Hydrodilatation - my experience
Posted , 76 users are following.
I've decided to start another thread on here to document my experiences with Hyrodilatation (also spelled Hydrodilation or known as Arthrographic Distension) and how well it works for me over the next few weeks or so.
A brief background, in case anyone didn't read my original thread. I started with odd pains in my shoulder in spring, this year, with no apparant cause and I assumed I'd just pulled a muscle or something like that and hoped it would go away on it's own. It got worse over the summer and I also started to lose movement. I had the usual excrutiating pain on knocks or jerks and aches right down my arm. Pain, lack of sleep and loss of movement finally drove me to the GP in September where I was diagnosed with a frozen shoulder. I managed to seek physiotherapy with Bupa (or I'd still be on the NHS waiting list) and was recommended by a physio to see a consultant with a view to Hydrodilatation.
I had my Hydrodilatation this afternoon - 14th December. A few hours on and I'm feeling fine. I was very nervous but the procedure itself went well and took 15-20 minutes in total. I'd worn a vest top, which meant I didn't need to wear a gown and just dropped my straps off my bad shoulder. I was asked to lie on my front, with a pillow for support. I'd thought the procedure was done via x-ray guidance but it was in fact ultrasound guided. The doctor explained what was about to happen and did an initial scan of my shoulder area before giving me a local anaesthetic. He then put in the needle for the hydrodilatation, which administered first some cortisone and then saline. He said I might feel some pushing and to let him know if it became painful. There was some discomfort but I wouldn't describe it as painful and within a few minutes, he said the saline had started to leak out of the joint and the procedure was over. He did another scan and checked my movement before and after - there was perhaps a couple of degrees improvement but nothing drastic. I left the hospital with a plaster on my shoulder and feeling fine. He said I might experience a bit of aching once the local anaesthetic wears off but the cortisone should kick in within a day or two and should improve things pain-wise.
Physiotherapy is recommended within a few days of the procedure and I have an appointment with the physio on Friday morning and another to see the consultant again in about 6 weeks. So far, so good but it remains to be seen how sucessful it has been in improving pain and getting my movement back. I can currently lift my arm about 90 degrees in front, slightly less at the side and very little behind my back.
I will document my progress over the next few days and weeks, for anyone else considering this treatment. Hope this information is of help to someone and fingers crossed that the procedure works for me!
8 likes, 220 replies
katey2207 maria58274
Posted
susan35470 maria58274
Posted
Thanks for sharing this maria58274. It will be interesting to hear about how this goes for you. Im currently in the freezing phase of my second FS and decided to act quickly with this one and get a cortisone injection straight away in the hope it would resolve but sadly no. It seems FS are so very different in how they respond to treatment, which makes it such a frustrating condition. What works for some doesn't necessarily work for others.
moira61832 susan35470
Posted
When should I start the exercises? I have been given a sheet of them.
Thanks
Moira
elaine93514 moira61832
Posted
Good to hear you have had your procedure....I still cannot use my arm as I expected too but I have also been given 2 sheets of exercises to do.
They had me exercising 30 mins after my treatment whilst the anaesthetic was working. Slight improvement, but I was told to do the exercises the next day onwards if my shoulder felt ok.
Doing each one as described on sheets but its a slow progress for me with my recovering broken wrist.
I wish you a speedy recovery, it will get better....onwards & upwards as my daughter says😊
moira61832 elaine93514
Posted
It's been a week now and I can still hardly raise my arm at the side and it is still painful, am I expecting too much too soon? I am trying the exercises I can manage and feeling a bit frustrated! !
Hope I'm not one of the 25% that it didn't work for 😕 I' m not a wimp (!) but I found the treatment really painful .
elaine93514 moira61832
Posted
I know the pain only too well. I had mine done 2 weeks ago & I am doing nearly all the exercises they have given me.
It is still painful but not as severe. Each day I see a little improvement but was hoping I would get full movement back immediately. Do keep up with the routine of exercises every day & believe me you will get there.
This is my 2nd FS on opposite shoulder & it was weeks before I could say I had near normal movement.
You will get there it just takes time.
Do keep the arm/shoulder moving...without any force... to help stretch the tight muscles etc.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
sharyn_34048 elaine93514
Posted
Hi All,
So glad to have found this thread where we can discuss our experiences. Firstly, I wish everyone the best in your Frozen shoulder journey.
I have a frozen left shoulder for about in 3 months now. Ultrasound showed mild bursitis and bicep tendinitis. As everyone has experienced, the intense pain, inflammation,
sleepless nights and restricted movement.
