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iv'e now had frozen r/shoulder for 3 years!

Posted , 9 users are following.

Martina47
Martina47

I have now had a frozen right shoulder for 3 years ( even though people kept telling me that a frozen shoulder had a lifespan of only bout a year!) and i now also have, after a scan, been diagnosed with tendonitis and bursitis in my left shoulder, having had this excruciating pain for a good 18 months! the scan suggests that my left shoulder is also on its way to becoming frozen. I have been backwards and forwards to my GP in so much pain and all i've been prescribed is naproxen and codeine, which doesn't even touch the pain. After being referred for physio after 3 years of unbearable pain, the physio was appalled that the GP had left it so long to refer me, hence there was nothiing he could do because my shoulders were so far gone with either little or no movement. He has referred me to see a shoulder specialist and have an MRI scan ( something my GP should have done  not the physio!) Has anyone else had a frozen shoulder for as long as me? and if so what treatment, if any, have you had?

0 likes, 19 replies

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  • karenmarie
    karenmarie Martina47

    Posted

    I'm so sorry and I understand your pain, it is the most excruciating awful pain that pervades your whole body.

    I had a right frozen shoulder also with bursitis and calcification, I tried physio but to no avail. This went on for 7 months, I too was on mega amounts of pain killers that just made me ill and not touch the pain. I paid to see a shoulder specialist who told me I needed capsular release surgery, if I didn't then it might get better in about two+ years, I wasn't (couldn't) stand it for that long so had the surgery, and it's been such a huge HUGE relief. It's not perfect but I have full motion now and just the odd aching in the muscles. I'm not saying you'll be the same but it's worth asking about. I send my best wishes to you for a speedy relief from this awful pain. Karen

    • Martina47
      Martina47 karenmarie

      Posted

      Hi Karenmarie, thanks for your reply, I don't think people who haven't had this affliction realise the excruciating debilitating pain it causes, it just consumes everyday life. I can't tell you the amount of times i've got up in the middle of the night in tears! I am having my first cortisone injection this morning so I'm hoping it will give me some pain relief ( even if it is short lived), but my main aim is to try and get the surgery, it's also what my physio thinks. So I'm glad to hear that the surgery has been successful for you, it spurs me on to want to get it done. Martina
  • briana90135
    briana90135 Martina47

    Posted

    morning martina

     i have exact same problems as you, its been 2 years for me , ive just had another corstisone injection my 4th, as the pain is unbearable and i can sympathise with you completely, its ruining my life,after waiting nearly 9 months for treatment  i had physio back last sept until nov the physio said theres nothing more she can do as i have calcific tendenitis with boney growths (arthritis) that need to be surgicly removed, so guess what ,,,back to the waiting list!!!!!!! so another 6/9 months to wait just to see the ortho doc, they send you to physio and of course it shows you,ve had treatment, so if it doesnt work you have to go back to the hospital. ive complained of this system to my am (welsh minister) its such a financial sham not to mention the misery its causing, my gp told me i cant pay to see the consultant unless im prepared to pay for all my treatment scans/xrays/medication and the operation. so guess i have to take the waiting game, at the moment my level is 1/2 as ive had the injection but within the next few weeks its effect will wear off and im back to agony again, its not right!!!

  • anna_10764
    anna_10764 Martina47

    Posted

    Hi, I am sorry for what you're feeling. Ideally, a frozen shoulder should be recovered within 18 to 24 months on its own, with little loss of motion, but rule doesn’t fit to everyone. There are certain people who are at a greater risk of developing it or may take little longer to recover, if they get it. For e.g. Diabetic or people with thyroid disorder.

    I do agree on MRI; it should be done way before to get an early help. Nevertheless, physical therapy along with pain medications should still do the purpose to little extent. If it is not, then seek second opinion or ask for surgery. It is important to talk with your doctor about your potential for recovery continuing with simple treatments, and the risks involved with surgery. During surgery the scar tissue is released by bringing the shoulder through a full range of motion. After surgery restores motion, you must continue physical therapy for several weeks or months to prevent the frozen shoulder from returning. Treatment may fail if you cannot keep up with physical therapy.

