Menopausal Frozen Shoulder
Posted , 99 users are following.
Any ladies with frozen shoulder who are peri menopausal/menopausal and not on HRT should have a serious chat with a (preferably female) GP.
I suffered for ages (two male GP's dismissed the idea of it being hormonal) before being diagnosed with menopausal adhesive capsulitis by a Nurse Practitioner who researched the subject for her thesis. This is also sometimes known as menopausal tendonitis/arthritis. After a month of being on conjugated estrogen (Prempak C) it is like someone has 'oiled' my shoulder. I felt like I had completely seized up and my bicep and shoulder muscle were like concrete. I am now able to do gentle exercises to free the adhesion, and can now lift my arm (impossible for months) to wash and dry my hair/shave under arms etc. Estrogen is the WD40 of the body, and without it, in some women the soft connective tissue goes hard and brittle. Not all women suffer from joint/connective tissue problems in menopause,. but interesting it is usually the ladies who were a bit smug, because they got got to 50/55 ish with no real symptoms or hot flushes - then bam, being hit like a ton of bricks with frozen shoulder. I also had stiffness and pain in the other shoulder, other large joints, elbows and fingers. Mornings were terrible, it could take up to ten minutes to actually get OUT of bed, and sleep? Forget it, being woken with shoulder pain every half an hour.
HRT is not for everyone, but AC was ruining my life. Given that the prognosis for recovery can be up to seven years ...I decided the risk was worth it.
i would never EVER have thought that simple 'hormones' could cause so much pain and change me from being a fairly fit 50 year old into a crippled 90 year old.
Google menopausal frozen shoulder/menopausal tendonitis/arthritis and go and see your GP ladies!!
14 likes, 270 replies
suzettef
Posted
If I try the biodentical estrogen, what kind do I need to address FS?
Is a topical cream better than an oral?
If it works and the shoulders are cured, will stopping the use of biodentical estrogen run the risk of shoulder issues returning, despite the fact that some beleive you won't get it twice in the same arm?
The answer leads to more questions...I welcome any opinions and will weigh them with whatever information I can garnish from the web.
sgssgs Lesley998
Posted
MJTh Lesley998
Posted
I'm back and guess what. I am getting the beginning symptoms of FS in my left shoulder AGAIN
I was so sure ot was all over as I've had it now in both. I am sooo afraid as my young Doctor last time was so skeptical of anything other than a needle in my shoulder and suffering through with physical therapy. PT simply worsens it. I tried it with my first FS which lasted 4 years before everything was normal again. I explained to my Dr. during my last FS that I simply would not do PT again as the last time it wasa terrible. I mentioned different treatments and he shrugged and warned me that there were a lot of so called cures out there but they really were just the latest of ideas and nothing was proven truely corrective for this problem. This time I plan to go armed with evidence so here's were you all come in. Since I have been going through menopause... no more periods, hot flashes, cold flashes, weight gain, mild joint pains/irritation, one or two hairs where a woman doesn't want them (haha) perhaps this time I can convince him to check my hormones. "sigh" I am truely depressed I am one of those rrities whom gets FS more than one.
A quick question, can you get Frozen Hip? I have had my left hip bothering me slightly for the past few months. I was out with girlfriends at a cafe and we sat for a long time and when I went to get up my hip hurt and I limped for a bit before it sorted itself out. My friends commented on it. So now I suppose I should check this too.
Oliveria MJTh
Posted
im really sorry that you are going though this nightmare. Unfortunately frozen hip exist. Im one of these sufferers. I have my story here under Frozen hip or Adhesove capsulitis of the hip. Also in some of these forums under diferent names, frozen shoulder, menopausal frozen shoulder, adhesive capsulitis, etc... and lately few women are asking the same question about frozen hip.
I have a friend that started with a frozen hip then after 2 years she had the second hip followed by frozen shoulders all in the space of 5 years.
Doctors dismiss this diagnosis most of the times. If it wouldnt be for this lady I wouldn never find my diagnosis.
