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Frozen shoulder 3rd time lucky

Posted , 16 users are following.

Jay91157
Jay91157

Hi, For those  of you have seen my comments on here already, thought I would ask the question, but has anyone been unlucky as me. Seen consultant Monday to be told I need third operation, arthroscopic capsular release - revision. Have lost count of the amount of steroid inj I have had. The pain is still awful and keeps me awake at night like the rest of you. Only been back to work 4 weeks on phased return and have been signed off. Tuesday 13th is operation day hope it is the end of it then. Has anyone else experienced such a tough time and finally got to the finishing post. 

3 likes, 118 replies

118 Replies

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  • mia57561
    mia57561 Jay91157

    Posted

    I am heading back to have mua with a steroid and numbing injection on the 13 I hope this works cause the surgery in June didnt
    • Jay91157
      Jay91157 mia57561

      Posted

      I have had this done and they paralised the arm too for 48 hrs. Strange feeling. It helped for a few months and then I was in deep paing again. So we are both being operated on Tuesday 13th. Best wishes and hope it is resolves it. 
    • mia57561
      mia57561 Jay91157

      Posted

      Mine will be done by Dr stanfeild I hope it at least kills the pain in need of sleep
    • Ladybug3737
      Ladybug3737 mia57561

      Posted

      hi, how are you doing after mua? I had it done in Oct and got full ROM back. I pulled geting a bag of dog food in the truck a week ago and I think it is coming back.
  • bobbysgirl
    bobbysgirl Jay91157

    Posted

    Oh I do so sympathise! I'm still at the physio phase, and while it makes a difference for a while, just lately I have been doing a lot of work in my garden as well as gardening for other people and the result is I've done my neck in as well. I can't remember the last time I had a good night's sleep!sad

     

    • Jay91157
      Jay91157 bobbysgirl

      Posted

      Oh! have you trapped a nerve in your neck? I have had that at the start of the frozen shoulder. A simple test is to move your neck to the side and if the pain increased that is a sign of a trapped nerve. Sleep deprevation is a killer. I seem to wake at 2.00am and that is it then. Managing on four hours sleep. Gardening! not sure I would recommend that with a frozen shoulder.frown Take care not too push it as you know it is a painful condition to deal with. Best Wishes. 
    • bobbysgirl
      bobbysgirl Jay91157

      Posted

      Thanks for your concern Jay. Yes it's awful not being able to sleep for more than a couple of hours at a time.

      As for pain on turning my head, that's just it - I can't turn my head, at ALL! I'm really hoping my lovely Physio, Laura, can work her miracles tomorrow. I LIVE to garden!

  • kerri77889
    kerri77889 Jay91157

    Posted

    Hi Jay, I havnt been following your thread, so I'm just asking have you had an ultra sound of the shoulder? And are you in England?
    • Jay91157
      Jay91157 kerri77889

      Posted

      Hi Kerri, Yes I am in England. Yes have had ultra sound with guided steroid injections, x ray guided steroid injections, two ops - arthroscopic capsualra release- MUA, and two MRI's Followed by steroid injections again now another op for arthroscopic capsular release revision. 
    • kerri77889
      kerri77889 Jay91157

      Posted

      Hi Jay.........I'm in Australia. I'm not a fan of your medical system over there. Early this year when I thought I had a frozen shoulder I spoke to many many people on this forum from England and they pretty much all were unhappy with their treatment  and ability to get good strong meds. It turned out I had a tear in my rotator cuff, before knowing this I had steroid injections that did nothing at all, physio, X-ray, MRI all showed nothing till I went to an orthopedic surgeon who did his own ultra sound and found the tear, he booked me in for surgery 3 weeks later. All the symptoms were the same ad frozen shoulder.......no range of motion, couldn't reach behind my back pretty much just kept my elbow tucked into my hip and didn't use it at all. Nights were the worst.....that constant deep bone ache that you just can't get relief from. I remember it well. But I had the op, spent 6 weeks in a sling, no movement while it healed, then very gentle physio twice a week. That was back at the end of March, I still go to physio once a week now, working on getting full range back but they say 12 -18 months. But I have NO pain, that's the main thing. Just make sure you don't have a tear in the rotator cuff that everyone is over looking. Good luck, hope you get some relief soon 😘❌❌❌

