How many opted to "Leave it Alone"?
Posted , 14 users are following.
In 2008, I developed FS after a rotator cuff injury. I spent months, and months, doing painful physiotherapy. One day, I discovered a research study that suggested:
- FS resolved on it's own
- Aggressive physiotherapy might exacerbate the problem
I stopped all physiotherapy, stretching, etc and the issue resolved in appx 5-6 months.
Last week, I was dx with FS in the other shoulder. Sports medicine doc heard my story, and agreed that this will resolve on it's own. However, if the pain and fatigue becomes too unbearable, he would perform a Hydrodilatation injection. He claims a 90% success rate (along with 3 weeks of aggressive physiotherapy).
Right now, I'm into my 2nd, maybe 3rd month with FS. I've opted to leave it alone, for now.
How many people opted to leave their FS alone and allow things to play out naturally?
4 likes, 22 replies
cindy75839 isadore58168
Posted
My left shoulder was frozen in July. I was offered the hydro shot, but I was told it was painful. So I opted for PT, in a non-aggressive method and 2 1/2 months, I had 95 percent mobility pain. I also did acupuncture, which helped reduce pain and help with sleeping.
I believe it will resolve itself, but I would rather do PT and recover sooner. The key is the right PT.
isadore58168 cindy75839
Posted
And I was told it was not painful - that the area was frozen, and the injection was more "pressure" feeling than anything else.
So much contradictory information about this condition!
In 2009, I tried acupuncture, physio, ultrasound and massage therapy... nothing worked, but time. Guess we all react differently to each intervention.
Cheerio isadore58168
Posted
Isadore, wishing you pain free days ahead.
I was making good progress on my own, but thought the process would be faster with physiotherapy. Wrong! He believed in treating it very aggressively, pushing my hand behind and up my back. Totally brought me to my knees and undid all the progress I had made. I couldn't regain any range of motion after that for the longest time. Pain was 24/7. I decided not to continue physiotherapy and returned to my more gentle approach.
Also, someone posted here that within 2 weeks of becoming a cab driver he had considerable improvement so I mimicked the same motions of a cab driver. Examples: 1. Imaginary seat belt: hand up to painful shoulder and down across body to opposite hip. 2. Toll gate or paying parking: turn hand palm up & push hand away from side as if handing money to someone. 3. Hands on steering wheel at 3 & 9. Turn back and forth to 12 & 6. 4. Closing/opening door with palm down & pushing hand in and out at hip level.
In the beginning, I had to hold my hand with the other and gently move it through the motions, gently increasing range over time. I left backward motions, hands on hips, and hands in pockets for last after I had regained all the other first. I have regained full range now without surgery, injections or physio.
I hope you do, too, with whatever method you choose. Best wishes as you recover.
sarah72785 isadore58168
Posted
ive had two hyrdodilations done, and one was excruciating and the other only mildly painful. the excruciating one was done at the height of the painful stage. for me, tge procedure does work, but unfortunately it comes back. the underlying disease process (inflammatory/immune attack on your shoulder) is still taking place. the hydrodilation just breaks up adhesions and replaces the lost joint fluid. for me, it was still worth it for pain relief alone.
isadore58168 sarah72785
Posted
@sarah72785 - I was wondering about his quote of 90%. My wife's a physician, and she encouraged me to ask a follow-up question: "Does the 90% success rate refer to the short-term i.e. few days/weeks post procedure, or long-term i.e. Resolves FS issue completely.
Sounds like your experience is the former.