Not all hip pain turns into frozen hip or in frozen shoulder,so dont be discouraged. You may be lucky and could be something else. Is really frustrating, debilitating and painful since you are in you feet most of the time at least with frozen shoulder you can carry your arm your hips are a totally different story. Doesnt mean shoulder is an easy path either.
Hope all the very best for you and like I said it may not fully develop into a frozen hip so do not worry too much, just be cautious.
Blessing and Im here if you have any questions reagrding frozen hip. I had it for almost 2 years now and just like you I had so many treatments something would help so far nothing really helped. Im still limping and in pain walking with a cane and Im only 48. For sure this has to do with hormones is not doubt in my mind.
All the very best.
Oliveria MJTh
Posted
I just have a question. You are mentioning here that you had a frozen shouldet for 4 years. I would like to know a little bit of the process of the begining of that shoulder, when and how long your bad pain lasted in this case. Did it last just 9 months qnd the worst paim went off in a year or you always had pain until the very end so your range of motion.
I would like to know also whatbis the feeling when yoiu start to unfreeze? can yo notice or feel something and is that gradual or very sudden?
Im so in pain and so desperate to feel better. Maybe mine will last also long time. Sometimes Im worried because even when I had lots of diferent test around a year ago (mri, bone scan, x rays, etcc) end everything was structurally perfect I wonder if something else is totally wrong beside my frozen hip. Mayne is just my mind getting extremely frustrated because I see that nothing works for me and is being so long wihout the pain really diminishing.
Sorry I just had those questions in mind. I hope that is nothing else wrong with me since I lost a lot of weight too. I still have apetite but I don seem to be able to gain any more weight maybe because I do not exercise and lost a significant muscle .
Thanks a lot but if you have a lot of pain to answer these questions please do not bother I'll understand.
I hope you are having a good day today.
Blessings.
MJTh Oliveria
Posted
well my first FS I had no idea what was happening to me. It started in October and I was entering an extremely busy time at work managing a high profile project. A few days before I had moved a very heavy treadmill by myself into another room so I thought I had just strained my shoulder muscles and they would eventually heal. So I never went to the Dr. By December my shoulder was 100% frozen ( as in could not move from my side with out seeing stars with pain) and I was in constant excruciating pain. I still did not go to the Dr as my project at work was still finishing with urgency with the holidays coming up. So I never actually went to see a Dr until mid January. (3.5 months of pain and confusion. stupid of me I know). By that time I was in so much pain I could hardly walk as the simple shoulder movement when walking caused so much pain I was seeing stars. That was when I finally learned about FS. I assumed it was just an injury and the Dr. (not well versed in FS) assumed also. But since I waited so long there could be no definitive answer. The Dr I had at that time prescribed an anti inflammatory (no pain killer) and physio, no cortizone shot. It took another 6 months for the pain to begin to subside so I could sit quietly but the PT made it worse every time I went, which set me back about 3 weeks progress each time. Finally the Physio Therapist said there was nothing he could do until the pain went away and the shoulder unfroze more and he actually sent me to the hospital for a cortizone shot. It took another couple of months, with no help from my old school Dr, for the shoulder to begin to un-freeze. Everyone believed I had probably torn my rotator cuf. Now I know this did not happen and was just a coincidence a few days before I had done something stressful to my muscles. It probably did however exasperate it. So in short I gave up on PT. I looked instead on the internet and found some gentle exercises which I never did on any regular rhythm and of course this forum. Thus it was 4 years until my shoulder was completely unfrozen with about a year of terrible pain which gradually subsided. But I never ever regained full range of motion. For instance I could not reach my bra clasp easily to undo it. I could not reach up and into cupboards well. I began using my left arm for those kinds of things. The pain was very gradual going away. There was simply no relief and I learned to just deal with it. To be honest I sometimes wore a sling to prevent it from moving so I could be relatively pain free for short periods of time. The pain only happened if I moved, coughed, stretched, yawned. At least when walking I could tuck my hand in a pocket to prevent any motion. I too had ex-rays and ultrasounds and nothing was revealed as abnormal. Just frozen they said. In short I'd say I had about 1 year of excruciating pain, 1 year of uncomfortable pain which gradually diminished and only happened if I moved my shoulder. The the rest minimal pain only if I moved my shoulder too far by accident.