       

    • Jay91157
      Jay91157 kerri77889

      Posted

      HI Kerrie,  I have had all my treatment privatley except at the start when I was sent to a musculoskeltal clinic who told me that there was nothig wrong with me and the pain will go. That was when I switched to private. I do have a small tear on the underside but the consultant has said it will not give me the level of pain I am getting and will no operate as it is too small about 1cm. I have noticed the cold weather affects it so dreading the winter unless the op is a miracle. Thank you  for your kind wishes. I need some of your sunshine. xx

      Ps I have sister and niece in Tasmania and niece in Perth. 

    • kerri77889
      kerri77889 Jay91157

      Posted

      Private is definately the way to go Jay 😄

      My tear was only small but the pain was mind numbingly agony especially at night.

      You wouldn't want our sunshine at the moment, we had 2 days last week at 34 degrees Celsius, we are heading for 26 today, 28 tomorrow and 29 on Monday, very warm already and we are only in Spring, predicting a very hot summer. Tasmania is lovely, have you been there? Perth isn't bad either but that's a 4 hour flight from Sydney which is a one hour drive north from me.

      😘❌❌❌

    • Jay91157
      Jay91157 kerri77889

      Posted

      So glad I am private as it cuts the wait down. Saw the consultant Monday  and a week later I am being operated on. Just some people have no choice but to use the NHS. It is good but it's the time scale and when you are in so much pain with FS the wait seems eternal. 

      Would really love some of your sunshine at least it makes people smile. A sunny day in England and people are so much more upbeat. Sadly not visited my relatives as I don't handle flying very well. Are you on the FB forum? Best Wishes and keep following xx

  • frozen_stiff
    frozen_stiff Jay91157

    Posted

    It would be interesting to know how long you were into the frozen shoulder when the capsular releases were done. The Frozen shoulder is time limiting and it is said that 96% have a full or almost full recovery when no treatment is given. It seems from reading these posts that the time range of F S is between one year and four years. If you have say a one year FS doing a capsular release at ten months may work, but if you have a four year cycle  then nine mothe would be far too early and my feeling is that it may be in year three to be beneficial. In the early stages it seems that patients have difficulty sleeping on the affected shoulder. Perhaps treatments  should be done just as the patient begins to notice it is less painfull to sleep on that side. Anyone noticed this? It could be that any treatment will be useful at this stage of the cycle? What I do notice that most patients are encouraged to exercise in the early stages and even through the pain and this can't be good.

    Frozen Stiff

    • Jay91157
      Jay91157 frozen_stiff

      Posted

      I was two years into FS when capsular release was done and then 6mths later MUA. With steroid injectios between op and after. I am 3 years this month and next op pending. I am about to lose my job as I have not been able to work and having just returned on a phase return they gave me 3mths to get to full time but now I am off again, also had scoliosis surgery in Feb which took me off work too. My pain did seem to reduce but not at night when on that side. It is now down in my arm again and movment is so painful even to drive. So aprt from FS I am now jobless effectively. Unless you have FS noone will understand the pain and exercising through it is more than just OUCH! 

      Best wishes

    • mia57561
      mia57561 Jay91157

      Posted

      This FS is the most painful medical condition I have encountered, I do not understand why even four months after surgery and three days a week therapy I am still in so much pain and extremely limited range of motion, does it ever let up. I have been off work since June 02/2015, with no return any time soon
    • Jay91157
      Jay91157 mia57561

      Posted

      I am hanging on to the fact it can't go on forever. I hope your company are more caring than mine. I work in the pharmaceutical Industry so thought they would be caring. All my time off coverd by doc notes. So struggling with a medical condition I am not struggling to find a job. Can life get any more brutal.  I feel your pain all the way. This morning it feels like I have an elephant sat on my shoulder. Role on Tuesday for the op. 

