1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Frozen Shoulder

frozen shoulder and nerve pain after neck injury can't bare the pain anymore!

Posted , 6 users are following.

penny54223
penny54223

Hello all fellow sufferers of FS - how do you cope?  One year ago I fell downstairs (vertigo) fractured my neck and had severe pain in upper left arm, felt like a very bad bruise and a swollen but not broken wrist.  Neck healed, pain in my upper arm remained and could move it but not do up bra etc without severe pain.  Had an injection in my shoulder - made it worse. 11 months on I fell down a shorter flight of stairs (return of vertigo!) on to same bad shoulder/arm.  Now frozen and pain from neck to finger tips all the time and even worse at night.  Can't take oral pain relief tablets has anyone tried pain relief patches?  The pain is so bad I can't do anything and I am getting seriously depressed and being driven to despair, its like being in constant childbirth labour!  constantly having to massage my arm including from elbow to wrist and palm of hand into fingers.  Given conflicting advice by every medical person seen so far.    Seems it is likely multiple problems but still no MRI, xray shows no broken bones in shoulder.  Read most of the discussions, not many triggered by injury unless I have missed those.  Any support groups locally in Cornwall where we could at least cry openly!  Thanks, Penny

1 like, 27 replies

27 Replies

Prev
  • alison44235
    alison44235 penny54223

    Posted

    My frozen shoulder happened after an injury. I fell due to no fault of my own.

    I won't go in to details but had useless treatment from the nhs and it got worse. I fell 4 and half months ago. I am very depressed too. It ha stopped me doing everything I enjoy, nothing is the same. I can't do my work I can't drive everyday chores and dressing are a nightmare. I wnet privately in the end. I had a scan this moring which showed I did not have a rotator cuff tear (I have been asking for one from the nhs the nearest date they could give me was July) It is such a relief i do not have a tear. I had hydrodilation this moring and if that does not work I will have to have keyhole surgery. I really hope it gets better as I can't imagine going on like this for much longer. My husband is not very undeerstanding, but he does drive me to all my appointments. I have M.E. as well and it has made it 10 times worse.

    Best of luck

    Alison

    • jan56534
      jan56534 alison44235

      Posted

      Hi Alison

      Sounds as if you've had a right time of it. I know what you mean about NHS ! I struggle to drive and with lots of day to day tasks. I worry when I do go in to town that I will bump into someone from work and because they can't see anything it looks as if there is nothing wrong with you. I would never have known how painful frozen shoulder was until I ended up with it. I hope your treatment gives you relief and a proper rest take care xx

    • alison44235
      alison44235 jan56534

      Posted

      I had the hydrodilation on Monday. It did not hurt just slightly uncomfortable. I ws given exercises to start the next day and then physion yesterday. so far I have been able to hang out the washing, take my trousers off the normal way, fill the washing machine, lift pans i could go on.

      I have more movement, not a lot but the pain has gone. I just cannot beleive it. I am just hoping it continues in this way. I am just about to have a shower now and am going to try and put my bra on the normal way, I think that might just be pushing it a bit but you never know.

       

    • kerri77889
      kerri77889 alison44235

      Posted

      Woo Hoo Alison.......that's great news, here's hoping it stays that way and you experience the journey back to normality 😘❌❌❌❌
    • alison44235
      alison44235 kerri77889

      Posted

      Could not do my bra up, but I can reach slightly further behind my back.
    • jan56534
      jan56534 alison44235

      Posted

      Hi Alison

      That's fantastic news and must be such a relief for you 😊 hope it continues to improve and you can get back to a normal life xx

    • penny54223
      penny54223 alison44235

      Posted

      Hi Alison, how are you getting on?  The thought of tying my own hair and wearing a normal bra again is so exciting, only sufferers will know just how exciting these simple tasks are! I sent you a reply before but does not seem to be up here but as I am like a zombie much of the time I probably sent it to the wrong person.  You will see from my response to Kerri my latest news so I am off on another research trip finding out about benefits etc.  If it doesnt work then I will push for something else, they don't think it is a rotator cuff injury  even though the symptoms are so similar as described by Kerri.  Was the scan you describe an ultrasound or mri, dont know if an mri is necessary.Currently using Glucosamine joint complex gel (aloe vera, devils claw and MSM) cooling and some relief to try and get me through as trying to avoid heavy duty pain killers and their side effects.  best wishes x
  • Louise1923
    Louise1923 penny54223

    Posted

    Hi Penny, I've wrote down my story on other forum threads, & the. Symptoms ring true with me..my second FS...then a fall (caused by instability of FS while trying to step over a tiny fence!) that sent my pain level through the roof....its a long story. I'll try tto summarise. Started in my thumb went to hand consultant, she advised injection fora nerve/tendon condition De Quervains  (though looking back 10 months ago, it was mis diagnosed & was the start of FS)I kept saying my upper arm is painful etc...no one listened...had steroid injection in wrist...FS continued to worsen, and have had physio no, useless, more painful& wrist not improved infact the range of movement is more restricted , which is so worrying & serious. My shoulder has all the usual FS hellish symptoms as we all are suffering...I am sure it's hormone/ag/stress related ...in my case anyway, but obviously falls/trauma must also trigger & other related conditions I've read thyroid diabetes cardiac etc etc etc can also be triggers...I'm now at the insisting on a shoulder specialist referral , have to wait 2. More agonising sleepless months...I like you wish. There were face to face support groups, this is torture, & my family & friends who were supportive, have given up, not knowing what to do or how to help...& a bite tired of hearing it!...its so stressful & restricting I'm trying to be strong, but afterendless sleepless nights, I'm just 'done in'! & Im a positive person, so I dread to think ...if I wasn't!!dont want to harp on but I just wanted to let you know I sympatise & feel your pain! please let me knowhow you get on, btw my last FS  was eventually helped with hydro dilation...I'm praying I will get this at some point, though who knows with the NHS, its a bit of a lottery at the moment! 

