Frozen shoulder - choices of treatment
Posted , 53 users are following.
I first noticed the symptoms of FS about 4 months ago - it seemed to come out of the blue for no reason at all. Just as mystifying was what should I do about it - do I go to a physio, GP, acupuncturist, osteopath, chiropractor - or am I better off doing nothing at all?!!
After doing some research, I decided my best course of action would be to go to an osteopath. However, what I would advise other sufferers is to be aware that this can be a very, very long process and can end up costing you a fortune!!
They gave me twice-weekly appointments at the beginning which I didn't mind paying for as I wanted to get myself cured as soon as possible.
The appointments involved gentle manipulation and she would give me exercises to do at home. My arm is gradually getting some small amount of movement back (although my practititioner did say that this was largely due to my hard work at sticking to the exercises) and the pain has diminished (although from what I understand this is part of the disease process and is probably nothing to do with the osteopath!)
In retrospect, I am glad that I sought treatment with an osteopath, but in my naivety I had not realised what a long process it would be and how much it would cost. I am still going to sessions but, at my request, I have staggered the appointments so that they are further apart.
I am now getting pains in the other side and unless I win the lottery, I feel that I couldn't possibly afford to go through it all again!!
2 likes, 221 replies
LucyLo
Posted
jillgrace
Posted
sianna29
Posted
I couldn't get dressed without considerable pain, couldn't wash my hair, wash under my arm pits ... it was hell.
I had MUA (manipulation under anaesthetic) six weeks ago and the improvement has been amazing and now, at last I can function again.
I have to do fairly intensive physiotherapy and hydrotherapy and I go swimming almost every day to loosen it up but without the MUA I am sure that I'd still be unable to move it and still in terrible pain.
It's still uncomfortable and I've had to work hard at the exercises but it was a really good decision. I don't like anaesthetic and would, if it had been possible, have liked to have been able to wait it out, but the pain was so intense, and the inconvenience meant I couldn't work or do everyday things so I chose the operation.
It took ten minutes (literally) for them to 'operate' on my shoulder and I was only in the hospital for four hours.
I am so grateful to the NHS and to the specialist who has helped me. Frozen shoulder made my life hell!!
Angel4
Posted
Chng_David
Posted
sianna29
Posted
I live in England.
I had my shoulder manipulated under anaesthetic. It was completely frozen and affected my being able to go to work. I could not move my left arm at all and it was so painful too.
The operation has worked, I have had to work hard at physiotherapy and do lots of exercises to keep it moving but it is much, much better and I now have about 80% movement back in it.
I'd recommend this operation if you need to get your arm moving again. I couldn't wait for it to get better by itself because I have to be able to do my job.
It is a very painful condition. I had it for over two years before having the operation. I tried acupuncture which was expensive and did not work, I tried exercises to get it moving again but that had no affect either. I don't like pain killers so I didn't take any of these to ease the pain. In the end my only choice was the operation. I now swim nearly every day to keep it fit and moving and it has really made a different to my quality of life.
It is worse in the cold so I make sure I keep it wrapped up when I go outside.
lisa25676 sianna29
Posted
Would you be so kind as to let us know what excercises you do every day.
Thanks so much!
Lisa
judyb
Posted
Unfortunately in November 2011 I began to suffer discomfort in my right, dominant shoulder so I tried to get something done about it quickly. By then I had changed my GP but still nobody was interested in my worries about my shoulder going into total frozen mode. Again I paid for physio myself but although this seemed to help with the pain initially it didn't stop my shoulder from completely freezing and this time the excruciating pain on knocking or jarring my arm seemed way worse than I experienced with my left shoulder.
I decided to try once more to get my GP to help and, lo and behold I count myself tremendously lucky. She found me an appointment with an orthapaedic shoulder specialist at a private hospital but it was an NHS appointment. I only had to wait two weeks to go. Two weeks later I underwent MUA treatment in the private hospital but on the NHS. I was dreading it because the idea of having your arm forced into every direction - tearing the scar tissue in the process - was frightening to say the least, even when done under a general. It is only three days since I had the procedure but I was amazed at the results on the first day. The consultant and then the physio come round shortly after you wake up and make you put your arm above your head etc. I couldn't believe that I could do it! I am feeling very positive but all the advice says that this isn't an instant fix. I have to do 10 different exercises five times a day and each one has to be repeated 10 times. I am now incredibly sore even taking the prescribed painkillers every 2 hours, i.e. paracetamol, ibuprofen and codeine. It is a very tough regime but I am determined to win through because I must retain the movement that the manipulation has provided. During the MUA you are given a steroid injection into the joint which helps with the inflammation but I still have background pain although the debilitating pain I was suffering from before has disappeared thankfully. I suppose it isn't surprising that the exercises are very uncomfortable. Not only am I stretching the damaged tissues but I am using muscles and tendons which have not been used to doing much over the past few months.
I hope to report that I am well on the road to recovery within a few weeks but if anyone else has experience of this treatment and can tell me how long it took them to retain reasonably normal, pain-free movement, I would be very interested in hearing from you.
Good luck to everyone out there with this condition, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy!
alison44235 judyb
Posted
Summeralex
Posted
Slept properly in months and would just sit and cry many nights not knowing what to do with myself. I went to see my consultant today and he is very pleased with my progress although I think I still have a long journey ahead, unfortunately my other shoulder (right) is going the same way and he performed some tests on me and confirmed this, I'm a bit embaresed to say that I burst into tears the poor guy did not know what to do with. E but was so kind and helpfull and is going to give me a cortisone injection to see if we can nip it in the bud so to speak. I totally sympathise with anyone who is suffering I opted to have the surgery as I was already a year into my sentence and I just. Old not face upto another 2 years waiting for it to unfreeze. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. And good luck to anyone who is suffering and I hope you recover soon.
silvia123 Summeralex
Posted
Hi Summeralex,
Just wondering how you are feeling now, over a year later.
Has your shoulder healed completely? How did the process go?
Do you have anu tips, advice on what seems to work and what doesn't?
How is your other arm feeling?
I too am a photographer suffering from FS (in my dominant arm) - haven't been able to work or properly care for myself for months now. Hence I'm considering the surgery and wondering of your (or anyone else's) experience with it and the aftercare.
Hope that you are well and back to life unobstructed.
All the best.
sue27335 silvia123
Posted
Hi Silvia,
I had the capsular release and synovectomy op 6 weeks ago and it has changed my life for the better. FS in my dominant arm started Oct 2015. I got to the stage where I was having panic attacks trying to get dressed/undressed and my hair styling was non existent. So very debilitating and I wish I had asked for a referral sooner. I had physio from Nov onwards, no help at all just too painful, cortisone injection early Feb with no relief. I was at my wits end by April. One look and the consultant said its severe frozen shoulder booked me in for the op at my first appointment, he was amazing. I would urge anyone to see a professional as soon as possible. Although I realise that everyone is different and we are all at different stages of FS. I have been told there is a 1 in 5 chance of getting FS in my other shoulder but that can't be as bad as having it in my dominant arm. Good luck with your treatment and the future, I wish you well
judyb
Posted
Anyway, I hope this will help someone else who is going through this. Best of luck to all you fellow sufferers!
Summeralex
Posted
judyb
Posted
PS: I hear that swimming can be really helpful. I wish I had tried that when I knew my shoulder was getting worse and worse but before it eventually froze completely. Everything else was a waste of time and money but the cortisone has always been helpful in my experience.
Good luck Summeralex. Let me know how you get on.
Oliveria judyb
Posted
didnt really help. Your advice will be highly appreciated.