frozen shoulder nerve pain

Hi Maz,

I'm new to this also, I see you've posted two months ago. I was injured in June, it's took 5 months to obtain an MRI before I was officially diagnosised. I've been doing P/T for 6 weeks without much improvement. I haven't had cortizone or any other treatments. I think the MRI is a good idea though, from what I've read, many people have found other issues going on with the MRI results. 

I'm looking for suggestions on how to proceed at this point. I'm not sleeping at night and I'm experiencing nerve impigment as well

just saw your note. Hope you are better now than two months ago. Yes you will get better!  MRI did not see my problem. It showed that I was in spasm but that's about it.  I slept better sitting up in a chair surrounded by pillows. I often had my portable tens unit pads taped to my shoulder and neck much of the day and night   You can get them on line. It really helped me. As you start to get better try a massage therapist or physical therapist who will release your scar tissue and trigger points. Also the only that helped me get rid of the rest of the pain. When locked down your muscles atrophy. They are not happy as your frozen shoulder thaws and you can start using them again. It's a slow process thru rehab. I feel your pain😬

I have just posted about having a frozen shoulder and how bad pain is in neck, shoulder, arm and hand. I had this 3 years ago in other arm and after all the treatments I ended up having an operation to manipulate after 18 months of suffering nothing else worked. Now I have been suffering for 10 months with other shoulder with it getting worse as time goes on. I don't believe it goes on it's own. My arm hardly moves and I have to wait another 26 weeks before I get a hospital appointment. Can't bare the thought of suffering like this for any longer.

Hi Joan

That's just horrible. I did have a cortisone injection last week, that was painful! It did help as the swelling was unbearable. But my arm/hand still gets very bad and having trouble sleeping I don't want to do the surgery until the summer as I teach. I don't know if I'll make it though.

I wouldn't wait otherwise. Physical therapy helps but I can go everyday.

I had surgery 3 years ago on my left shoulder and it was such a relief to be able sleep and not be in pain. I'm on contract work so don't get paid if I'm off but I have to do it or carry on suffering everyday. I told my doctor this and I now have appt for hospital on 28/2 instead of in 26 weeks. I just want relief from this pain. I've had physio and 3 injection and it didn't do anything for me. I hope you can get sorted soon.

I am having same symptoms...right shoulder down my forearm and fingers...about 15 months now...told by a doctor that it can take up to 24 mos...😳 What?

I'm 55 now and dealing with this crap and hot flashes regularly is just too much! I'm about sick of it all.

Had FS in left shoulder first and that lasted about 10 mos.

Anyone know if it's better to not overuse the affected arm...or does it not matter?

CarrieO...say it ain't so! Hope you are doing okay. I am 61 and due to an extreme exercise workout one day injured both rotator cuffs 27 months ago that then developed into FS on both. Always pretty active and didn't want surgery as Dr seemed to be constantly setting me up for this option when initially telling me to just wait it out. MOST frustrating injury of my life! felt like a wimp, couldn't sleep on anything but my back, always applying heat and wearing compressions wraps...it transformed my appearance. Then you get depressed as I could not work out anymore and I tried constantly to push thru ROM with exercise band routine.

However in last month I am finally turning the corner and I am so thankful. Shot hoops 3 weeks ago for first time. Granted I had to stand directly under the basket and was just hitting the net or rim but I had never been able to do this before. So, like all the others that were supportive in forums like this it finally is getting better and boy do you appreciate it. Need to have one last hurrah before I really am old and can't do anything anyways. Do the little things daily and know that each persons body works differently and has a different time frame but that there is an end...there really is.

Good luck and stay positive!

Paul 

Have you tried a tens device. I found a small one and I literally wear it all day. It took a bit to find the right setting but it helps, pain medications do nothing. Light exercise and heat really helps too. The p/t therapist does something called Active Release and it does help.

Hi. I would agree with the TENS machine.

