Frozen Shoulder My Experience and Should I Have MUA?
Posted , 17 users are following.
It appears that I am the lone male member of the Frozen Shoulder Forum. I have been reading many of the posts and my heart goes out to all--especially those in the early stages where the dread, fear, pain and horror are at the highest levels.
I am a healthy 50 year old manly man, not a diabetic and I have no thyroid issues--no illnesses or diseases. I am svelte and in good shape.
The onset of the hellish Frozen Shoulder in my life began about 17-18 months ago. The first 6 months were a true "Season in Hell". Under extreme stress and darkness as a loved one had been placed in various I.C.U. wards I will always wonder if somehow the condition/disease appeared due to stress and stress hormones/reaction.
As my arm froze and I could not sleep I soldiered on believing that it was some sort of short term muscle issue. Hoping against hope as they say--this "denial" continued until I had to prop my arm up in bizarre postions with pillows, laundry and contraptions in a "lost cause" attempt to find a pain free way to sleep.
All my positioning of my arm was to no avail. I would lie in bed disconsolate and demoralized in agony. No amount of Aleve medication would help and I feared to take too much after having seen one friend die of renal failure and another from liver failure after a lifetime of tylenol pill popping.
The pain and loss of motion became so intense that after about 4 months of absolute dark, horrific, hellishly nightmarish enduring the malady I sought out an Orthopaedic Surgeon.
He administered a steroid injection into my left (non-dominant) shoulder and encouraged P.T. His female nurses were surly, mean-spirited and officious types which served to make me feel worse.
After a few weeks of high priced and silly P.T. with a group of "money-makers" I gave up on going to P.T.
I went back to the Doctor and demanded surgery. The nurses were even more vicious to me and the doctor agreed to do the surgery. At the last minute one of my brothers intervened and strongly importuned me to delay the surgery. He feared that the Doctor was merely after some easy "Cha Ching".
I delayed and sought out second opinions. I was directed to a noted surgeon who devotes his entire practice to "The Arm".
Dr. Second Opinion or hereafter Dr. Arm Specialist quickly diagnosed the malady. Dr. Arm Specialist told me that I had a "Severe Case" of "Frozen Shoulder" and that he "Would not do surgery for at least 3-4 months".
The Arm Specialist doctor told me that I had to perform months of P.T. and verify that I had done it before he would even consider surgery on me.
I went to a big strong P.T. lady who worked me and stretched me unmercifully---but it helped.
I would scream and yell as she pulled and tore the Hellish Adhesions inside my arm. The office staff would close their doors because of my screaming. The other patients would stare at me with pained and angry expressions--but I did not care because of the pain and the need to rip the Adhesions apart.
I would think of hardened super glue looking "Spider Webs" holding my arm in the Frozen Postion as my P.T. and her helper would actually "Rip and Tear" the Adhesions as they pulled my arm this way and that way.
I had to do my own stretches and strengthening exercises and movements on my own.
After about 4 months (and several Cha Ching visits he demaned during the time!) Doctor Arm Specialist said that I had regained about 60 percent of my motion.
The "at rest" pain had diminished quite a lot but the stretching pain was still very much alive and well.
The doctor agreed to peform a "Manipulation Under with Pin Hole Arthro" during the manipulation if he felt it necessary.
He said that if he were advising himself or his son/brother he would say avoid the surgery and keep working the arm in P.T. and/or on my own.
He knew I did not want to miss work and he said there was/is no certainty that the MUA would/will work well or at all. He also said that the Frozen Shoulder could come right back and become worse than before after the MUA.
I have waited until now and finally sought out forums and found this forum site.
I have about 75 percent of motion back and the pain is there when I stretch.
I feel that I am not the full healthy person I was before because of this condition.
I am considering the MUA if Dr. Arm specialist is still willing to perform it or if he won't then I can seek out another Specialist who will.
I hope some kind readers will tell me how their MUA experiences/surgery and recoveries went and any thoughts they might offer on my decision on whether or not to have the MUA performed.