The physio suggested the hydrodilatation but my GP suggested a surgeon. Now I know why.
Had the procedure about a week ago and it was the most excruciating, horrendously painful experience. Not sure why that it was so intense. Perhaps because I am still on phase 1 and the arm is so very painful. Yes I could feel stretching but did not experience a popping sensation.
The nurse explains the whole procedure and I asked about how quickly the local anaesthetic would take affect and she responded "in 30 mins"? Ummmm... defeats the whole purpose. Should the area be numbed before they blast apart the joint?
Anyway, she told that everyone that comes in for this procedure, experiences extreme pain.
So Radiographer only got 20ml of saline/cortisone. I was told that he aimed to inject 35ml.
However, no one in the Radiology can explain to me if that was enough. I was told that should be fine. Was I disadvantage because of the pain? Why wasn't I told to take pain relief or perhaps a slight sedation? Like I am already in excruciating pain already and to have this procedure done, just magnifies the pain.
Does anyone know how much saline is needed for this to work?
The cortisone has kicked in and the arm is quite painfree.
Yes I have started physio.
But all I know is that I would never do or recommend the hydrodilatation. I wish I went to the surgeon instead.
Yes I should have done my research but I feel that I was ill informed by these specialists.
moira61832 sharyn_34048
Posted
I had the hydrodilitation done about 10 days ago, I would describe the pain the same as you. It was horrendous. When you have an anesthetic injection at the dentist they wait for it to take effect.
I can lift my arm at the side a bit (45 degrees) but cannot move my arm out from the elbow to the side at all. Still painful at night and waking me up so I am quite fed up. I am doing all the exercises I can manage. Have you had an MRI?
My next appt is 13th July!
sharyn_34048 moira61832
Posted
HI there Moira, I am so sorry to hear that you are still in pain especially at night.
No I haven't had a MRI. Have you? My GP did say although the ultrasound did not report anything to severe. That a MRI would be advisable as it would pick up more. In hindsight, I should have gone with the GP and not the phsyio.
Its not good Moira that its still painful. Perhaps, the cortisone has not kicked in. Don't forget to is a heat pack before doing the exercises.
How long have had your FS? Whats your next step?
I am in Australia. Where are you?
maria58274 sharyn_34048
Posted
Sorry to hear that some of you had a very painful procedure - I can assure you that it wasn't the case when I had mine done and I could truthfully describe it as mild discomfort. Though I was pain free after 2 days, it took a couple of months to slowly but surely regain my movement, which was fine with me.
It's obviously up to the individual and it appears it doesn't work for everyone but it would (and will be) my first port of call second time round. I'd rather chance some pain for about 5 minutes than have an operation with both the risks of a general anaesthetic and the procedure itself and then post-op recovery, which is unlikely to be totally pain free.
As I hinted above, after several false starts, I seem to be starting with a second frozen shoulder, in the other shoulder. As it isn't going away on it's own, I have made an appointment (next week) to see the same consultant as last time. At least I know what it is this time and as my consultant said to see him earlier, rather than later, that's what I'm going to do. I'll probably create another discussion but will also report back here on how I get on.
Good luck to the rest of you - I hope you find relief in the end.
moira61832 maria58274
Posted
Hi Maria
So sorry to hear that you are getting this in your other shoulder, that would be almost my worse nightmare. I wonder if the pain of the treatment was because I was in the first stage, also there was no gap betwen putting in the local anaesthetic and the saline. I am not at all squeamish, don't mind injections. but the pain was unbelievably bad.
Pity it wasn't no pain no gain!!!
Hope you get a good result x
darcifurmama sharyn_34048
Posted
Hi Sharyn,
How are you doing now?? Hope your FS has healed!
I too had a similar experience with Hydrodilatation; it was excruciatingly painful. The most pain I've ever experienced. Smh. Went straight to Physical Therapy following Hydro and continued for 3 mo. Regained 20% ROM and some pain relief for several weeks post hydro, however, the pain intensified after several weeks and then stopped making gains. MRI showed no tear, just very severe case of FS. At this point I am deciding between repeating Hydrodilatation or MUA with arthroscopic capsular release. Met with the surgeon today and he was not too reassuring with regards to recovery time and pain levels post surgery. I am just ready to get my arm moving again and tired of being in pain, as I know so many of you can relate to!
Has anyone had MUA and arthroscopic capsular release for FS? If so, what was it like? Pain post surgery? Recovery time? ROM now?