It really worked for me. I have been through frozen shoulder in my R dominant arm , I now have around 95% ROM back after around 16 months; however I now have FS I'm my L arm I'm in the freezing stage with increasing pain and limited movement. On this shoulder I will be avoiding any PT, it was absolutely of no use to me, the cortisone injection did not help either. I used a heat pad and had trigger point therapy I took (and still do ); Curcumin tablets and Tumeric, I tried to keep things as natural as possible. I can't believe I'm having to go through it all again, but this time I am more positive as I know what to expect. I know that there is an end to this awful condition I just need to go through the stages the best way I can. I think we are all different and we all have to find our own way. I wish you well.

Cindy

Hi. I'm 16months into my frozen shoulder syndrome. I am now virtually pain free apart from a dull ache at night or if I try to go past my ROM. Which I'm quite happy about as I thought the horrible , excruciating, debilitating pain I used to have was never going to go. I'm just stuck with an arm that is frozen stiff,( very little movement) which is more of an inconvenience than anything, but you learn to cope. My dilemma is I have been offered capsular release surgery next month and don't know whether to go ahead now that I am pain free. I know 16months is a long time to be without use of your arm, but now I'm pain free I'm hoping the thaw will be just around the corner. Any comments will be gratefully received.

Hi Nessa

I am pleased to hear you have made it through this horrible condition. Day by day your ROM will improve i am sure.I am probably the wrong person to ask as the thought of any operation terrifies me and I said right from the beginning that there would be no way I would go under the knife. What if something went wrong? I believe there have been many discussions on here around this subject and I'm sure there will be those who would recommend to? Like I said I'm on my second bout of FS and I will continue to do what I can to fight this condition in the most natural ways possible.

Good luck.

Cindy, I'm the same. The thought of surgery terrifies me too. That's why I'm hoping it will start to heal itself now I'm over the worst. It's a comfort to know there's someone else with the same emotions.

Ive had an operation for this on my left shoulder and now waiting for one on my right one.  The operation is simple,done by keyhole surgery and a quick recovery time.  I would have the operation everytime the relief after it is the best feeling ever and its less painful then the frozen shoulder.

Hi

I'm curious how long you tried P/T? I've been going for a little over 2 months now and my ROM is improved when I lift my arm up, not sideways or back. After a cortisone shot last month my pain is much better, I can actually touch my arm/ shoulder without dying from pain but sleeping is still a challenge. I'm trying to decide how long to continue, my P/T said give him 4 months. I hate to do that and then end up having the manipulation anyway. I wish there were a clear treatment path.

 Hi Cindy, like you I want to keep things as natural as possible, and I also have frozen shoulder on both  sides. I am almost a year in on the left side and about two months in on the right. The left has improved a great deal on its own, pain diminished a great deal, still limited range of motion, but I believe that will get better in time as well. The right side is in the freezing stage, and excruciatingly painful all the way down my arm to my fingers, neck, upper back, you get the picture.  I also am using a tens unit, seems to help somewhat. I am afraid to try trigger point therapy, although I believe in it, as I have had bad experiences with massage therapists before. I don’t know who to trust. I am wondering, how did your second frozen shoulder  do? Did resolve itself without outside treatment? Hoping you are 100%! 

Hi there, I am nearly 3 years in from the onset of this awful condition. I'm pleased to report I am pain free , my right arm has fully recovered and my left is almost there. I didn't have any trigger point therapy the second time around; I just stuck to my heat pad; tens machine and paracetamol/ibuprofen, and a more positive attitude; knowing that there would be an end. Unlike the first time when you feel like the pain will last forever!! I am sorry to hear you are suffering, but it does sound like you also have a positive attitude.

I have started to practice yoga now to try and rebuild strength as I had a lot of muscle wastage due to inactivity and I've changed my eating habits and I am now Vegan in an attempt to clear some toxins from my body.

I wish you a speedy recovery.

Cindy

Hi Cindy, thank you so much for your response and your message of hope. Good to hear of your lifestyle changes, I too am plant-based, vegan at home and vegetarian when eating out, which is not very often.  I am doing some gentle massage on myself to keep the blood flowing but like you, am waiting it out knowing that this too shall pass!  The tens helps a lot, some essential oils (wintergreen, peppermint blends), meditation and daily walks all help to keep me as pain-free as possible and sane.  Please stay in touch and let us know how your rehab goes as you reclaim your strength. I am looking forward to the day that I can resume my yoga as well.  Namaste and wishing you 100% health!

Namaste 🙏