Frozen shoulder?

Hi, I'm curious to know any updates on this?

I hurt my shoulder back in February, twice within in a few days! I gradually noticed over the next couple of weeks that my movements were getting more and more restricted. I thought I'd pulled a muscle and it would just need time to get better but after two months and becoming even more painful and unable to sleep on that side I eventually went to the doctor. She said it was a frozen shoulder and referred me for an ultrasound. Unfortunately I was told by the hospital that there was quite a long waiting list for this procedure.

Because of the pain and lack of sleep (and recovering from another minor op) I decided to go private. I had an ultrasound led injection (hydrodistension procedure with Depomedrone). Well actually it was two injections, the first of which was in the back of my shoulder and was the most painful thing I have ever felt!! He said he must've hit the edge of the inflamed area (felt like he was trying to go right through the muscle!) but the worse part was trying to hold my arm in one position while he did it. Like fighting against all your natural instinct to move something that causes you pain! By the time he finished my arm had seized up and I couldn't move it. I agreed he could still do the second injection to the front of the shoulder and just to get it over with! Luckily that one wasn't as bad.

The next day, I was in quite a bit of pain and even less movement but by that evening I was back to being about the same as I had been before the procedure. He had warned me it could take a while maybe even a few weeks to notice an improvement.

Nothing much really changed for quite a while but now just under 3 months after the injections and I am noticing an improvement. I can definitely lift my arm higher, not getting the pain and muscle spasms down the arm and I can even sleep on that side (if I get into just the right position). I still can't move my arm behind my back though, seems that is going to take some time to happen.

I really don't know if it was the injections that helped or if it's just time that heals but seeing how some people can have this so painfully for a year or more, I'm just happy that 6 months on and although I still don't have full movement at least I'm not in so much pain anymore.

I hope things have improved for you?

Hi jayn36190,

I have osteoporosis. I was diagnosed with a frozen shoulder. My doctor showed me a couple of exercises to do and recommended that I see a physiotherapist. I said no because I was sick of doctors (2 hip replacements at different times). I also knew that an injection of some form or another would be offered and I didn't want more chemicals pumped into my body. Just no.

I went on YouTube and found lots of exercises to do. As painful as it was I did the ones that I liked and a couple I didn't. If it was suggested that I do 5 movements, I did 2. I might have only done one but I did something every day. Toilet duties were a challenge too. It took about 6 months before I could lift my arm over my head, put on a shirt or jacket. There were many times when I wished I didn't have to wear a bra let alone a sweater. I still have trouble sleeping on my side but I can sleep on it for a few hours before I need to turn over. After 8 months I'm not 100% back to the way things used to be. I still do the exercises. My doctor told me that phone texting is really bad for the shoulder so I will stop here. Good luck. I hope you are better soon.