Frozen shoulder? specific Exercises???

Hello Annie 

I have developed FS after surgery the exercises given are as follow

hang you arm down loose and rotate in circles left then fight 6 times each way use your good arm to support say on a table or worktop

Lay on your back and lift your arm up over your head use the good arm to support ,repeat 5 times taking your ,and each time hold for 30 secs to stretch 

hold your arm out in front of you and lift and hold also for 30 seconds repeat 5 times 

Use a umbrella or stick and hold it behind your back with both hands use the stick as a support and lift as high as it will go don't forget to hold each for 30 seconds to improve the stretch each time

the best exercise I have also found is swimming as you are supported by the water and less painful 

it is certainly worth going to the doctors for some medication as a FS can last a long time 

I have good and bad days but the ant inflammatory pills helps no end with pain relief also 

I have now got to the stage where I can go ahead with surgery on my right shoulder as the left is must looser but I have to work on the exercises everyday still 

good luck 

 

Hi Annie

Interesting diagnosis, especially considering that most of your symptoms are synonymous with a rotator cuff tear and sub acromial impingement. Have you managed to rule any of those things out?

I really would avoid trying to fit your symptoms to an Internet diagnosis without checking with a specialist or at least an Osteopath first. Otherwise you're talking quite a risk there.

If you've suffered a previous injury then all the more reason to do this.

Rgds, Nick

I had a frozen shoulder about 10 years ago and I didn't do any exercises for it . it got better after a total of I think 5 months. I went to doctor at about maybe 2 months and he told me what it was and that there wasn't too much you could do about it, and in an information sheet I was told that it would fix itself in 6 to 12 months, usually. He gave me the name of a physical therapist but I never did go to that person. An interesting thing is that the information sheet said to have your thyroid checked if you have or have had a frozen shoulder, and it said frozen shoulder usually doesn't repeat. normally it doesn't happen twice, at least not to the same shoulder, I think. Based on my experience and remembering the tone of the doctor at that time I would say do not worry too much about exercises. the darn thing just is a real nuisance. Until it goes away.

I think I may have read some of the same things.  But the downside to 'letting it go' and healing on its own is that you end up with less range of motion and a better chance of the other one doing the same thing.  Mine is now work related and in order to have work compensation I must follow their plan.  I am hoping that they will at least treat it to the point of lessening the pain at night, because otherwise I can get by, I just cannot sleep!!!

Thanks everyone.  I am now on my second day of Physical Therapy.  They gave me exercises to do at home.  The saying 'no pain, no gain' has new meaning.  I was in tears today.  I had unexpected muscle spasms in my neck/shoulder area after some treatment that was supposed to relax the muscles.  Needless to say I won't be repeating THAT.  My therapist was surprised too.  He said it wasn't supposed to do that.  Hopefully my next session will be less painful. 

Hope it goes well.    

Well, now after 3 months I feel like I'm back at step 1.  I had 6 sessions of PT and things were going pretty good.  I actually felt like it was getting better.  Then I had to go back to the doc and get approved for more PT or whatever..  and wait.  I have been doing the "at home" exercises, but have not been at PT for about 3 weeks.  I am due to go back this week.  I have no idea what is different or what happened, but the pain is worse now.  Nights are torture again.