    • caitlin39841
      caitlin39841 anna_10764

      Posted

      i anna. wonder if u could help - u post has been v. informative. i'm wondering what the medical connection is between FS & thyroid problems. i have both and the 2nd shoulder seem to be becoming painful/stiff/weak etc. i'm also wondering if u could comment on 'lazer' as a treatment if u have any knwledge re same. my local (private) Chiropractic says it's helpful?

      with thanks in advance

      catherine

    • anna_10764
      anna_10764 caitlin39841

      Posted

      Hi Catherine, Not only frozen shoulder but almost all other musculoskeletal disorders often accompany thyroid dysfunction. Unfortunately there is very little research done in this area to find out the link between two. Thyroid disease resulting in either low levels or high levels of thyroid hormone has been associated with adhesive capsulitis (aka frozen shoulder). There are reports of Hashimotos disease and Grave’s disease are the thyroid diseases that can cause adhesive capsulitis in younger patients.

      Yes, even I read about laser therapy. Laser therapy treatments over a period of several weeks will reduce the chronic inflammation within the joint, gradually restoring range of motion and normal function. I guess it works more effectively when given along with some exercise plan. However, I would not be able to advice anymore on this, as I have no idea how it works practically. Thanks, hope you get the best treatment very soon.

      Anna.

    • caitlin39841
      caitlin39841 anna_10764

      Posted

      thank u anna. that's most enlightening. it rings bells with my situation. i'll have to do some research leg work to unearth the underpinning medical mechanisms, before i mention the possibility to my GP.

      again with thanks

      c.

    • mamaelaine
      mamaelaine anna_10764

      Posted

      Hi Anna: Why the MRI? my Phsyio recommended it to rule out other problems but the ortho said that they don't use it to diagnose FS because it doesn;t ever show it. I do know that mine in fact did show capsulitis because my GP read me the results but my ortho doesn't know this and said it showed no capsulitis (jerk). Anyway I was wondering if you knew of any other reasons why it would be recommended? My physio (who has also had FS) said no physio until I a the thawing stage because the inflammation is too high to do any exercises and it can make it worse. I am doing small movements but man am I frustrated. I still can't believe that two shoulders can just stop working for no reason and yet they have.
  • cheryl95104
    cheryl95104 Martina47

    Posted

    Hi Martina,  that is so ridiculous, GPs havent got a clue to how painful and debilitating this condition is.  I too have a frozen shoulder on the left with one going the same way on the right.  Went to see ortho consultant yesterday and he said that physio would be useless for me and that without surgery I could be frozen for years and that without it the arm would never recover full movement as it is too stuck.  I have opted for artho release on the left with manual on the right with an injection of cortisone to try to calm inflammation and holt the progression of frozen shoulder.  He is doing this all at the same time, so I expect to feel pretty beaten after the op.  I then have to have lots of physio to keep the shoulders clear and pain free.  Surgery is booked for next friday - am terrified of course, but have only had this condition for 5 months but feel desperate to be out of the hellish pain that has taken over my life.

    By the sounds of it your shoulders are pretty stuck and will probably need surgery.  It is scary I know, but I will let you know how I get on.

    Wishing you well.

    • Martina47
      Martina47 cheryl95104

      Posted

      Hi cheryl, yes pease let me know how you get on, hope the surgery goes well and would be really interested to see if it cures the problem.

      Good luck for next friday. wishing you a speedy recovery.

      Martina

    • caitlin39841
      caitlin39841 cheryl95104

      Posted

      all good luck with the surgery cherry. hope it's not too painful. must agree that the surgery can't be more painful than the FS pain.
    • katie78501
      katie78501 Martina47

      Posted

      Hi Martina ,I always feel so sorry when I read a new post .