Do you think the procedure provides quick relief but prolongs the FS process?
sarah72785 isadore58168
Posted
the problem is they dont follow the patients very long. in Canada it is done by a radiologist, and unless we go and follow up again with primary care they wont know it came back. i really dont feel that hydrodilatation prolings the procedure. ive had it in both shoulders so can compare. mine came back 3 months later, but still, it was worth it for the relief from incredible pain. i should mention it too that the longer you wait, the less well it works. when i was more advanced into the frozen stage, they could only get less than half the amount of saline in that they could get in early on (20mls vs 50).
isadore58168 sarah72785
Posted
in Canada it is done by a radiologist, and unless we go and follow up again with primary care they wont know it came back>
I'm in Canada, and the sports med doc I spoke with stated that he does the procedure (alternatively, you can also do it in hospital).
madiniah33615 isadore58168
Posted
I have left it alone.. For pain I resorted to cortisone injection and high pain killers.. And it was healed in about 2 yrs completely.. Now I have it in my left arm.. Not as painful but the range of movement is limited.. Because it's my left arm I could go about my day without using it much
isadore58168 madiniah33615
Posted
Same here. First one resolved in appx 2 years (My dominant shoulder), this one is my non-dominant arm, but more painful due to bicep tendonitis.
socmoe isadore58168
Posted
After having 5 months of aggressive PT, massage therapy, acupuncture, TENS unit, 2 cortisone shots, heat, ice, you name it, I finally opted to leave it alone and heal on its own. Best decision I made. Now 18 months later, pain is completely gone (it was completely gone a few months after I stopped everything) and range of motion is maybe 75-80% back. The big thing is NO PAIN. Hallellujah! Good luck!!
maria58274 isadore58168
Posted
After a bad experience with physio - which seemed to make mine worse - I opted for hydrodilatation (as it seemed least invasive) for my first frozen shoulder in 2015 and documented my experience on here:
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/hydrodilatation-my-experience-489438
When I started with a second one, I got the hydrodilatation done much earlier and with gentle, non-agressive physio, the frozen shoulder did not develop any further and saved me months of pain, not sleeping, etc. Neither was painful - just a little discomfort for a moment and the whole procedure was over in less than 15 minutes. As my consultant said - the good news is I only have 2 shoulders and it's highly unlikely to occur again, otherwise I'd have no hesitation in having it done again. Good luck, whatever you decide to do!
isadore58168 maria58274
Posted
@maria58274 - Yes - I read your thread before I was officially dx with FS. I found your advice and story quite helpful.
For the time being, I'm going to leave it alone and monitor. Will consider hydrodilatation if pain or fatigue becomes too cumbersome.
shazza4 isadore58168
Posted
hi ive a fs from April last year. ive had 2 xrays, 2 ultrasounds a cortisone etc . im on lots of painkillers atm and attending physio. my last appointment at the hospital the dr told me sometimes phsio does not work and if in my case it doesnt he will perform hydrodilation. my phsio has now told me that my arm has gotten worse and so therefore shes referring me for the hydrodilatation. cant wait to get some movement back. its been a nightmare. im still doing my stretches though until i get a date x
taffypot isadore58168
Edited
I left mine, had really bad few months with pain at sleep, but now 8 months on, movement coming back and pain significantly reduced.
Shalbourne isadore58168
Posted
I think you guys are amazing. I'm booked in for hydrodilatation in 3weeks. The pain is excruciating at night and i have barely slept lost so much weight and exhausted. Naproxen doesn't really help. My only hope is this procedure . I just hope that having to wait in the NHS system hasn' t caused more problems. I couldn't imagine waiting 2 years for the pain to go. Wikipedia has the best write up on this condition and i wished my doctor had listened to me earlier to get the treatment plan going. Ive had 4 children naturally and i can safely say that the pain is almost as bad.
cindy58454 Shalbourne
Posted
Being too nervous about surgery, I opted to wait it out. I did 2 rounds of physical therapy - 10 sessions each at different places - which I believe just made things worse. Each time the pain was excruciating yet each therapist said some version of no pain no gain. I finally listened to my body and stopped.
Overall it was about 18 mos from start to finish but I can gladly say my arm has all mobility back and no pain!
I can understand those that opt to have a procedure however. Everyone's situation is different but if you can tolerate the pain and be patient, it may resolve on its own.
Hang in there!
socmoe cindy58454
Posted
Once I opted to leave it alone after 6 months of pretty intense treatment, I started to heal. It took a few months but I was pain free and eventually got back about 75% rom. I would like more but grateful I am not in constant pain and can sleep pain free (well except the hot flashes keeping me awake!).