Frozen shoulder - choices of treatment

On seeing the specialist, who confirmed the diagnosis with the same test, I was pursuaded to have hydrodilitation which I duly had at the end of january (never again!). Following this I had 3 sessions of PT but unfortunately my shoulder had started to freeze again. The pain returned big time and I lost ROM. Returning to the specialist he offered capsular release which I declined because I had decided to try alternative therapy in the form of Bowens Technique. I had 3 sessions 1 week apart then 2 weeks later a 4th. I stopped taking pain killers 2 days after the 2nd session (i was taking neproxen/paracetamol and tramadol) and have only taken them on 2 occassions since then. My GP seems to think that I am at the frozen/thawing stage as the pain has changed (I no longer get that crippling pain) and my ROM has improved.

Throughout I have continued to work (I work with animals) and ride my horses, although I have had to adapt and think carefully about what I am doing, and this, I believe, has gone a long way towards me being able to keep my shoulder more mobile and so I hope to be free of it sooner rather than later. 6/7 months in and life is getting back to normal and although I still have bad days and I don`t have full ROM yet, the good days are getting more and I am now able to do things like getting dressed without screaming.

I believe this condition affects every sufferer differently and there is no do`s or don`ts, it is purely up the the individual person to decide what is best for them. The only sure thing about it is that it WILL get better on its own.

In another discussion on here a young lady of just 27 yrs has told of her diagnosis only to be told by other forum users she is too young. I know it USUALLY affects women between 40 - 60yrs and is more prevalent in people with diabetis but I believe it is not that fussy and can AND will attack whoever it wants.

Thank you for reading my story and I hope you all get through it in whatever way you see fit. I shall be going back for more Bowens every 3 months until it has completely gone and I shall just have to hope the other shoulder doesn`t decide to follow suit. Good luck everyone and keep plugging on. xx

I have heard of the Bowen technique but I don't know what it is. Is it Physical Therapy or something else? Glad you got some relief without going through surgery.

On your discussion above on 1st of April you ask if I am an expert. Well not really. But I know more than most non medical folks. I am an 80

something

year old person, who was called up for National Service in the early 50s. My intake that day was with another 799 young men into the Royal Army Medical Corps. I should say one barber cut all of our hair in a two day period. My first injury was a fractured mandible, my second a ruptured anterior cruciate and thirdly a subluxed left shoulder, all within a few months. The treatments for all was pretty poor and I made up my mind to make sure in the future look after myself as much as possible. Subsequently I have had several shoulder episodes the last being a year ago when running on a trail I caught my toe in a root sailing through the air and landing right on my right shoulder.

It was every bit as pain full as my knee injury. It is now almost fully recovered. My equally aged wife has now banned me from running on anything but flat ground and we now run or at least fast shuffle together. Why I know something about musculoskeletal injuries is that It have attended several universities in America Canada and the UK studying anatomy, exercise physiology and clinical problem solving. All from the comfort of my own home and all for free. Google Coursera. If you have a condition and you educate yourself then the examination and treatment will be just that much better and you can ask educated questions If anyone wishes I shall explain my version of the frozen shoulder the diagnosis and when to begin treatment.

Reaching up behind my back to unfasten/fasten bra was really painful; putting seatbelt on; getting coat on and off; reaching up to high shelves; and the worst thing in my opinion, not being able to sleep on either side any more. The frozen shoulders have progressed now and my movements are much more limited, stupid things that you take for granted like washing under your arms and spraying deodorant is so painful, trying to wash your hair at the back of your head (have adapted by bending down in the shower) - the bra problem I solved by fastening at the front first, then swivelling it round and carefully putting my arms into the straps, then reversing to get it off. Getting my top off over my head is comical if anyone could see me and the ridiculous positions I have to get into! I have a top tip for getting your coat on - I jump up and down to 'shrug' it on :-))

Anyhow, after 3 months of struggling, I finally went to the doctor who diagnosed rotator cuff injury and sent me for blood tests first to rule out rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid. Also saw a physiotherapist who was adamant that my symptoms were rotator cuff injury to both shoulders (probably from the moving of heavy furtniture) Then I was sent for ultrasounds on both shoulders - results were - left shoulder rotator cuff tear and inflammation, right shoulder no evidence of any problem (which is weird because my right shoulder is more painful at the moment).

