edge off except during the night and early morning when I can barely move! 

    • Burtpies
      Burtpies Debcos

      Posted

      Yes, we spoke briefly about other options but as rom is getting worse on my “good” side othroscopic capsule release was a good option. I think also because I am a t1 diabetic and on other medication it was seen as an option that is more likely to be successful quicker. But obviously no guarantees. 

      I’m on ocycodine, nights and mornings are hell. At times I can handle even pick anything up as the pain shoots down into my wrists. I am always hesitant to take the pain relief because it can be addictive but sometimes it’s too much. 

      Good luck. 

  • magsher
    magsher mamaelaine

    Posted

    Hi mama elaine. I realize your post is 3 years old but hoping you will still be checking website out. I'd love to know when and if yours resolved and time frame it took. I have it on both sides too. Started on my left side approximately 9 months ago after a couple of rib fractures. For past 3 months have gradually felt right side pain and dcreased range of movement. I am receiving physiotherapy but doesn't seem to be helping. I'm getting so frustrated with the constant pain. It impacts every area of daily activities and is very debilitating. Did physio help you. If not, what did?  

  • doris28535
    doris28535 mamaelaine

    Posted

    I had a doctor tell me that their was no such thing as a frozen shoulder

    but i had another doctor tell me that i did have a frozen shoulder, I still 

    don't under stand what a frozen shoulder is. can any one explain, what this is.

    Thanks

     

  • brenda74921
    brenda74921 mamaelaine

    Posted

    Hello Mamaelaine! 

    I would like to know if you have healed completely from the bilateral frozen shoulder? I know you posted this three years ago. I am going through the same 😔 and wanted to know if there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I am about two years in, it started with pain in both upper arms, then I developed frozen shoulder on my left side, it was so painful it made me cry sometimes , then when it was on the frozen stage , my right shoulder started to freeze, so my left is still frozen, may be thawing, (I hope) and my right is freezing or frozen, it’s impossible to get a good night’s sleep and extremely frustrating, not to mention very painful, as you already know I have a house to clean, two young children that need me and two dogs and a cat to care for too, so I am worried that Im overdoing it all the time.  All I care about is regaining full range of motion on both arms, no matter how long I have to deal with this pain,  I hope you see this message, thank you. 

    • Anne_AMR
      Anne_AMR brenda74921

      Posted

      Hi Brenda

      there is light at the end of the tunnel..... in the form of MUA, if you get the chance of having this procedure done don't hesitate, go for it. I had it done 2 weeks ago and the result is amazing.

      Good luck

      Anne

  • sarah81281
    sarah81281 mamaelaine

    Posted

    Hello!

    I had a hydrodilatation procedure in my right shoulder and am having the left shoulder done in the very near future. I feel your pain. I started with bilateral adhesive capsulitis (medical term for frozen shoulder) just over 5 months ago and like you, it stared with pain in my upper arms.

    I don’t know whether you are the same but I absolutely dread bedtime!  I’m propped up by pillows and end up just reading for hours. I’m at the walking zombie stage now through lack of sleep. It must be worse for you with young children. 

    I have slight improvement on my right arm, I have been really pushing my exercises to be honest, to the point where it is painful. My left arm is severely restricted so I hope the hydrodilatation eventually help too. 

    I hope you see improvement very soon. 

    Sarah

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