Newbie,any info. gratefully received

Hi , I like others on this forum know what you are going through.  I am on my second frozen shoulder in two years bad luck for me.  I couldn't cope with the pain either and have a fairly good pain threshold.  I got a cortisone shot 2 months ago and can sleep better now, but still can't use my arm naturally, so I opted for Mri last week and am waiting on results and then probably going for manipulation in hospital only one day stay and then physio and it will eventually go away as it did the previous time.  On pain management, took anti inflammatory tabs for a month and then codeine painkillers at night only to sleep.  Got a microwave wheat pad and sleep with that underneath bad shoulder on my back, cannot turn with the pain. Warm bath before bed may help and it does improve but is quite debilitating.  You get used to doing things differently and make it easy on yourself, also tens machine helps sometime, but my opinion is getting Mua and going forward from that as that worked for me so looking forward to getting back to normal at some stage.  Hope this helps you and be positive it does go away.  I too am going through hot sweats etc and am 55 years young, regards to you.

I'd go back to your GP and ask him to send you for an X-ray .

Some years ago I tripped, put my hands out to save myself and dislocated my shoulder. It was obviously dislocated and at A&E they had to knock me out to reset it. I still have a lot of pain with it and many of the tendons etc. that hold it all in place are stretched and twisted. My shoulder feels odd and 'knobbly'.

 

it's me again - my screen froze again! 

As I was saying.... I was diagnosed with a frozen shoulder and refered to NHS Physio. In the meantime I went private, can't really afford it, but it was REALLY worth it.

Try your GP and get an X ray, just to see that everything is where it should be. A frozen shoulder is not cold, it is 'frozen' stiff! Your fall may mean there is something else going on. 

I can really recommend a back massage too!

I'm 60.My GP had me take an MRI which showed that I had a frozen shoulder, I was recommended to an Ortho DR. He gave me a cortosone shot and had me go to 6 weeks of therapy. Now I have 80% movement in my arm after the therapy however I still have to do the exercises everyday that I learned, still have pain and the Ortho Dr. said eventually it will go away. Some Ortho Dr. do surgery for this but that doesn't make it magically disappear either. It's a tough road and I still don't know when it will go away, some days I just cry and say why me! The therapist said it could take 2 months to 2 years to go away even if you did nothing! Crazy

I think your GP should have you get an MRi just to be sure. You're not alone, those of us with this know too well the pain.

Hi there I would insist on an ultrasound or MRI to tell you what is going on. At least you have a great sense of humour. I have put up with a frozen shoulder for 4 years and this then got worse and I have had to be operated on as I had a full.tendon tear. I am now climbing the walls recovering. Not allowed to drive for 12 weeks. Until my arm is less stiff. I have also had Fibromyalgia for 8years so this doubles the recovery time

Hi;

thanks for the replies...seeing my gp tomorrow, will try and pin him down about treatment...figuratively,not literally.hope you all start seeing some light at the end of the tnnel soon.

Hi Liauq, you poor thing. I would see another Doc and ask for xrays and ultrasound... that's how I found out what was really going on. The ultrasound showed very clear inflammation all around the bursa on my right shoulder which was the source of all the pain and sleepless nights. Despite the other problems, (inflamed tendins and a torn tendin) it was the bursitis that gave me the most grief. After the Doc saw the u/s results he straight away sent me for the cortisone injection by u/s - into the bursa. Then after several weeks I was ready for Physio. It took several sessions before I noticed a difference. Your problems do sound different than mine though. I would not hesitate in seeing another Doc for another opinion.

Best of luck to you.

I had to go privately in he end with my frozen shoulder. Mine was caused by a fall and then getting bad advice from the nhs and also bad physio from the nhs. 5 months into my injury I had hydrodilation privatley, brilliant, I had no pain for 5 weeks and in that time had intensive physio and got my movement back and can now do everything again. I still get pain and now have been advised to go swimming which is helping, I had my accident 28th December 2014. Good luck.

Hi finally remembered my password to reply. Another man Im afraid. FS is bloddy awful. I agree with others, you need an xray. Cortisone did nothing for me and I eventually had an operation which was brilliant. Pretty much fixed now. I have recommended this chap before, but I think its worth flagging him up again. Have a look at The London Upper Limb Unit website. The surgeon who runs it gives clear information on FS and all other shoulder problems. Plus if you want a route to him through the NHS. The surgery was fine I cant actually see the scars now. I followed it with some fairly aggressive physio. Had the op on a friday and was at work driving lorries on monday. Different things work for different people, but do have a look at the website even if only to answer some questions. Good luck

Welcome to our little club - the membership requirements aren't so good but at least you'll find sympathy from other sufferers,

If you've Googled enough, you'll find that there are a lot of different opinions on how best to treat frozen shoulders.  Some seem to advocate agressive physio - and some the opposite.  I put up with my "bad" shoulder, thinking it was something that would go away until I was finally driven to the doctors by pain and lack of sleep in late September.  He diagnosed fozen shoulder and said I could have physio on the NHS but there was a 12 week waiting list.  Fortunately I have access to BUPA through my hubbies job, so was able to speed things up or I'd still be waiting now.

I haven't had many physio sessions as yet but my physio takes a more conservative approach - i.e. stretching and strengthening excercises to the point of pain but no further and leaves me to do this in between sessions.  He also recommended hydrodilation and I will be seeing a consultant next week, on his recommendation, with a view to seeking his opinion on this.

In regards to managing the pain, I don't have any magic pill, I'm afraid.  I tried ice packs (cheap frozen peas - can be re-used but don't forget and eat them) though was told a hot water bottle would be better - see which helps.  GP prescribed Naproxen, though they didn't suit and I worried about side-effects and found Ibuprofen as effective.  I don't take them all the time and they don't get rid of the pain but they take the edge off a little.  I also have co-codamol to take at night but again, don't take every day - and don't mix them if I fancy a glass of wine!  I find sleeping semi-sitting is least uncomfortable.  I got one of theose V-shaped pillows (from Dunelm) and sleep propped up with my bad arm on top of a soft feather pillow that I mould round it to protect it.  

Also noted your comment on HRT - there's no official link but there really needs to be some proper research into this.  I know it can effect guys too - but the gender and age profile of the majority of sufferers suggest some link - e.g. lack of hormones doesn't cause it but while we have them, we are more protected.  Certainly menopausal symptoms like lack of sleep due to night-sweats etc, makes things worse and I have started taking my usual dose again, as I'd reduced it, prior to starting with my frozen shoulder.  Read the new NICE guidelines on prescribing HRT and be re-assured - I wrote a post on this on the HRT forum on this site.

Best advice is to ensure you are properly diagnosed and do what works best for you.  I haven't had any sort of scan up to now but I believe the consultant I'm due to see does an ultrasound one as a matter of course.  Try to keep active if you can - I find I'm better walking about than sitting if only to distract myself.  Make life easier for yourself where you can, working round problems that make things worse - e.g. I have my groceries delivered, rather than carrying heavy bags from the supermarket.  Try to keep positive and know it will get better in time  - and try to keep that sense of humour.  You are not alone!

many thanks for your lovely replies to all lads and lasses..let's  makefrozen shoulder equal opp's!

went to see my gp today and he doesn't see any point in a scan but is referring me for physio and has put me on Naproxen.....

he also agreed that I should check out local private physio's so that's the next thing to do, as a physio might insist on a scan even if he doesn't.

if there's one bonus to this ****ing thing it's making be appreciate what it was like to be well and to stop "sweating the small stuff", cheers.