The good news is that my Frozen Shoulder Nightmarish Odyssey did improve to a degree from the worst Frozen/Pain stage. But, the range of motion is still greatly diminished and the pain is there when I stretch.
It feels like a full and horrid Super Glue Hardened Spider Web Holding My Left Arm to a certain limited range of movement. If I pull really hard the pain is quite bad and I can feel those Hideous "Adhesive Super Glue Spider Web Type Adhesions" being pulled and pulled.
In a bizarre psychological/emotional form of what Emerson called "Compensation" I have tried to find some joy in the recovery and the process of struggling to get better.
My faith in Christ and God has increased during this episode.
I may have neglected to mention that the onset was "Idiopathic" and "Insidious". I did not sustain any memorable injury and I was not involved in any accident.
I am aware that men are afflicted in about 30 percent of cases and that usually folks with Diabetes and/or Thyroid issues are afflicted.
I have no diseases or maladies and I am very very manly and male.
I empathize with all who are reading this post and who have suffered with the vile and insidiously horrific malady of "Frozen Shoulder".
One thing I try to keep in mind is the idea of Albert Schwitzer the famous protestant missionary convert who said "if you are feeling sorry for yourself...go find some people or person who has "it worse" than you do and spend time helping and visiting with them".
Thank you!
1 like, 27 replies
linda37283 Guest
Posted
You so deffo need surgery - no one needs to 'exsist' with this condition longer than necessary........... You wont look back
cheryl95104 Guest
Posted
Dont waste time suffering, take control of it, you wont regret it.
j41111 Guest
Posted
I found the best think was to get the strongest biggest massager wand and stretch until it is uncomfortable and work over your arm muscles. Try to run down the lenge of your arm and around the back of your neck and around the scapula area (shoulder blade). Invest in a small heating pad and wrap it so it covers around the arm (make sure you don't kink any of the pad. Sleep with it wrapped around your arm. (be careful you don't get it too hot to prevent burns). I found I can put mine on the hottest setting. I have got a lot more motion out of my arm that way and although I can't quite get my arm to go out to my side stretched out or be able to fully raise it above my head, it has reduced some pain. You do have to work your arm everyday at least once. Push it to a bit of pain but don't push it too far as it just will come back anyway,.
I was really unimpressed with the fact that since I have MS they thought the frozed shoulder was unrelated so would help me with physio generally but do nothing to address the shoulder. As to the ms, and loss of movement due to MS they said just live with it, Any loss or any pain to anyone should be looked at as seriously. It is almost with MS you are a second class citizen, your condition is chronic - so go live with it. Because of this attitude I have had to find my own resourcefulness to "fix" or work with these problems myself. I have to say I have gotten pretty darn good with it.
There are a lot of good physio therapy sites on youtube. It is fine to push for a little pain but if they are pushing it too far they may be exacerbating it. I started with solid pain and no movement to some range of movement and pain only outside the range. Like you I am waiting for the painful thing to resolve itself. Having MS as well makes it very scary when you lose movement of something because it is harder to regain the movement when you tend to have a partial paralysis from MS lesions to begin with. I get all the pain and less ability to move.
tammy27278 j41111
Posted
I was searching online to see if FS was common in MS patients and found your post. I'm dealing with my 2nd one almost a year to the day of the one last year. Last year it was my right shoulder now the left. I also try to find alternative ways to help with pain and symptons. I do not want to take pain med's. Just the med's I take for the MS scares me enough thinking what it is doing to my organs. My family doesn't understand how painful this is. I've had kidney stones and I can almost say sometimes the pain I experience with this is almost as bad.
Thank you for sharing - I saw my MS dr and he wanted me to have an ultrosound so I wnet to my family dr to sent it up, he said he thought I needed to go back to the Orthopedic Dr, so a week later, only because the pain was getting worse I went back to see the Ortho..... He is an amazing doctor, I do have to give him credit. He said since I have been thru this before he would let me do the PT at home for 4 weeks and if I wasn't getting better he would send me back to therapy. Just praying for some relief so I don't have to start that again.
jim4114 Guest
Posted
linda37283 jim4114
Posted
Guest jim4114
Posted
At this point--I have suffered with the vile "Frozen Shoulder" malady for going on two years.