       

    • mia57561
      mia57561 Jay91157

      Posted

      I am a state tested nurse aid, my company paid me up to Aug 29 now workmanship comp is paying me now I'm praying Tuesday works for both of us
    • debbie36227
      debbie36227 mia57561

      Posted

      I had rotator cuff tear surgery last Oct 2nd. Then after six weeks post op, I developed frozen shoulder. I am in lot of pain. My doctor gave me new home exercises. If I don't improve my ROM, she will decide to go for surgery. I will go back to see my doctor on Feb 8.
    • j93246
      j93246 debbie36227

      Posted

      Same thing happened to me after a labral repair where is all your pain at. Are you in the states or England.
    • j93246
      j93246 debbie36227

      Posted

      Me too I'm in California hang in there the pain is brutal like nothing I've experienced. I had a capsular release 5 months after my labral repair and I froze right back up. Now after a year since my recent surgery the pain is still brutal not sure what to do. All my pain is in the front of my arm and bicep.
    • Ladybug3737
      Ladybug3737 frozen_stiff

      Posted

      I was in pain and not sleeping for several months. Injections didnt work. I was finally referred to another specialist and on the 2nd visit i couldnt lift my arm at all ( 3 months of pt didn help) it seemed like everything they tried made it worse. On the day I couldnt lift my arm he scheduled MUA the next morning. I was so relieved and got full ROM and was able to finally sleep. I pulled it getting dog foof into my truck last week and I can feel it tightening back up. UGHHH I just keep stretching a few times a day to try and stop it. I pray it doesnt return!
    • Pollypocketmom
      Pollypocketmom j93246

      Posted

      I am in Ca also

      Just had my work comp Dr tell me to apply for SSI.

      My ortho is going to try a capitulate surgery soon. My other arm is killing me also from over use.

    • Travelight
      Travelight j93246

      Posted

      I had surgery on the 1st of October 2015 for rotator and labrum tear with a few other goodies. I was immobilized for one month. I didn't know it at the time but in retrospect I think I was already frozen and needless to say the pain was excruciating! Now after almost 4 months of living on pain pill, doing PT, acupuncture and massage, plus supplements, no real true change....Doc is suggesting arthroscopic capsular release. Of course I am very frightened at the thought of another surgery. I just hurts to write this today...Feeling scared that it may not work, wondering about the "waiting game" strange options for 2016....any ideas, tips, advice, appreciated? I have done so much already...
    • j93246
      j93246 Travelight

      Posted

      This condition sucks I was like you my shoulder froze after a labrum surgery and then had a capsular release and it froze back up. My understanding is these releases typically work not sure why mine didn't. I have tried everything as well so frustrating. Try to stay mentally tough. I definitely got depressed being in constant pain. It's a helpless feeling. If you have any questions I'd be glad to share my experience. Do you live in the states? It's been a year since my second surgery and I'm worse off and the new dr I'm seeing wants to do a release.

       

    • Travelight
      Travelight j93246

      Posted

      hey my friend, mentally tough is surely applicable here! Yes, I live in the states...in Nevada. and yes this is coming on 4 months since my surgery and I am so up against it. They stand ready to do the CR, and I am so unsure of my ability to "get over it" and get better, especially since I see how my body reacted to the first surgery. Surgeon from Lake Tahoe is suggesting one month of steroid (arg) to hopefully refrain my body from reacting so strongly in creating a Frozen shoulder...I just don't know if I have much more fight in me....feeling despondent about it all...up at 4:20 am....thanks for writing

       

    • Travelight
      Travelight

      Posted

      oh PS the part about the one month steroid would be after the capsular release....I have already had two cortisone injections and the second one made the front of the joint even more painful with not much relief from pain. I have invested a few thousand out of pocket beyond my insurance on altenative care that is not covered to see if I can turn the corner...today I just want a head to toe massage....I feel like Haley Berry in the Monster Ball in the scene where she begins to get very emotional and says: "I just want someone to make me feel better"....I cried for almost the whole hour of my cranio sacral session at PT, feeling so much disappointment in this situation...I leave you with a quote:

      “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places. In this case it is my shoulder, but it is affecting me to the core...

       

    • Travelight
      Travelight j93246

      Posted

      yes me too, same place....California....you are close...
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