Frozen Shoulder
Posted , 13 users are following.
Its nice to know I'm not the only person suffering from this terrible painful condition!
I was diagnosed with a frozen shoulder in 14 April 2010 and a referral was sent for me to have a steriod injection, by 6 May 2010 I was unable to carry out my work duties, as I work in an office at a computer all day aggrivated my left shoulder so much that my whole arm would be very painful at the end of my working day.
As for trying to sleep! (it seems a life time ago since I had 8 hrs undisturbed sleep), even with a pillow under my shoulder it doesn't help much.
I finally recieved the appointment for me to have a steriod injection but it was not until 9 July 2010! - So as an asthmatic I am restricted on the type of painkillers I can take. I was been prescribed some paracetamol base pain killers and a gel to rub in my shoulder.
It is now 10 days since having the steriod injection which was very painful and something I would not repeat! The pain is no better, my stretching range is the same I can not raise my left arm no further than breast height, its very restrictive to raise my arm sideways or behind. My neck and back have also started to ache!
I saw my doctor today to see what the next step will be as the steriod injection has not worked. He said he would not refer me for physio as I have just had the steriod injection and its too soon to be referred to see a consultant.
I am very down from sleep deprivation and the constant pain.. My doctor has told me to continue to taking pain killers and the shoulder gel, and try some exercises at home for the next 3 weeks, then he will review it then.
I can't believe how such life changing, disabling, painful condition can take so long to recover from it....
0 likes, 15 replies
Guest
Posted
I've read about a lot of people's experiences online, and the consensus seems to be that interventions like injections and surgery have very mixed results and are probably not worth it given that it will resolve itself naturally over time. I'm going to a physio who recommends gentle exercises that don't hurt which makes sense to me ...
Good luck, I hope you feel better soon!
mick86357 Guest
Posted
Guest
Posted
I spoke to a friend of mine who had a frozen shoulder and he had capsular release, performed by Richard **** who is a private consultant, but he also does some work on the NHS. He is based at a hospital near Windsor and your GP can refer you to him. I would say keep on going to your GP - go every day if necessary - it is his duty to refer you to a consultant.
The only relief I get is when I see a therapist who practices Tuina - quite an aggressive, intensive massage therapy using heat. I was referred to him by my boss who was on the verge of having neck surgery and was in extreme pain - he sorted him out permanently and never needed the surgery. I am very cynical with alternative therapies myself but this is not necessarily an alternative therapy as such as it is totally hands-on, manipulative therapy. He reckons five sessions and I should be a whole lot better and I must say I am better after two - but you will need to pay for it.
I always found I was better off sleeping with three pillows at a 45 dgree angle, rather than having something just under my shoulder/arm as I found it was an unnatural position. I have recently put a thick soft duvet under my side of the bed which makes it a lot softer and more comfortable.
Painkillers did not work. I even took Tramadol (like Morphine) which did not take the pain away. I do get relief when I rub Chinese Wood Lock oil on my shoulder and arm - it is a treatment like Deep Heat but a lot stronger and makes your shoulder get really hot, bringing blood to the area. Recommended to me by the therapist and it does not cost much,
The consultant put me on the waiting list for Manipulation Under Anaesthesia which is quite controlversial - I do not know if I will go ahead with it. I am optimistic that I will get further good results with the Tuina, enabling me to be relatively pain free and able to go back to work and function semi-normally !
It is a terribly debilitating, excruciatingly painful condition that very few people realise. Do go back to your GP, again and again. I threatened to also go to A&E if my GP hadn;t done anything. You must persist - it is your right to get a consultants opinion.
Chris
[color=red:0dc9f45fa1][size=9:0dc9f45fa1][i:0dc9f45fa1][b:0dc9f45fa1](Sorry but Patient Admin have removed a Doctor, Consultant and or Hospital name from this posting, as it is the policy of Patient UK not to publish these on this forum.) [/b:0dc9f45fa1][/i:0dc9f45fa1][/size:0dc9f45fa1][/color:0dc9f45fa1]
debs1007
Posted
I dread to think how long the referral will take, my GP said it will be ages!
I've checked on the NHS website and referrals can take up to 18 weeks..... I've been signed off work since May
chrissygo
Posted
Your GP should have looked on the Choose and Book system to see which consultant had the shortest waiting list as this information is available to him/her online. If possible, try to get referred to a private hospital who take NHS patients. There are some private hospitals that accept NHS patients - I am seeing a consultant in North London at a private hospital. I managed to get my 2nd guided cortisone injection the week following the consultant said I should have it done. When I waited for it on the NHS it took three months. The NHS are \"sub-contracting\" work out to private hospitals and you get treated as a private patient which is brilliant. I am very lucky to be seeing a consultant like this. I believe you have a right to go to any hospital that you wish, anywhere - you don't have to stick with your local NHS hospital which will no doubt have horrendous waiting lists.
