Frozen shoulder but severe arm pain

Posted , 6 users are following.

My problem with a pain in back of arm and on certain movement's started back in December, long story short went to physio for a while, gradually got worse seering pain in arm, can't lift now, diagnosed frozen shoulder, been referred now not sure what happens next, had steroid injection already, im just so worried that i have been diagnosed correctly as the pain is in top of arm and it's like a burning hot pain sort of muscle area, I have pain killers plus anti inflammatories, it's really getting me down, is this normal, bare in mind I have not even had an MIR, my arm look a bit swollen aswell, the pain stings at times like nerve pain, is anyone else going through this at all, would love some feedback, thankyou, karen.

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9 Replies

  • Posted

    This sounds exactly like what I experienced and was also diagnosed with frozen shoulder. I did have a cortisone injection followed by aggressive manual physical therapy (ie the therapist aggressively moving/stretching my arm/shoulder).  I had a second injection a month later followed by the same course of treatment and have a lot of movement back (85% of normal back).  No pain at rest and minimal at night unless I’m resting right on the shoulder.  I had the random shooting pains in my back with certain movements at the beginning followed by what felt like nerve/muscular pain all the way down my arm including hand swelling.  Good luck!
  • Posted

    The burning goes with the condition. You may find that the pain changes in location and consistency, sometimes burning, sometimes a deep aching and at other times a more deep hard pain.

    My burning was as you describe, at the front of the shoulder. I never did find anitinflamatories much good Tramacet seems to help my pain at this stage, while it didn't a month or so ago.

  • Posted

    The worst pain of my entire life. 

    Sounds like frozen shoulder. I had injections, therapy, anti inflammatories, Percocet, then surgery to release.

    This has been ongoing since Oct ‘17.

    Ice seemed to help the most, although temporary.

    Make sure you apply ice for 15-20 mins max or you can damage skin tissue from the freeze from the ice.

    Wait about an hour inbetween icing.

    Extra pillows for sleeping.

    I had surgery about 2 months ago.

    The pain is subsiding althoug I do not have full range of motion yet.

    • Posted

      Thanks for the advice Rochelle you sound as though you've had it bad, I wish you a speedy recovery I hope they give me the option of surgery soon, unfortunately it's just a long process isn't it, thanks.

  • Posted

    This is just the same as mine- I began having upper arm pain when dressing, reaching behind last June.  Kept waiting for it to ‘heal’ but never did.  Then a couple of months ago the pain in the shoulder started so now as well as the arm pain there is excruciating pain at front and top of my shoulder.  Been referred to physio next month.  Not found anti inflammatories to be doing any good so far.  Prepared for the long haul unfortunately-going by other posts this can be a couple of years-husband clearly thinks I’m making a fuss but it’s genuinely agony.  Hope we all get sorted soon.  It really does impinge on daily life-I’m just looking forward to the day when I fell normal again.  Good to know we’re not alone in this-good luck everyone
    • Posted

      Thanks deb I just keep thinking it's something more sinister going on in the arm but reading everyone's comments I do realise a lot of people have the same symptoms, I've never experienced pain like this, at Times I'm in tears, got an appointment 5th June for a different injection, can't recall what it's called but hoping it helps, so good luck to you and everyone else going through this, thanks for replying.

    • Posted

      It’s difficult to describe this type of pain.

      It sounds unreal, but definitely is real.

      I saw a guy I work with at the grocery store. He was with his wife.

      He stops to say hello, introduces his wife.  He asks me why I havent been at work. I tell him my story.

      His wife is looking at me in disbelief, because it had taken her almost two years to get over this.

      After my description, this guy apologises to his wife, because I described everything.. the tears, anquish..

      And he said I just thought she was exaggeratingrolleyes 

      He did apologise though.

      One of the toughest things Ive had to deal with, ever.

  • Posted

    Hi, I just wanted to say that I literally feel your pain! Although it is very rare I'm on my 4th rotation of frozen shoulder in 12 years in the same shoulder. Each rotation lasts about 3 years. The pain this time around is beyond belief. It's all consuming, 9/10 on a good day and off the chart most days. I've had 4 steroid injections into the joint with no relief. Just been prescribed 30mg Zapain, booked in for an ultrasound and referred to a musculoskeletal consultant for further investigations. My symptoms include: 30% mobility, pain in shoulder joint, elbow, wrist, collarbone, neck front and rear. Shooting stabbing pains in my finger tips, muscular and nerve pains shooting and pains actually in the arm bone. These pains are without movement. If I move my arm or accident knock it the pain is excruciating. I'm getting about 2-4 hours sleep due to the pain. The pain is so bad that I have been in tears most of today (I never cry). I have pondered if this could be something more sinister but after reading other people's symptoms I think I'm just having a particularly bad episode. Hopefully my list of symptoms will reassure others and I will update when I have some more news.

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