Thank you Maria & all of you for sharing your stories! Hope you all are doing well & so grateful I found this forum!
maria58274 darcifurmama
Posted
Sorry to hear it's had limited success for you - unfortunately it doesn't seem to work for everyone. Can I ask if the needle for the procedure went through the front or back of the shoulder? When I had my second one done, I asked the doctor why some people seem to find it very painful and others (like me) not. Apart from simple differences between people, he said that when they first started doing this procedure, they put the needle through the front of the shoulder and this proved more painful - when they changed to doing it through the back, it was much less painful for most patients.
With my first (very badly) frozen shoulder the cortisone lasted much longer, to the point I never really noticed it wearing off. It did, however take longer to gradually get my ROM back but as I wasn't in pain, it didn't bother me. The second time round, I got treatment much earlier, so didn't lose too much ROM. I felt the cortisone wear off after a couple of months but as I'd already got most of my ROM back, it wasn't such a problem. If I overdid things, I'd get a mild ache for a day or two but nothing like the pain from before.
I'm afraid I cant advise on arthroscopic capsular release - I don't think it is necessarily combined with MUA over here. My physiotherapist had this done when hydrodilatation didn't work well for her frozen shoulder - mainly, as she admitted, she left it late for treatment and was badly frozen but also as she needed to regain her movement for her job. She found it worked well for her but I can't comment on recovery time, etc. I do know that in some places (Australia?) they routinely do 2 hydrodilatation procedures, 6 weeks apart. They must find a benefit for doing it with way, so it might be worth considering this before surgery.
Good luck, whatever you decide to do - let us know how you get on.
CynCash sharyn_34048
Posted
Now I was just diagnosed with FS in right shoulder, ortho is recommending hydrodialation. I am very leery to do it, or really anything since my left shoulder has improved over time with rest and as much movement as I am able to do. Thanks!
katey2207 maria58274
Posted
I am going to have my 2nd Hydro jab on Tuesday... as my movement has not gotten any better... pain is bearable but am still on Endone at night as it aches and stops me sleeping... Let's hope this one helps me a little bit better, if it doesn't I don't think I would go for another. I am doing all my passive stretching and have seen my Osteo twice....but still no extra movement.
Am unsure as to why my Hydro didn't hurt when I had it done, yet others say it was agony having it done......
elaine93514 katey2207
Posted
Hi Katey
I had hydro 3yrs ago on left shoulder..felt a pop & after physio for few months things got back to near normality.
However had hydro 3 weeks ago on right shoulder but didnt feel a pop this time & things dnt feel a lot better, although some movement back.
Feel deflated as I still have a lot of pain & problem from a broken wrist 7 months ago.
Im seeing my specialist about my shoulder next week so will be mentioning my concerns.
Hope you get some further help for yours because its so debillitating & frustrating when doing all required to increase movement.
Good luck & I pray it works for you next time...
katey2207 elaine93514
Posted
Hi Elaine and Maria,
I am in Australia and it seems to be the norm to have up to 3 hydro's a month apart ... maybe this is something you can ask your referring doctor or physio about ... Also I use an osteopath not a physiotherapist.... I prefer osteo ... they have been very helpful with my tennis elbow and osteoarthritis in my neck. Anyway will keep you posted after treatment on Tuesday.
elaine93514 katey2207
Posted
That's interesting to know...nobpdy mentioned oesteopath only physiotherapist.
I have seen mine twice since the procedure 3 wks ago & was told they do not need to see me unless I feel somethings wrong!!
Well, I have some movement but cannot raise my arm to do my hair etc. I decided to pay to visit a chiropractor...dnt know if its the wise choice but hopefully will get some more movement.
Just gets you down especially all the time & effort you put into your recovery.
Somehow I dnt think this hydro has worked on the front of my shoulder. Does anybody experience clicking or grinding kind of feeling when raising their arm.
Good luck on your recovery...
moira61832 elaine93514
Posted
Good luck to everone else xx
moira61832 katey2207
Posted
I think, as awful as the treatment was, I could have done with a second hyrodilitation to fully release the capsule. It seems like your hospital is better organised - I can see me having to have this again but meantime I will have to go back on the waiting list. I am in UK!
elaine93514 moira61832
Posted
Im with you there...being able to drive & doing my own hair. I will probably get in touch with the specialist who did the hydro because something is not right with my shoulder since the procedure.
Its been a nightmare of a journey but I hope to be pain free SOON!! All the best to you, it sure helps when other sufferers talk about their experience....means Im not a hypochondriac😊
norma1847 elaine93514
Posted