      I have Hashimotos and started with a FS in my left shoulder 13 months ago ,I was swimming a lot a the time and put it down to overdoing the fitness .

      the pain from it takes your breath away ,washing hair dressing driving etc.

      I had to change my car to an auto so I could continue to work  and help with Granchildren went to Physio etc .

      i started to feel hopeful and life became less painful,working through it however my right arm started to get shooting pains on certain movements my Physio said it was because I was overcompensating with but I was terrified because deep down I knew is was starting to freeze!

      i got my diagnosis today it has .

      The  point I would like to make I am normally a very fit person still working walking and very active life I have always said to my family I think it is down to my Thyroid,I am convinced of it

      my Doctor just said "Its one of those things nobody knows why it happens ,just deal with it it will get better eventually"

      I know it does eventually get better but it does take 18 -24 months more in certain people.

      i feel so down at the moment .

      You are not alone X

  • cheryl95104
    cheryl95104 Martina47

    Posted

    Thanks martina and Caitlin for your good luck wishes. 

    Katie, I know how you feel, coping with one FS is bad enough but expecting you to cope with two is madness.  I mentioned to my dr that perhaps I had undiagnosed Thyroid issues or diabetes, he just said I would have other symptoms, such as tiredness etc., and ignored it saying 'its just one of those things'.  When I have the op and they take bloods I am going to ask them to check for both things.

    It is such a horrible horrible condition, but you are not alone, chin up and I hope you start to feel better soon.

    Cheryl

    • Martina47
      Martina47 cheryl95104

      Posted

      Hi Cheryl,

      It drives me mad when doctors say ''it's just one of those things''! it shows complete lack of understanding and care for what excruciating pain it causes. It's just a cop out to make a comment like that. they've obviously never had a frozen shoulder, otherwise they wouldn't say such stupid things!

      can't wait to hear how your surgery goes, i'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you that you get the right result!

      Martina smile

  • cheryl95104
    cheryl95104 Martina47

    Posted

    Hi Martina,

    As promised, I have an update on my surgery.

    I hade arthroscopic capsular release on the left frozen shoulder (after 5 months of hell) and mua with cortisone on right shoulder which was threatening to freeze on Friday 13th.

    All went well.  Woke up to find my arm up in a sling and completely dead, a very weird experience, but really nice to be pain free!  They started physio the next morning such as trying to lift arm out front to shoulder level and side rotation from elbow tucked into waist.  Must say I wasnt keen to do any of it as was naturally scared it would be agony, in fact it was fine, a bit sore, but nothing compared to FS.

    Today is day 4 and I have been continuing the exercises every hour with an ice pack after every third one.  I start proper physio on Monday.

    ROM is better but not as much I thought it would be, it is still very stiff, but the surgeon said that although it is free, the ligaments etc need time to stretch and heal etc so it is normal not to be able to throw your arms around.

    Pain - yes there is pain, but slightly different and not quite as intense, still need the nurofen etc though.

    Will let you know how it goes once I start physio.

    Take care,

    Cheryl

    • briana90135
      briana90135 cheryl95104

      Posted

      hi cheryl

       Im so glad you,ve had your surgery and fingers crossed for a posotive outcome, the pain cant be any worse than fs,,, could i ask how long you had to wait to finally get the surgery? ive been down the physio route, waiting on seeing the ortho doc now then another wait for surgery, its effecting my life so much, good luck, x

    • cheryl95104
      cheryl95104 briana90135

      Posted

      Hi Briana,

      I only had to wait two weeks luckily for me I have medical insurance so that covered it, but I think I would have paid privately for it if necessary.  I think physio is useless until you get rid of the adhesions and inflammation.  I dont know how long you would have to wait on the nhs for this type of operation in the uk.

      I know how you feel when you say how much it affects your life, it is all you can think about and others dont really understand how depressing it is, I feel and look like I have aged 5 years in 5 months.

      I hope you start to feel better soon, take care xx

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