I never had the M.U.A. though my Orthopaedist was/is willing to perform the procedure.
I have approximately 80% of the normal movement in my arm relative to the movement I had before the onset of the insidious "Frozen Shoulder".
Regarding the rotational movement at the 90 degree motion--I don't have full movement there either--lacking about 20% and when I force movement in that position I experience pain.
Regarding your decision as to whether or not to have the M.U.A. I will share the following in the hope that the information assists you in your decision process:
My Orthopaedist (he is about 60 years of age and a specialist devoted solely to surgery on the "Arm") told me that he 'loves to do surgery above all else in life'.
'But', he said, 'M.U.A. is not a 100% certain curative action'. He said that he can perform the M.U.A. and when doing it he can peform some additional Arthroscopic surgery if he deems it necessary.
He was very direct about the fact that M.U.A. requires tremendous follow up Physical Therapy for 5 days per week and twice a day---OR RISK THE REALITY THAT THE CONDITION CAN RETURN AND BE EVEN WORSE THAT BEFORE THE M.U.A..
I asked him "straight up" the following question---"Dr. Arm Specialist, if you were advising your son, brother or close friend what would you recommend?"
He said to me, "I would NOT have M.U.A. now and I would do Physical Therapy for another 3-4 months and see how it appeared then".
He said that he would be willing to perform the M.U.A. at a later date if I requested it.
To sum up my decision thus far--I have done light P.T. and my movement is about 80% of what it should be.
The pain is gone except in certain limited positions.
I have some residual stiffness in certain positions.
My decision to NOT have M.U.A. was partially based on the possibility of further exacerbating and perpetuating a bad situation and on my inherent detestation of going under anesthesia unless absolutely avoidable.
I have thus far wagered that I have 80% of what I need and why "Roll the Dice" on 20% when I could lose more movement and be out of commision to work for a long time.
Additionally, going under Anesthesia (whilst viewed as "routine" and a "walk in the park", or "cake walk" or "gimme") is far from a 100% certain recovery thing.
I have been under total Anesthesia 3 times in my life for various surgeries (neurosurgery on discs, broken arm and broken skull).
Advice is cheap so I don't want to directly advise my thoughts for you.
I will say that I came very close to having the procedure and occasionally I consider the "what ifs" and imagine still possibly having the M.U.A.
I may return to Dr. Arm Specialist and have his updated insight.
I wish you success with your Frozen Shoulder malady and hope you are cured and recover full use of your arm.
I cannot stress enough the help given by a British bloke by the name of Clive Staples "Jack" Lewis in particular his phenomenal short book--"The Problem of Pain".
Sayonarra.
penny54223 Guest
Posted
my goodness, someone who writes essays like me for which I spend my life apologising! Yours are far more lively and interesting I have to admit but incessant pain has dulled all my senses and a sense of humour has gone out the window.
I identify with your problem and decision process apart from putting myself through the hell with a physio.
I suffered an injury - broken neck and damaged shoulder/wrist/hand without proper diagnosis on any of the arm as the neck appeared to overule everything in A & E, not surprisingly I guess. Coincidentally I too then spent months in an out of resuscitation and critical care units in hospitals next to my fathers bed, driving many miles etc in round trips whilst trying to recover from my own accident. The shoulder injury went into FS and I have suffered excrutiating pain for 15 months until the last couple of weeks when the pain has shifted and lifted considerably, ironically when I finally got an op date for MUA and shaving of the bone causing impingement. the op is scheduled for next week and I was warned by the surgeon it may get worse, not work at all but hopefully will cure it and shorten the recovery time if left to its own devices. The pain has reduced by 80% but still no movement but with little pain I dont want to go back to the original pain levels. I want to know if the FS is left to its own devices will the impingement also recover or still need surgery so planning to enquire today. Feel I could start physio (on my own) now in this stage and work gently to my own limits.