Then did some research on the net, and found a consultant osteo who specialises in shoulders. Went to see him last night and after examining me , asking loads of questions and watching whilst I did various manouvers with my arms, he diagnosed both shoulders are frozen, definitely not rotator cuff or bursitis.

He is recommending arthroscopy surgery for capsular release, (one at a time) and he told me that 90% of his patients have immediate relief and no more problems. He also offered me a cortizone injection there and then to see if that might give some relief, but I declined as I wanted to consider everything first before any treatment. I am reluctant to have surgery because of all of the risks involved with anaesthetic, infections, etc.

Now, having read all of the posts on here, think I will carry on just trying to cope with the pain, inconvenience, etc. and waiting it out for a bit, to see if things improve. My worst fear is that my shoulders will get even worse, more painful with less and less mobility.

One possible technique I am considering is the Neil Asher technique - is anyone familiar with this and actually had this treatment? Would be very interested to hear as its a non invasive procedure which I am definitely leaning towards.

It is good to know that eventually, things will get better without doing anything at all, but it seems that each person is different with regards to the time it takes to recover. Am glad that you are getting less pain and more mobility at last.

I believe that physio has helped my shoulder but ONLY once it had started to recover. Where she has been invaluable is in keeping me motivated to keep doing exercises every day to at least maintain range of movement and also keep my spirits up when I felt down.

I had 3 steroid injections whilst it was freezing/frozen which did absolutely nothing to help.

I had capsular release last October in conjuntion with impingement surgery and it re-froze after about a month.  I now have nearly full ROM back but it is very weak and still sore in some positions and with some movements.

Again physio is being very helpful in working out exercises I can safely do to build up the strength again.  I actually managed 10 mins of tennis yesterday & the day before (no smashes or serves yet, or for a while I suspect) so significant progress.

I was offered hydrodilatation but by then it was improving anyway so after discussion with my physio we decided that the risks outweighed the potential benefits.

It has definitely helped that my physio has been looking after me for 15 years or more so she understands my body & me really well. I'm hypermobile in my joints and she continually compares by good & bad shoulders to check what is normal for ME. The physio provided by the hospital after surgery seemed to use a totally formulaic approach and just used a standard set of exercises rather than taking the time to find out exactly what I could & couldn't do and working out exercises that were indidually tailored to me.

Progress has also been by no means at a steady rate.  Some weeks there seemed to be quite fast progress and then there would be periods where there was no progress (or even deterioration) - this is where the physio has been key in continually assuring me that I WOULD recover at some point and that it was important to stay positive and keep doing the basic ROM exercises regardless.

I was motivated to find forums talking about frozen shoulder, any forums, regardless of location due to a case that recently came through the office.  By my own admission, I am not certain if the results will be repeatable but, the patient came in unable to lift her arm past 20 degrees in both flexion and abduction.  By the completion of our first visit, she was at 85 degrees and the neuralgic pain she'd been experiencing in her shoulder was all but gone.  Yes, a miracle cure, and skepticism is welcome and expected.  My treatment was based on the OTZ method which I watched and learned about at a continuing education seminar.  If you google OTZ adjustment, you can find more information and possibly find a practitioner in your area.  I am in no way, shape or form affiliated with the doctors who teach OTZ, I simply watched what they did and applied it.  I did not take their course or even speak directly with any of the presenters during the seminar.  

And for anyone else reading, I welcome replies, positive and negative as I truly want to know if anyone else has experienced a spontaneous recovery.  My goal being a reproducible outcome for others.

Regards