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Do I really have Frozen Shoulder?

Posted , 6 users are following.

RayPP
RayPP

I was diagnosed today by my GP after excrutiating pain in my upper arm and an uncomfortable nights sleep. As I read more about it, I wonder if I really have Frozen Shoulder or am I just in denial. Everything suggests that the disease is more common in woman (70% of sufferers are female), aged between 40 - 60 and in the non-dominant shoulder. Well I am male, aged 38 and I have this in my dominant shoulder.

I cant believe I could have this for 2-3 years! I'm active, exercise once or twice a week, have two very young children (who I cant pick up at the moment!), a busy job and commute 130 miles a day to the office. How much of my normal life is going to be affected?

Last year in the Autumn I had a dull ache in my upper right (dominant) arm, I put it down to sleeping on it funnily or perhaps from swimming, but it lasted a couple of months and then went. The pain was manageable without pain killers and I never sought any help, it was more of a small nuisance. But yesterday, the pain flared up and got worse and worse. The pain was at its height this morning and there was no way I could drive to work, so I saw my GP who diagnosed Frozen Shoulder, gave me a printout from patient.info and said I might want to get physio and that was it - no advice on how it might affect my life, no referral to a specialist, just gave me some pain killers (Naproxen) and said to come back if it gets any worse. Should I seek a second opinion?

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • honeybea
    honeybea

    Posted

    I would most certainly ask for a second opinion, do not be fobbed off, at least an xray or similar should be done just to rule anything serious out. Let me know how you get on.
  • mumfi
    mumfi

    Posted

    I would also say get second opinion my doctor told me i had tennis elbow, when pain didnt ease went back saw different g.p found out i had cervical spondilites
  • sianna29
    sianna29

    Posted

    I have frozen shoulder - am in much the same position as you, fit, healthy, under 40. Have just had MUA as I couldn't wait for what could possibly be years for it to go away ... I need to be able to function at work. Am having intensive physio and although it's taking a long time to get better (6 weeks post op) movement is much better and I can actually swim again now.

    Go back to your GP and TELL them to refer you to a shoulder specialist AND a physiotherapist. You'll need help from them both.

  • RayPP
    RayPP

    Posted

    Thanks for your comments. I'm a bit perplexed, as the pain disappeared after a few days and I feel back to normal. I haven't yet done any swimming or strenuous exercise. Does that happen with Frozen Shoulder or could it be a mis-diagnosis by my GP?
  • shimself
    shimself

    Posted

    I've had a painful shoulder for 2 months.

    I describe it as being as if someone had injected me yesterday with a big fat long needle in the upper arm. why not FS - Male 62yrs dominant arm

    why it might be - thyroid condition (Graves disease which happens to women 40-60 - and me)

    But really why it might not be FS is because there isn't any sign of freezing, I can move it all around, without it hurting any more than when I am, say, shaving or holding the handlebars on my bike (which is to say it does hurt quite a lot, but not associated with extremities of movement)

    I've read that the freezing can take quite a time to kick in, the physio says different. What are peoples experiences or knowledge here please?

    Thanks

  • Gerry_the_neck
    Gerry_the_neck

    Posted

    Generally FS kicks in at start. There is pain when the arm is elevated beyond a certain height. usually shoulder height, but can be even more restricted. Also arm will hurt when reaching behind and various other movements. There is no 'freezing' as such, just restricted movement. It usually self resoles after several months, the first 3 months being the most painful. It is probably best to not try to over exercise as it may extend the healing process. Patience is advised for early phase, and it will gradually ease off over remaining months. Most people, it seems, get frustrated and impatient and try to force the issue with various treatments.......it seldom works unfortunately.
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