Frozen shoulder - anyone used a chiropractor to help with this?

I tried everything, acupuncture, chiropractor, months of physical therapy, prescription anti inflammatorories. The only thing that helped was when I gave in and had manipulation under anesthesia. It was a life saver. Worked wonderfully

Hi. This is my second frozen shoulder. I cannot remember why I didn't use the chiro guy the first time around--might be cause my frozen knee was in more need attention.

However, the PT person was able to fix the knee in 3 weeks, and he was able to work on my frozen shoulder and pretty much fix it. That one took longer, about 3 months.

This second time around, I didn't get PT. The sports med dr. said it could take 2-3 years for it to go away on its own. It's over 2 years. The pain has definitely calmed down and there's more mobility, but definitely not nearly as flexible as I would like it.

Coincidentally, I see the sports med person this Thurs, I will inquire about cortisone shot (my right arm has been bothering me, like I strained by the elbow somehow). I will ask her about cortisone shot for that, too.

From everything I've been told, and read, the pain will plateau, and after that, you can either wait it out or discuss what to do next. Like I said, she told me 2-3 years. I cannot believe it's been that long...I was contemplating pt earler, but life got in the way.

Hope this helps. Good luck

 

Update...

Have had two sessions with acupuncture and the difference in my pain is amazing in such a short time - I know it probably won't last the main pain is there always but I feel I have more control over it and I can function in the day for work and family life better, sleep still is hard as the muscle is tightening up still.

Hi Ami:

I feel your pain!

My FS  started in Jan 2016.  I remember VERY WELL how horrible the "freezing" stage was.  There's nothing that can touch the kind of pain involved.  I did have good results from Tramadol and that's what I ended up taking for almost an entire year, supplemented by a Vicodin here and there.  

There isn't anything they can do during the freezing stage except maybe a cortizone injection.  But those first few months....horrible!  I slept with ice packs on my shoulder...frankly, I don't know how I managed through that time. 

I also visited my chiropractor 2 times a week and had cold laser treatments along withsome manipulation of the joint.   I can't honestly say it helped, but it didn't make things worse. What I can say is that you should try everything and anything available to see if it will work.  

My FS did not unfreeze after a year and I ended up having MUA last week...praise the Lord!

They made me wait a year, though, which was agony!

In answer to your post i also have frozen shoulder in the left for 4 and a half years and now the right shoulder also for the last nine months. Your completely right about the agony and ive tried most things available from Cortisone injections to Physio and remedial massage. No relief from any.Now im trying Acupunture and have has several treatments which have helped me considerably.Everyone is different but for me a Chiropractor would be to much pain and manipulation. Good luck in your journey through this terrible affliction and i hope yours isnt as long term as mine.

Hi ami117,

It's been 7mos since I fell off my bicycle and injured my right shoulder in the process. This lead to frozen shoulder. I usually get scared wherever I'm sick and want the easy way out. This was not the case with f.s. I have a chiropractor that I always go to when I have back problems. I asked? him about my shoulder and he recommended that I get an x-ray/mri. Unfortunately for me my x-ray showed nothing so doctors did not want to order an MRI until 4mos later. It was a good thing my p.t. insisted that I was not improving so referred me to a specialist hence the MRI. MRI showed nothing except some bruising and swelling plus the limited movement of my arm so it was concluded that it is in fact frozen. So my trusted chiropractor rejected to fix my shoulder since it was probably beyond him. But at least he was honest about it. I went to a neurokinesiologist and it's different or experimental if not quaky. But I was try different things because I want my arm movement back. BTW, the whole time I've been doing exercises, it helps a lot. The neuro this did not work just inflamed my left elbow. The therapy is weird but if it works for others yay! So now I tried acupuncture. The typical needles plus heat and the acupuncturist I went also gave a massage afterwards which really helped. Its been 7mos and I still have partial f.s. but I can lift my arm all the way up and touch the ceiling if it's reachable. Its not as straight as my left arm but I don't have any stiffness or pain. I also take supplements like D3, magnesium, glucosamine. I feel very fortunate to recover in a short period. Yes exercises should not hurt but the stretching helps a lot to thaw out the f.s. just go to a trustworthy chiropractor, acupuncture, p.t. or doctor. I don't believe in steroid shots as I this only covers up the pain. Good luck to you.