Manipulation under aenesthesia for a frozen shoulder

I’ve had it in one shoulder for over 2 years and in the other for nearly 1.5 years.  PT does nothing (except possibly make it worse).  I won’t consider manipulation although there are different views on this obviously.  My ortho said no to surgery/manipulation and that it’d get better on its own.  I am thawing, though really really slowly.  All the best to you whatever you decide.

Hello,

I did have the MUA... my ONLY advice, and be sure... you are in the FROZEN stage... don't do it if you are still freezing.  I had mine done but was still freezing when we thought it was done, so I lost all of my external and internal ROM again.  but I can move it better than before, and my freezing stage is better.  over all, I would do it.

The procedure is interesting... takes more prep than how long it takes him to do it.  It literally takes the Ortho a few minutes to manipulate your shoulder.  then you wake back up. 

You will get a nerve block, trust me you won't feel it, that makes your entire shoulder/arm dead.  it's completely dead weight, feels like a limp noodle.  that takes hold for up to 24 hrs I think.  Mine was good for 14 hours.  But once you start to even feel a slight pin feeling in your fingers... take the pain meds... double up even... when that shoulder comes to, it will be painful.  you do not want your arm to wake up with no pain meds in you. 

I don't want to scare you away from it, it does hurt but worth it to me.  The MUA pain lessons in about 2 weeks, but I was taking some sort of prescription pain med for over a month.  I took one everyday before PT.  I still take one now and then before PT and my MUA was November 14th.  OH yeah, and lots and lots of PT. 

So do it, only if you are past the freezing stage!!  that's just my thoughts. 

I had MUA on the 9th December 17 so just over a month ago. I did also have an arthroscopic capsule release at the same time so maybe my info is not the same as others. 

My range of movement has improved, from barely being able to lift my arm higher than my waist to now putting it over my head, so big tick. However I am suffering  severe nerve pain in both arms now. I do have FS in both arms and have had the op on one at the moment so my issues may not be related to the MUA. 

I have heard the horror stories about the procedure but I came out of it really well with no problems initially. It did help as I said with my rom and I guess it depends on how good the dr is.

Ask about the arthroscopic capsule release if that is an option. My fs  was so bad they did both at the same time.

Personally I wouldn’t want to wait for the fs to thaw as that would be hell but I  have it in both shoulders. 

Good luck either  way you decide, I would get it done. I did get it done maybe a bad decision considering the extreme pain I’m in now but they don’t know if the mua caused it. 

Good luck. 

I did Mua  / bone spur / release and couple of other things on 11/9

Pain is oh so much better. ROM better in some ways not improved in others.  It is a big commitment with lots of physical therapy- still! It was best decision for me because the nagging pain and no sleep were unbearable,  still look like a Dinasour  but I will take that over constant pain any time. 

Hi Christina,

I am in month 15 of FS. I would say mine, at its worst, was moderate severity. I could always raise my arm to shoulder height but beyond that had bad pain and very little ROM behind my back. I regularly had the down the arm "zingers" that take your breath away and difficulty opening/closing

doors, sleeping comfortably, etc. I had 2 rounds of PT that did nothing but make the pain worse. As a result, I kept up gentle stretches at home but discontinued all other PT.

Finally, at month 13, I started to feel improvement. The zingers are fewer now and can open doors without using the other arm and I can reach behind my back to almost full range. Still can't straighten over my head but it's better.

For me, having read about the complications so many have experienced after a MUA, I would rather see if it resolves on its own in a few more months. My doctor agrees

.. he said that if I was not showing signs of thawing he'd suggest a release or MUA but since I am, ok to wait and see.

So, I can't tell you about the procedure or the after effects but I wanted to share my experience since you are at about the same stage I was when I started thinking of MUA but I held out a couple months and now seem to be improving.

Do what you're most comfortable with. I wish you all the best!

Hi Christina, Ive been dealing with fs for 14 months now when did they give you the option for surgery