Frozen Shoulder Physical Therapy
Posted , 9 users are following.
I have been suffering from frozen shoulder for 9 - 12 months. I have been in physical thereapy for 2+ months, with only insignificant improvement in pain and ROM. I am wondering how hard I should push myself in physical therapy? Sometimes I feel like the therapy is making the pain worse, and since I'm not really increasing my ROM, what's the point?
Thank you for your opinions....
1 like, 16 replies
Dee1963 christina35172
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christina35172 Dee1963
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Dee1963 christina35172
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Yes I'd do massage for an hour on your shoulder it would help more. Good luck 😊
maria58274 christina35172
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There are several discussions on this on here and varying opinions - see the discussion below. My personal opinion (backed up by quite a few specialists) is that over-zealous physio will make things worse. I'd be inclined to listen to your body, ease off any agressive physio and instead do more gentle, stretching excercises, stopping if it hurts.
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/orthopedic-surgeon-said-do-not-do-physical-therapy-in-painful-stage-makes-worse--510090
christina35172 maria58274
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madiniah33615 christina35172
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maria58274 madiniah33615
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jull maria58274
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Thanks for idea. I'm gonna try it
jull christina35172
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I also sometimes feel I am wasting my time going to pt and doubt excercise at home but decided that I can't just sit and wait for it to get better on its own. Most of the exercises are to increase strength or Rom and even the ones that hurt only hurt til I stretch it out. When they work on me some of the stretches I have to breath thru but I usually feel good when I leave pt.
sue35966 christina35172
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They should be giving you print outs to take home, showing the exercise and instructions- as this should be done daily- if possible.
christina35172 sue35966
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beverly52803 christina35172
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It has been many years since I experienced frozen shoulder. Until it happened to me I had never heard of it. My GP sent me to an orthopedic specialist who wanted to operate. He said that a type of webbing-like scar tissue makes the joint immobile and it needed to be cut, then followed by intense PT. I had already tried PT, but it was impossibly painful. I was leary of having an operation and went for a 2nd opinion with a sports doctor who specialized in shoulders. He xrayed and examined me (something the other doctor did not bother doing) and explained there were 3 stages: freezing, frozen and thawing and it took anywhere from 1-3 years to resolve on it's own. He did not recommend surgery because those web like scars form immediately and the purpose of the PT would be to tear them so I would be starting from the beginning. I took his advice, but it lasted 3 years which had rather disastrous effects on my neck, shoulder & back. I tried acupuncture, but it was not until I fould the right practioner 12 years later that all my pain disappeared and I got full range of motion back. Some years later I got it in the other shoulder, immediately went for acupuncture and the FS was far less severe and short lived. I would HIGHLY recommend acupuncture for anyone suffering with FS.
People here are mentioning hydrodilation which I had never heard of before. Maybe this is a newer treatment. My doctor at the time told me I was too young for a steroid injection. My sympathies go to anyone going through the pain & discomfort of this malady.
There is a longer discussion on FS on this site that's about a year old, but I don't know how to tell you how to find it, sorry.
christina35172 beverly52803
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Thank you for sharing. Such a painful condition, it helps to know I'm not alone.
Maddie64 christina35172
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Hi Christina. I'm on the same timeframe as you. Began with pain last September and started freezing in January. Totally frozen by June. Started PT again 2 months ao and definitely noticing increased ROM now. This therapist is great, he works up a sweat in stretching me. I recommend going to different places as I initially tried Healthsouth and all they did was ice, heat, and have me do exercises. Now at Attain and I told them I don't want any ice or heat, just exercises and some help with the manipulations. I'm paying so much out of pocket I figure I can make some requests. Shop around and make demands. The best to you!
jull Maddie64
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Interesting I have same time frame too. Did physical therapy on and off from Jan to June when I did mua. Since then I have been in pt first daily and now 3 times a week. I have most of my rom back except for reaching behind me. Today they told me I should take a break and see what happens. Also to still use my Dino sling which I use at home twice a day to stretch me out. I'm a little scared I'll get worse but I can always go back and it will be nice to have more time for other things.