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  3. Frozen Shoulder

Newly Diagnosed.. 25 years old.

Posted , 4 users are following.

Leesar
Leesar

Hello, just looking for a bit of advise really.

I've had shoulder pain on and off for about six months, always very mild so I just put it down to my desk job and carried on. The past few weeks for various reasons I've been incredibly stressed to the point where I became ill and had to take a day off work for the first time in over a year, spent the day resting in bed and on the sofa and went to sleep fine, no shoulder pain at that point. Woke up the next morning and could barely move my arm, the pain was bad but bearable and I just assumed I'd slept on it funny. Over the next two weeks the pain increased a lot and my mobility decreased a little and I eventually went to the hospital because I was in agony, they did some examinations and mobility tests and diagnosed me with frozen shoulder, advising that I just try and manage it with painkillers and if that didn't work see my GP for an ultrasound/steriod injection.

I'd never heard of frozen shoulder before so I wasn't aware it was rare to get it in your twenties and I'm not sure all my symptoms match fully..it's also in.my dominant arm which is apparently unusual? just wondering if anyone else had this condition in their twenties or is experiencing similar symptoms..

1) Pain. The pain is constant and it seems to move.. it can be a tight feeling behind my shoulder bladeor where my shoulder joins my neck or down the inside of my upper arm.. or all those places at once. It's sometimes just bearable and sometimes so agonising I feel sick.

2) I can raise my hand above my head but it's stiff and a struggle, tying my hair back for example takes four or five attempts. I'm struggling mainly to look down or left and right.. My bra is a bit of an issue too but I am managing it.

3) The pain radiates down my arm and up my jaw at times. It can be a dull ache or a pulsing and my hand occasionally tingles. It's comparable to the shooting pain up your arm when you break your wrist.

4) It's worse in the mornings (assume that's because I'm stiffer) and the evenings. Also when I'm completely at rest.

5) struggling to sleep with the pain but the best position I've found do far is actually sleeping on the affected shoulder.

6) Heat provides no relief at all.

Are these symptoms synonymous with frozen shoulder or should I go back for more tests? I'm not sure how much longer I can cope with this pain. I've broken a lot of bones before and the pain was nothing compared to this.

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Leesar
    Leesar

    Posted

    Can anyone help? I feel as though I'm going crazy with this pain and I'm reading a lot of conflicted information, I don't think my range of movement is limited enough for frozen shoulder but the pain seems to match. I'm back at the doctors on Friday but I can't stop worrying.
  • kiwibird
    kiwibird

    Posted

    poor you - I can't help wonder if you have more of a work/stress induced RSI as it seems most unusual for you to have such a relatively good range of movement and also for heat not to ease pain. Perhaps you could ask your GP for a referal to an orthopedic specialist for a full review / second opinion.
  • Browner64
    Browner64

    Posted

    I was just diagnosed with frozen shoulder and feel your pain. I can identify with all of your points. The shooting pain across collar bone and into jaw seems to stump my doc but I see you have it too. The shooting stabbing pain is crazy. I feel my injury is caused by repeated stress at work due to bad mouse ergonomics at my desk. My physiotherapist says frozen shoulder is one of the most painful conditions, even worse than back injuries. I agree. I have found relief by being off work to rest it. I also go to physio 2-3 times a week to keep the mobility I have. I take Zopiclone to sleep at night. It is the only thing that has given me relief to sleep without tossing and turning and hurting it more. I also take Vimovo for inflammation as well as lyrica for nerve pain. I too get the shooting pain and tingling. This combination has allowed me to sleep and has taken down the inflammation. I also feel more comfy sleeping on that shoulder as long as I don't go too far over. Lots of pillows seem to be the key. The Dr says time is the only cure. Could be 9-12 months. I have asked for modified job duties not using that arm for at least 3 months as using the arm just causes the inflammation to come back. This is the only solution for me as I am not interested in the steroid injection. Only 50/50 chance it will work and only for a short time.

    I wish you luck and hope you have medical coverage to cover what you need. I am lucky in Canada. All treatment is free. You are pretty young but the diagnosis sounds similar to mine. I am 49. Mine is also in non dominant arm. If you can, get an MRI and rest it.

    I am interested to hear how you make out.

    Sandy

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