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Frozen Shoulder Second Time Around

Posted , 39 users are following.

Th0mkat
Th0mkat

Hello everyone. I am so thankful to have found this forum. I am suffering from frozen shoulder for the second time. The first time it occurred in my left shoulder, which is my non-dominant side. Now two years later, I have it in the right shoulder which is my dominant side. My orthopedic doctor has said that it is very rare to experience frozen shoulder two times. When I went to him with the right shoulder, he did not think it could be frozen shoulder again. I am now one week away from my follow-up visit with him, and I have no doubt that it is indeed frozen shoulder again. I am so frustrated with This painful disorder and I would love to hear from any of you who have had to deal with this more than once. It is so helpful to have the thoughts and opinions from others who have been through the same painful condition.

My first occurrence started just before I turn 50. Now the second occurrence happens just after I turned 52. I'm wondering if most of you are male or female and at what age did you start experiencing these problems. I have had no previous injuries nor am I a diabetic . I cannot understand why this condition is recovering again when I have no predisposition towards it that I am aware of.

0 likes, 64 replies

64 Replies

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  • tracy12563
    tracy12563 Th0mkat

    Posted

    Hi, how's your shoulder now? I have had frozen shoulder on my right side ( right handed) for over 2 years. Nine months ago I had surgery for a torn bicep and the surgeon cleaned out the damage from the frozen shoulder, unfortunately over the two months I had a my arm in a sling the frozen shoulder returned with a vengeance ! I have since had two tries with cortisone and two months ago had hydrodilatation. This helped marginally but I am still in a lot of pain , not sure where to go now .....

    Hope you are better!

  • Mkat
    Mkat Th0mkat

    Posted

    I'm so glad to have found these comments. I too am on my second bout of FS on same non dominant side but with pain on other side as well. It keeps me from sleeping and feeling like a human. I'm 53, and a formerly active woman. Now I find myself to be somewhat reclusive but for my long walks where I try to swing my arms per my PT's advice. I'm going to my MD later this month to see if I have any underlying causes such as diabetes or thyroid but I was tested for RA and Lyme already. In my opinion the night and morning are my worst, I'm looking for some relief desperately but haven't had any pain meds after I had the steroid injection the first time. I'm hoping it doesn't lead to that this time.

    • Jo_in_Maryland
      Jo_in_Maryland Mkat

      Posted

      Hi MKAT,

      I understand your pain and frustration -- FS is just awful.  I am glad to tell you that my second FS has cleared up.  It's amazing how debilitiating a FS can be and how little our Dr's are able to do for us.  

      For the second FS, I didn't see the PT or do all those recommended, painful exercises.  I decided to get a massage targeted to the FS every other week at the recommendation of a friend who had been through this.   It worked!  The massages relieved the pain for almost a week and I was able to sleep.  I most likely should of had the massages weekly, but I had to pay out-of-pocket for them and was trying to economize.  

      The FS cleared after about three months of massages -- I stopped using the tramadol after the first month.  I also used heat packs instead of the cold packs that the PT recommended and these seemed to work much better and relived the pain.

      Best of luck to you!!!

    • barb50217
      barb50217 Mkat

      Posted

      Wow! It's unbelievable how many people on this site are experiencing frozen shoulder for the second time. I had my first frozen shoulder 4 years ago. I was 50 at the time and it happened post-op. Lucky for me, it only lasted 7 months. I am now into my 5th month of FS on the other shoulder which I injured at the gym. I am finally to the point where I no longer have the throbbing pain in my bicep and forearm area. I wish I would have kept a journal the first time around so that I could compare my progress. Cortisone shots did nothing for me. I don't remember physical therapy having much of an impact the first time but it really seems to help this time around. I could use pain pills at night to help me sleep through the night, but the doctor won't prescribe any since this is a long term illness and there is a risk of addiction. I certainly empathize with anyone experiencing this. There have been many days that I just wanted to die because the pain was unbearable. I am so glad that I found this site and that others are experiencing the exact same issues. Good luck to you.

    • Mkat
      Mkat Jo_in_Maryland

      Posted

      Thanks Jo, I'm going to see about more massages in my therapy. I appreciate your comments!

    • frozen_stiff
      frozen_stiff Mkat

      Posted

      FS never returnes to a shoulder that has already suffered from it . Of course it is possible that your first was not a FS and your second is. Or vice versa.
    • frozen_stiff
      frozen_stiff barb50217

      Posted

      It is not that uncommon as you say about a second FS in the opposite shoulder but never in the same one. The gym injury is not a frozen shoulder as a FS is a disease unto its self and is genetic from our Scandinavian ancestors. Everyone with a true FS shoulder should examine the palms of their hands at the base of the ring finger as the same gene gives you Dupuytrens contractures.
    • Mkat
      Mkat frozen_stiff

      Posted

      Having FS in the same shoulder is actually not uncommon. It comes from our natural and innate need to "guard" our bodies-physicians and PT's use and recognize this behavior. I didn't realize I was holding my injured arm differently for fear of reinjury and I unintentionally tightened my soft tissues. And the cycle began quickly.

      Today I tried Gua Sha and I feel hopeful it may help. Upon discussion I started to think that the PT exercises were not helping my injured tissue, rather helping strengthen others. I feel as though I have to work on the injured ones first. Fingers crossed, for all.

    • frozen_stiff
      frozen_stiff Mkat

      Posted

      The medical scientists would be surprised that FS would repeat. Do you have the name of any publications or scientific reviews showing this.
    • theresa77935
      theresa77935 barb50217

      Posted

      Going through the same thing and on the 4th or 5th month of the second shoulder! The one good thing about this site is that I don't feel like such a baby after hearing everyone else's story. Sometimes it hurts so much I feel like crying. Good luck to you on a quick recovery!

  • veloz
    veloz Th0mkat

    Posted

    The saga continues. I'm 54 and am 3 mos into my first FS. What a complete and total pain in the a$$ this is!  The only good thing is hearing that so many people out there understand exactly what it's like. Next week I'm flying to Canada for the "Trigenics" treatment which promises to unfreeze my shoulder in a 40 minute session. It appears to be legit and I'm tried of the pain. Check out 'trigenics frozen shoulder'.  It sort of like MUA but different in a few key ways.

    • tracie24047
      tracie24047 veloz

      Posted

      I have been doing a lot of reading about trigenics, and have been interested in looking into it further. Are you also in the United States? Were you able to get any insurance coverage for it or are you paying out-of-pocket? Would you be willing to share the cost of this treatment? I will really be looking forward to hearing about your experience with this if you would be so kind as to post again. I am at my wit's end with this like so many others.

    • linda48507
      linda48507 tracie24047

      Posted

      I am dealing with my second FS and researched trigenics and found a chiropractor/PT that has been trained in it. My first meeting he told me I was probably too far along for it to work (I can’t reach behind my back). I went 6 times with no relief. Very frustrating 

  • cheryl78077
    cheryl78077 Th0mkat

    Posted

    I had it in my left arm the next time my right arm. I have now got it back in my left arm xx
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