All this information will be available to your GP on the CHoose and Book system. Press to get an earlier appointment.
I am having good results from Tui-na therapy which is an intensive massage and manipulation Have had five sessions now and he treats not just the shoulder but surrounding muscles and I am no longer climbing the walls with pain.
Sue_uk
Posted
I'm 50 have been diabetic for three years,
I slipped in the bath in late Jan 2010 it hurt like hell but I'm not one for going to the docs, the pain did subside, then in Feb i went on a first aid course and found i couldn't do the heart massage on the manikin as it was so painful to press down, and the bit where you have a partner and practice putting each other into a recovery position was impossible .... still didn't go to the docs as i had my daughter coming over to visit from aboard ,, i did go to the doc in April where they diagnosed frozen shoulder as i couldn't lift my left arm above waist level, and i was having trouble pulling up my pants, to wear a bra was out of the question, .....
they gave me pain killers that were no help what so ever, believe me i've had so many different pain killers in different combinations, had a cortisone injection into the shoulder none have helped i'm sure my doctor thought i was a junky after some morphine,
i was sent for physio but on the second session he said he couldn't help as the arm was so stiff so he sent me back to my doc, i was then sent to have x rays, ad an appointment was made to see the orthopaedic surgeon, the waiting time for this was 4 months (scream!!!!) Ive just seen him last week, and i am booked for surgery but guess what????? the waiting list for this is 3 months (an even bigger scream) but i might get in quicker if someone else cancels, before i left the hospital they gave me another shot of cortisone, its not worked but i am in more pain now than before, instead of having that constant background pain like something eating on my bone and that terrible spasm when you realise you've moved your arm a bit too far (so bad i can only liken it to having labour pains in your arm) i now have to add to it this new agony of my arm feeling too heavy to lift, i have to lift it with my right hand, its awful pain, i can now understand why people take their own life ive thought about it on many a lonely night when im sitting here on my computer trying to keep my mind off the pain while the rest of the house are in dreamland.
chrissygo
Posted
Just been to the docs tonight for a medication review. I am now trying diclofenac and co-codamol together - haven't had diclofenac before so see how it works. FS is the MRSA of pain - for me it has been totally resistant to pain. I have my third and final cortison injection a week ago - ultrasound guided - no better as yet, but they do see give it six weeks! I am not convinced about the six week thing.
Anyway, earlier this year I booked to go to Barbados beginning of October and sometimes wished I hadn't but this damn thing is not going to control my life like it has been. Seeing consultant next week and am going to ask for capsular release or manipulation for when I get back in October because I cannot put up with this any more.
For what's its worth, my lifesavers have been :
1. my Tui-na therapist (going tomorrow for my weekly session) as he releases all the surrounding muscles as well as working on the shoulder,
2.Wood Lock oil which is a very powerful Chinese analgesic that stinks to high heaven but rub a few drops on your shoulder and it makes your shoulder really really hot (20 x more powerful than deep heat, tiger balm etc) !! and only £10 for a bottle that lasts for ages
3. Sleeping on a double quilt under me which provides a much softer base
A hairdryer on the shoulder to heat up the shoulder and brings blood to the surface sometimes helps at night. Cannot bear it when my shoulder gets cold.
Everybody is different but if, like me, you are searching for a magic cure, one of these just might bring you a tiny bit of relief ! I hope so.
Chris
JaniceW debs1007
Posted
robin444 JaniceW
Posted
JaniceW robin444
Posted
robin444 JaniceW
Posted
Pkr9911 debs1007
Posted
Needing to get back to work asap, I decided to have arthroscopic surgery to fix the problem. It was the BEST decision I could have possibly made. The recovery from the surgery itself pailed in comparison to the horrible pain I had endured for months.
I was in a CPM chair for 6 hours a day starting the day of surgery for a total of 3 weeks. That was rough but I do believe jump started me to an amazing recovery.
My surgery was in May 2014. I go to therapy once a week. I returned to work as a nurse in July 2014. I don't have complete range yet but I am getting closer everyday.
I know surgery is not for everyone and I wouldn't presume it is for you. I just wanted to share that for me, it was the only thing that gave me the ability to work hard and actually get better. If you live in the Atlanta area, I am happy to share the name of my surgeon and therapist.
leslie61028 Pkr9911
Posted
Thanks for sharing pkr.
robin444 debs1007
Posted
candace513 debs1007
Posted