    Louise

    • penny54223
      penny54223 Louise1923

      Posted

      Hi Louise, sorry to hear that you are suffering so much too, it is absolute hell isnt it. I think you may be right in that hormones can aggravate it further perhaps and some forums suggest this can be the cause although for some of us trauma injury is definitely the trigger.  I am 54 and end of menopause now.  Tuesday I went to referral back to hand and wrist surgeon who I was told would refer me on quicker to shoulder consultant as well as deal with my wrist. Couldn't access my info on the computer (both times I have seen him this has happened)  he said the system has changed and had to go back to GP again for separate referral but that he would try and do something for me when he agreed he could not really help with the wrist until we know what part the shoulder is playing in it all.  He also suggested cortisone into the wrist  to see if it helps as it might now be carpal tunnel too.  I objected on basis it caused me more problems last time and havent had any diagnostic info i.e. xray on wrist since latest fall which has clearly made everything worse.  Friday went to private physio gentle massage for therapeutic  purposes and told I had the most badly injured shoulder seen in a long time.  Pain on Friday so bad (like the knocked into you pain but not recovering) ended up phoning GP and asking for serious pain relief not via the stomach (IBS) advised to try ibrupofen gel on skin and I asked about patches - finally got some prescribed by GP but told it will still affect my stomach.  Stuck in town I could not move for the pain I was in and got to the hospital A & E  - they bent my wrist back and forth and moved my arm pushing it further than it wants with FS when already in 10/10 pain and told me I probably have regional pain syndrome and gave me codeine tablets - would not do any further investigations and said they cannot refer me to anyone other than suggesting I get referral to pain clinic from GP as there is no physical cause for the pain.  when you are in agony it is hard to try and push any point like how do they know whats wrong when no ultrasound or mri ? My arm and shoulder are red hot to the touch. Told them this and they said it was because I was rubbing it, I told them it is like this anyway I just rub it to try and ease some of the pain.  Tried the gel, didnt work but stomach not affected so at least something.  Put on first patch - slow release of painkiller 10microgram per hour - called BuTrans - Buprenorphine. will take 24 hours to start to take affect.  Likely to cause drowsiness and nausea but heres hoping it wont or that this will be better than the pain.  I will let you know if it works.  Have hardly slept and cannot do a thing except type this one handed while rocking in pain.  Daughter found another specialist NHS clinic in Plymouth and spoke to them on the phone, they seemed really efficient and caring and advised me to get immediate referral there from GP and they will see me within a week. Also suggested acupuncture so will try this too  but travelling to appointments  not much fun and cost of all of it too will shortly be prohibitive.  Fingers crossed. Gentle hugs to all of you going through this pain x
  • Louise1923
    Louise1923 penny54223

    Posted

    Hi first thanks for sharing second apology in advance for any spelling mistakes all down to FS!!

    sorry to hear the pain went 10/10 ?.. hoping the patches help, though I hear the battle your having to get any help, meanwhile in agony.frown No joke it's pure torture trying to get anyone to listen & act on that ...I was saying on another thread re health professionals sharing best practise with this

    condition...as is a common ailment. Seems v odd that there's no course of

    'standard' diagnostic path, which then leads on to treatment & hopefully

    improvement. Everyone is getting so many mixed messages, this leads to

    lengthy delays in recovery, & months/years of excruciating pain ( no one

    should suffer in so much pain in 2015!)  one only has to read this forum! 

    I realise that I haven't actually been scanned or even X-rayed on my shoulder which is usually the first step in any sort of ' injury' as basic!

    im just going to now start a nagging campaign to my GP to insist I get x, y, z in stead of quietly suffering! At the end of the day, it's us that is having to deal with it...not family friends or the health professionals...it's like a bit of a battle! 

    Btw I tried acupuncture, worth a try.. Maybe even to feel ' pro active' in  DIY treatments! I do v v gentle Aqua excercise...just to keep moving, as I'm not feeling as generally motivated &/ or mobile to excercise, cycle or frankly lift anything! So many things are a no go my life is on hold, as I can't use my arm normally, I want to scream with frustration ....instead I write on this form...,which helps!

    pre FS non of this applies to the ' normal' me! I just like us all, need my normal self back ASAP! & until that time keep pushing for pain relief methods,hydro dilation & basic treatment & support ....we're only human

    after all! 

    If I find anything that's helping I will post it up, as by us all sharing we will find our way through this....power of positive thinking....& all that! 

    Keep going smileLouise 

    My sleeplessness is worsening, it's every night I'm woken in pain, I realise that after 

  • amylynn4301
    amylynn4301 penny54223

    Posted

    Do you wake up sometimes dripping g sweat from your elbow to your fingertips?
Back to top
Prev

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.