Then a year and a half ago I got a second FS but this time in my left shoulder. I recognized it right away but waited about 3 weeks before seeing a Dr. I know in this country they expect waiting to see it things heal on their own before a Dr. will intervene or prescribe anything. Just before my appointment the shoulder froze. But this time I had a new younger Dr. whom although still traditional, he acted immediately to give me a cortisone shot in the shoulder which worked relatively well. I had to go back for a second before the pain was stopped and the shoulder began to unfreeze relatively quick. In all it took about 3 months to be pain free except if I accidentally moved further than the freeze allowed and another 6-7 to have almost normal rotation. But I never got full ROM. Bra clasp has been a learning struggle. haha! I also renovated my kitchen and did away with any top cupboards so everything is manageable at lower heights.
Now I have my third FS on the way with that familiar pain in the shoulder and burning down my arm to my elbow and across my clavicle. I was prescribed naproxen first, which did absolutely nothing for my shoulder but took the slight pain and irritation I had in my left hip away. Today I received a cortisone shot and a promise in a few weeks, when the pain should be subsided, to go to PT. So I am scoping out a PT close to my home whom has something about FS on their website, as the last one I did not feel had enough experience with FS and did more harm than good.
Don't give up hope nicoyan. It will go away but yes takes time. It's a very frustrating condition as Doctors are divided on it's possible cause and many if not most simply do not understand it and have no idea how to treat it or diagnose it. My 4 year FS is very unusual and only was so because I was very stubborn, had a very high pain tolerance, and refused to see a Dr. When you see your Doctor please mention your weight loss. There are other conditions with one possible affect being FS. I don't mean to scare you so please don't be. FS is difficult to diagnose at the best of times. There can be other conditions that have very similar symptoms as FS and also include weight loss. But the treatment for your FS is still going to be the same; cortizone shots and after the pain subsides, PT to increase movement and help prevent it returning. Or, if is right for you the hormone treatment. I don't have an answer regarding the frozen hip as I've not really found and conclusive info on it yet and my hip issue seems to have cleared up with the naproxen and could have just been a fear response that I was getting FH. I was a bit panicked that the FS was returning.
Anyway I truly hope this answered some of your questions and gave you a bit more of a quiet heart.
Oliveria MJTh
Posted
Thanks a lot for all your info. I really appreciate it. Now is clear to me what and how long it could take for this pain to go away.
I had around 4 intarticular cortizone shots in about a year the last one about 3 weeks ago. Help me a bit with the pain but it always come back , so now Im basically in pain again. The doctor told me he would give me another cortizone shot in the next appointment but I heard too more then 4 cortizone shots in the same year is not good for the tendonds and it doesnt work as good as in the beginning of the illness, seems like they are not the most effective on me.
I will keep trying and I appreciate so much to have somebody that totally understand your problem. They are so many nice people in this forum.
Well I hope this cortizone shot takes your frozen shoulder away. Please keep ke posted I hope I will be sharing my good news too pretty soon.
I mention to my doctor the weight loss he sent me for regular blood test and everything seems to be o.k. but you always wonder.
Have a great week and once again thanks a lot.
We keep in touch.
Thanks for your encouragement.
MJTh Oliveria
Posted
Cortizone is not a pain reliver. It is a steriod anti-inflamatory. The intended side affect is reduced pain because the cortizone has done it's work and reduced the inflamation which is causing the pain. For your FS they should be injecting the cortizone right into the shoulder joint. I'm not sure about the frozen hip thing so maybe is why intravenously.
