My punishment!

Posted , 14 users are following.

Well, what ever I did it must have been bad, because a 'frozen shoulder' is torture. If I sound like I'm full of pity, you are right. It's the depression talking. This disease really gets you down. It's relentless. Thanks for all the posts. It makes me feel less alone. I too will add my story in hope that it will bring some comfort to someone. It all started last year when I had my gallbladder removed (full of gallstones) and a hiatus hernia repair (reflux). After my surgery I had severe shoulder pain, particularly in my left non-dominant side. But I just perservered and two months later I was back in gym getting on with my life. So, October there I was getting things back to normal. Taking care of my body, when I noticed a pain in my shoulder and bicep. I had to try different angles with my weight training to stop the pain. I thought, that it was strain from the gyming and it would go away. But by January this year, I realised that it was getting gradually more and more painful and I also noticed that my movement in my left shoulder was getting gradually less and less. In February this year I had my doc refer me to a radiologist who confirmed that I have frozen shoulder and not a rotator cuff sprain. After months of waiting for an orthapedic specialist, I saw one this week. He stated that I have a severely frozen shoulder and that there is nothing he can do for me and that I'm looking at a three year sentence.He offered me a cortisone and saline injection, but said that it may not work. So here I am suffering nights without adequate sleep and pain that is either knee dropping cry your eyes out or a dull throb that makes you soooooo grumpy. Thanks for listening and to you all who have frozen shoulder. May you find pain relief soon.

1 like, 22 replies

22 Replies

Prev
  • Posted

    Awwww Anthea, again like everyone else on here, I soooo feel your pain and know exactly how you feel.............This forum has definately been a life saver for so many of us huni. Its so important to make a stand with your GP & tell him you want another refferal to see a different shoulder consultant - its your right!! How dare he say that he can do nothing for you! Utter rubbish!!!! Go back and ask for 2nd consultation with diff surgeon.........You cannot put up with this for the next number of years - it will destroy you love!!! You will get soooo much brilliant advise & support on here - everyone here is in the same boat..........Its such a depressing, debilitating condition (& belive me I have been in the darkest of places suffering with this) - everyone on here wishes everyone cured & pain free.............There is light at the end of the tunnel huni - its a long tunnel but there is deffo light at the end smile

    Sending you gentle hugs xx

  • Posted

    Oh my gosh- you guys are making me feel so much better just reading your posts!!! Please can we all fly in and meet together and drink wine and console each other??!! Lol.... My pain started about 3 months ago, waking me up at night and has just gradually gotten worse. The more I move it and the more people "evaluate" my pain the worse it hurts sad I got a cortisone injection about 3 weeks ago that did nothing. I go to PT twice a week and he is manipulating my shoulder which is incredibly painful, but seems to think it is helping with my range of motion? ( I just want to wear a sling all the time!!) My question is- I guess I'm not sure what "stage" I'm in? And should I expect to gradually lose range of motion as time goes on? I feel like I could almost live with that if only the pain would go away! Oh, the other thing I wanted to mention is that I take Trazadone at night to help me sleep. It's actually an anti-depressant ( we could all use that!) I've been taking it for quite a while anyway, but I upped the dose with the whole shoulder thing and it definitely helps at night. I was also prescribed a "Tens" machine         ( electric massage vibrations) that does help when I use it. No real relief once I take it off, but kind of nice as a change from heat or ice. Thanks for listening- hoping to learn more from all of you smile
  • Posted

    Hi guys. Well its been 6 weeks since i had the 2nd steroid and the pain is back. The hydridilitation i should have,had last week i now have to wait til june/july. Im annoyed as i took this week off to recover! But im in so much pain again its awful. i will try and see doc today and get more painkillers to at least help me sleep at night.i was up at 3, 6, 8 and now just woke again..so will give up and take a hot shower. I have physio tonight, oh such joy! Lol I wish i could wake up and it be gone...like it appeared. So fed up with it. Hope u all feel some relief soon. Oh i would say my pain has gone back to a dull aching all day at a 7 with odd 9 or 10s. Compared to a nil with occasional 7s two weeks ago! xx
  • Posted