The surgeon said never to move it when causing extreme pain.
I am off all painkllers and sleeping at night once more. It has taken me ages to get on the list for surgery so hoping they will let me take a few more weeks to see how it goes before doing so. It is the NHS and not a private option but run along the lines of a private clinic. I have severe wrist and hand pain with my symptoms too and likely carpal tunnel has developed since the injury but dealing with one thing at a time and the NHS has not allowed teh one clinic/surgeon to look at both in conjunction. I pushed to go through a clinic away from my GP's usual referral in the local hospital, this resulted in a long overdue MRI, diagnosis and improved treatment than I would have got.
The trouble with a site like this is that those who had MUA early on recovered with no problems and are living their lives and not talking about it on forums - but we dont know the statistics to make informed decisions ourselves and also there are good and not so good surgeons as we all know.
wishing you all the best x
I will read the book!
hope4cure Guest
Posted
rath than risk or mobility issue with your should.
jlb1 Guest
Posted
Hi Bobby,
I am also an unlucky person (male 53) as we all are having to put up with the FS pain etc.
I havn't been on here for ages, I can just advise you from my past and current experiences.
4 or so years ago I had FS bad in my left shoulder, suffering whilst still trying to work for a year.
After injections and physio which did not help matters thus I opted for MUA and micro surgery release.
Days after surgery I was feeling OK with not much pain, after which I had physio and also frequently kept active with exercises at home.
Currently and upto a year from surgery, I have no pain and full shoulder movement, back to normal.
I recommend to anybody that I believe if you are suffering bad, cut to the chase and have surgery which will cure your issues in one hit whilst under anasthetic.
Recently I have FS in my right shoulder although I have 80% movement and I agree with some that stress may be a big factor and being unlucky to have it twice!! aswell
I have recently had major surgery on my foot which I am on crutches for 2-3 months does not help matters.
Sleeping at night is a problem although I am used to it as having Tinnitus quite loud continuoulsy in both ears does'nt help. also suffering with dizzyness/vertigo which must be related to my neck/head?
I try not to take pain relief unless I have to as this may help in one way but not in another.
Just try and cope with are issues as best, there is always someone worse off than myself and yours which keeps me going Bobby.
So in your painful case Bobby and others, I advise having surgery which hopefully will be your last shoulder issue instead of long lasting painful PT, injections which does not totally cure FS in my opinion, just prolongs it with little benefit and depending where you are much money.
Hope you get better soon
Jon
jull Guest
Posted
mrsw720 Guest
Posted
Hello bobby07872,
I experienced the same similar situation. Frozen shoulder hell for about 2 years. They first said it was rheumatoid arthritis bc both shoulders were frozen but one froze one year and the other the following year. I was told to to PT for a few weeks which helped and after that was over, the pain was back shortly after. I can say I did not do a lot of the exercises at home but I did Stretch occasionally. Nothing helped. Finally after the freezing phase, the pain faded but my range of motion was horrible and I was finally referred to orthopedic Doc who diagnosed me with frozen shoulder which is probably due to my diabetes and not RA. He recommended MUA for both shoulders. I did left shoulder 1/9/17 and lots of PT immediately after then had the right shoulder done 2/13/17 and more PT immediately after. The procedure went great for both and the PT works but now that the PT days are becoming less frequent, my left shoulder done on 1/9 feels like it's starting to freeze again. The sad part is I went for my follow-up appointment with my orthopedic doctor yesterday and everything looked great this morning I woke up with familiar pains, like my left shoulder is starting to freeze again. I pray it's not. I was sooooooo happy to be getting my range back and no pain but this pain today has me nervous. I'm going to give it a few.more days to see how it does with my PT and get back to you. I will say that I do recommend that in MUA. I'm sure if it wasn't for my insulin-dependent diabetes I may not be experiencing this again but reading on other forums my diabetes may cause it to reoccur again. Good luck with your decision.