Sometimes weight loss is simply because of the stress. Try to not worry too much. Time does heal all .. eventually.
I feel so very sorry for you with all the joint pains in hip and shoulders, which seems to never go away. Keep up the spirit. you will look back one day and say "whew I made it!".
Oliveria MJTh
Posted
My cortizone shots are intraurticular, they have to be guided with ultrasound to inject it right in to the joint. My only worry is that I had too many in very short time and thet say you should be cautios, but hoping for the best.
Yes, I hope next time I just can tell you how good I feel.
All the best to you and thanks a lot for all your info
Have a great day.
Sheila_J Oliveria
Posted
What about exercises for frozen hip? Do they have any or are there no docs that believe it exists?
My hip has been bothering me but its not frozen. The thought of it gives me anxiety since I have been suffering for 3 years with frozen shoulders.
Oliveria Sheila_J
Posted
Thanks to a coworker I found what my problem was since she had frozen hip, after a while she developed pain in the other hip. In the lapse of 5 years she had 2 frozen hips and 2 frozen shoulders.
She is 49 years old going throug menopause. She told me nothing worked for her. Everything went to normal after few years.
Doesnt mean you will get frozen hips, sometimes it just feels like it will but never developes into one.
So do not worry about it. All the very best to you.
many blessings.
kate54043 Lesley998
Posted
At the age of 50, I was experiencing perimenopause symptoms the worst being night (and day) sweating and joint pain. The night sweats would wake me up several times during the night and before going to work I would usually need to change my clothes (sometime twice) just to arrive with somewhat dry clothes on. Always to have on hand a big wool sweater to wear once I started sweating again so I didn't freeze from being sopping wet in an airconditioned office. I immediately tried natural supplements to alieviate the symptoms but to no avail and saw my Gynocologist (male) who put me on hormone replacement therapy. The night (and day) sweats subsided and life was pretty good. I then injured myself while ballroom dancing with a torn labrum but didn't know it. I remember hurting my shoulder doing a wrong turn but didn't think much of it at the time. I just knew that my shoulder hurt and it wasn't getting any better. As the weeks went on, I was losing mobility in my arm and got an MRI which discovered the torn labrum. By that time, I could only move my arm a few inches. During the surgery to screw the labrum back to my shoulder bone, they cleaned out the scar tissue created by the frozen shoulder. The recovery from the surgery was nothing. The recovery from the frozen shoulder was excrutiating. I went to Physical Therapy every day for 3 months. The PT was so painfull that each day after PT, I would go home and take pain pills and try to sleep. I could only work 1/2 days and lost thousands of $$ in wages. I tried cortizone shots with no relief, it actually got worse. Acupunture would give me very temporary relief and some days that is all I needed. I finally quit PT and did the exercises on my own with much less pain involved. The frozen shoulder resolved after about a year with 98% range of motion and 100% within 1 1/2 years. Three years later, I experienced an emotional trauma (the death of a family member) and got frozen shoulder in my other shoulder within 2 months. This time, I was going to do things differently. I did my own exercise regime, and although the frozen shoulder pain was exactly like the previous shoulder pain, I elected not to have PT manipulate my shoulder which I believe exacerbates the pain. I took over the counter medicines, acetomenophen, ibuprophen, naproxen sodium, and fish oil. I also got massages 2-3 times a week as well as acupuncture. This time I was able to work full time with limited time off for taking care of my ailing body. I too have found that my phsician knew little about frozen shoulder and nothing about the relationship between menopause and FS. I feel like a switch was flipped when I turned 50 and I went from 49 to 90 overnight. As every body is different, I have learned that my body reacts to different stresses (emotional, chemical, biological) with inflamation. I found a good Naturopath and I have gotten vitamin and allergy tested and found I am intolerant to many foods and am taking appropriate vitamins and am on a gluten and dairy free diet. Taking gluten out of my diet has given me my life back. I still have joint pain but it is a level that I can live with.