    Hi everyone in the frozen shoulder toture chamber. It's been 9 months since this all started. Well October really 2014 I noticed the begining of pain in my left shoulder. So, here is an update. So...9 months down and I am truly thawing. I've not gone to physio, nor had any intervention.. I've basically ignored all advice (not like me), but truly felt deep within my core that this pain needs recover. I admit that I've cleaned up my act in terms of diet, which drove to a large degree inflammation in my  body, i.e. in the shoulder joint. For example, I've cut sugar (every now and again I'll have a very small naughty treat ), have omega oil capsules and multi-vitamin. I've also take probiotic (pretty high percentage of acidophyllis) for gut health. Lots of water too. My research suggest that my body is getting inflammed and the shoulder is a great place, because blood flow is heavily reduced purely by nature of its anatomy. I started feeling a slight lessoning of pain in my elbow and thumb joint (refered pain) and reduced pain in my bicep and forearm. I thought at the time (like always) that reduced pain usually follows increased pain. Almost as if my body takes a couple days break from chronic pain to slightly better, but this time I noticed that the pain did not increase. I also discovered during this period that I had possibly entered the last phase of the frozen/beginning phase of thaw. My own diagnosis (amateur guess really based on my experienc with this disease). I also noticed that I could touch my right buttocks with my left hand (couldn't even reach that side) and I could touch just ever so slightly above buttocks towards my bra strap. Sleeping so much better. I literally grasp a pillow (fairly stiff- foam like one) in a bear hug. I'm quite slight of build, so a pillow is sufficient. A larger built person may need a bigger pillow. But one where the arm will be held by the pillow...as in over the top. It also stablises me and prevents me from rolling over or moving too much. That has, I think, sped up my recovery and with more sleep the body will heal faster (I'm lead to believe). This is June..now in August, I've started my own physio. The reason being is that I want to work within my pain zone and not have a specialist or other person, e.g, physio decide how much or how often. I did some research around recovery for swimmers and rotator cuff tears (shoulder flexibility, etc). I find front movement easier now and back movement greatly improved. Side movement outward is still tough, but my lovely 10 year old son patiently holds my arm out to the side and slowly moves it up over his head with my direction. He and I can feel the scar tissue popping or snapping type sounds. It's so weird!! I immediately stop and lower arm slowly when the my pain threshhold is reached. I do this exercising only Saturday and Sunday and I'm finding huge relief already. My side movement is greatly improved. Well dear fellow sufferers...hope I've given you hope. I've really taken the  less pain approach and I'm truly on the recovery. Not sure right now is I've some how made the right choice. I just know that it was the right choice for me and having a 3 sentence to thaw (as per my specialist), I feel that 9 months at this phase is really brilliant and I couldn't be more pleased. Please let know what you think, how you doing and all that jazz. Almost a two arm hug coming your way.
  • Posted

    Hi there anthea 

    so sorry to here your in pain with fs I have had this vile condition since last December the pain has been horrendous but 5 weeks ago I had a guided cortisone injection which was very very painful could not move for 48 hrs then the pain subsided to about 40% manageable with pain relief. 4 weeks on can sleep about 6 hrs a night instead of sleeping upright in an armchair.i feel much better and hopefully will stay this way until the second phase starts. I would recommend the procedure I hope you are much better now and on the road to full good health. Gentle hugs for you 

  • Posted

    Morning everyone, just had arthroscopic capsular release on my left shoulder. Back to work a couple of days later. The surgeon said it would be good therapy. Not sure about that but Ive mentioned this chap on a previous thread and would urge everyone to look at his website. Check out the London Upper Limb Unit.. He gives a wealth of information about all shoulder problems especially FS. Puts a lot of myths to bed, and suggests a route to him via the NHS. Worked for me. Two weeks to see him then two week wait for surgery. Good luck
  • Posted

    hi, I tried physio, deep tissue massage, stretching with some relief. One day I woke up with my shoulder completely frozen and in so much throbbing pain. I contacted an osteopath who tried stretching my arm out.  she refered me to a well reknown chiropractor in Canada who specializes in shock wave therapy.  I was desperate so I went. He has a three point program- yes, expensive and not covered- but you are an important investment. he was willing to give %10 off if paying for two sessions at a time. I'm on session 6 after the past 3 weeks.  $75 a time otherwise.  

    Sessions last about 15 minutes.  time breakdown consists of- 10 minutes of acupuncture, 5 minutes of intense shock wave therapy which is suppose to break down the scar tissue and encourage the area to start healing again- do not take an anti-inflamatory- and then manipulation and stretching.  First few appointments I was in so much pain.  I declined pain killers bc of the type of work I am in.  I found extra strength tylonel thank goodness worked and the topical Bell roll on pepper cream joint relief worked at night with heat.  I had to practice hanging my arm and swinging it and creeping my hand up a wall.  I could not do either as my arm felt stuck in several places.  Throbbing pain stopped and mild aching only.  Third and fourth session started to be able to reach my arm up and out.  Now on 6th, still some aching bc of some postural issues- almost full movement in arm.  Was recommended to take some joint lubricant - one type has shellfish so I couldn't take it bc of an allergy- I will start taking it tomorrow.  I was told to avoid a cortesone shot as it just masks problem and does not treat actual problem.  I am hoping that this therapy continues to be successful and is not as frequent. I would recommend the investment as it apparently cuts the recovery time in half and helps with the ability to unfreeze shoulder much sooner. I wanted to share bc I did not see much on this.  All the best.

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.