MJTh Lesley998
Posted
I have been to the Dr (remember the skeptic) I talked in length about HRT but in the end am not taking hormones. The Dr. said he would place me on HRT if I insist but felt it wise to warn me the HRT increases you chance of some cancers. He did mention the increase is small but still exists. Instead he gave me naproxen to try and lesson the inflammation. He also insisted I try PT. I refused the PT but took of course the naproxen. I challenged h9im that he did not understand the excrusiating pain FS causes and that I would do anything to prevent it. So he, somewhat irritated again insisted I should do PT
Now I have finished the naproxen with zero results. We not entirely true, my hip no longer bothers me, but my left shoulder inflammation has increased. It's not frozen yet but I know the signs. I can feel the inflammation has moved down my arm to my elbow and across my collar bone even up into my neck. I can take him up on the PT but I am not convinced this is a solution. The more you work inflamed muscle the more irritated it gets and the more likely my shoulder is going to freeze. As I am not working at the moment, I can ensure to take it easy and not over tax my shoulder. so far I have prevented the big freeze, but it's coming. Having had it already in both shoulders I know the signs. I am simply panicked now. I do not want to go through this again. :-( At age 50, today I feel 80. I really do not know any longer what to do. I am Canadian but I am currently living in The Netherlands. I feel the Dr's here are not into preventative medicine at all. The attitude is "if it ain't broke don't fix it". In my case it must be fixed. I insist. I do somewhat agree that taking hormones for 1.5 months to prevent something that may happen and increase the risk of other more serious life threatening things like the big C is not a good trade off. But I do need help...
Ok vented my frustration. Now what can I do? For those of you whom have done PT: Did you start the PT before or after the freeze? Did you find it helped in any way? Any other medicines that helped with the prevention of the initial freezing? Or is help only there for after the freeze?
Oliveria MJTh
Posted
When I started frozen hip it was just a little pain and a little limping followed by a lot of cracking in my joint, then cracking in everyother joint end enough amount of pain in all my joints. I was almost cripple, felt teŕrible the pain in my frozen hip was extremely painful, naproxen didn't even touch the pain. I had 2 cortizone injection 1st one help my pain for over a month 2d didnt really do.anything. I, didnt sleep for nights up Im talking all night even now II wake up 2 or 3 times at night to rub my hip and tendons,. I still crybof frutration, not able tp work any more and enjoy the things I like to do.
I decided to go in HRT didnt take my frozen hip but the pain in the other joints totally disappear. I do notnthink I could it manage without the HRT I hope for not side effects. I read a lot about it and acrries some risks but I was in soo much pain I was able to take the risk. After my hip subside I hope I could start to low the dose of hrt until I decide to stop completely for now Im happy with the decision.
The pain unfortunately doesnt go away with anything and I did anything to my knowledge to help it. Im Talking physio, accupuncture (help with the pain for sure but in my case the pain came bavk after 2 or 3 days of me insisting in wanted to walk as before) I would take accupuncture again. Right now Im going woth this new chiropractor to help me just with tendons ligament and muscle they told me.he is an expert Im willing to try. I had also MUA , this gave me back enough amoun of range of motion but not fully and also had a little lesnpain but not very significant. Unfortunately I think not matter what you try wont fix the problem it has to run its curse.. Unfortunately some are more severe the nothers and I believe mine is one. I dont know what I will do next I guess back woth accupincture just to get some pain relief. Something that really helps is rubbing some oak tree oil in mi hi /leg area and wrap it with my electric blanket.
Lets see how it goes I cant wait any longer but I guess I dont have a choice. I just pray for not pain and I hope I can start feeling that somehow is healing.
All the best for you and keep us posted of ypur progress.
Many blessings
Oliveria Lesley998
Posted
Thanks
MJTh Oliveria
Posted
On topic: I certainly am not in the same shape as you. I am so sorry for all your pain. I'm off to the Dr in the next hour so will update what happens next.