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Re Pain Pattern in Frozen Shoulder (FS)

Posted , 4 users are following.

caitlin39841
caitlin39841

Hi.

Wonder if anyone can comment:

i've just been diagnosed with FS. severe shoulder/neck (left side and back of neck) pain with very little arm/shoulder movement range.

however, can anyone say, if it's 'normal' for FS to cause left-sided chest . chest pain that radiates to shoulder blade, down (L) arm, elbow, wrist, palm of hand, up the left side of neck, ear & face culminating in a hemi -cranial headache?

whilst i know the scapula, elbow,wrist & palm are pretty classic of FS, however, i'm worried re the chest pain/left sided neck, ear pain& head ache. it fluctates throughout the day and is worst in the pm & at night. i did have an ambulatory ECG some 9 ago. it was considered within the normal limits. thta was before to-days diagnosis. my GP made a v. quick diagnosis based on 3 arm movements this evening and wasn't intersted in the chest pain aspect.

thanks in advance

C.

1 like, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • Sheila_J
    Sheila_J caitlin39841

    Posted

    Caitlin,

    You need to get a 2nd opinion.  It's possible that all that is happening from FS since its a stressful pain but definitely not the classic case.

  • Sheila_J
    Sheila_J caitlin39841

    Posted

    and ps. that drives me crazy when they diagnose you with 3 movements and dont pay attention to all symptoms! Not a good GP!
    • caitlin39841
      caitlin39841 Sheila_J

      Posted

      thanks Sheila. i think ur right. she has sent me for an x-ray. i'll see how that goes.

      thanks again.

    • caitlin39841
      caitlin39841

      Posted

      hi ppl.

      any suggestions for the best pain relief for FS & joint pain. have had no response from Ibrufen, Naproxen, paracetamol. have aleternated these too with no effect.

      thanks in advance.

      C

    • mary82457
      mary82457 caitlin39841

      Posted

      1) Narcotics like vicodin are probably necessary for your level of pain. Or you could use tramadol; that's what i'm down to now. You need a prescription  analgesic, unfortunately, if the OTC ones won't work.

      2) Massage is great if you can get it.

      3) i had a TENS (electrical) unit for a while, and it helped a bit, but only when i was wearing it, no lingering pain relief.

      4) And i had a topical prescribed ontment with about 10 drugs in it that i loved, but my insurance didn't want to pay for any more. it was made up of a few ----caines like lidocaine, a nsaid, gabapentin for nerve pain, guanefasin for muscle relax, a scar dissolver, and some other stuff, and would have cost me about $250/month when the insuance quit paying. it was good stuff, though.

      Best of luck, hope you feel less pain soon.

    • caitlin39841
      caitlin39841 mary82457

      Posted

      hi mary. much thanks for that info. the topical application sounds good. i doubt we have this in the UK, but i'll look it up. yes, i feel that massage would help as anyhting that encourages the blood flow (heat etc.) helps a lot. hope u get your pain in control too.

      much thanks Caitlin.

    • mary82457
      mary82457 caitlin39841

      Posted

      You're welcome. My doctor had to order his special recipe from a compounding pharmacy, but there are other formulas, probably in the UK too. Hope YOU  get your pain under control. Mine is almost bearable after 9 months, and luckily my docs weren't the "Stop crying and tough it out" kind; They took pity on me during the worst of it, and i'm still in pain management..
  • Sheila_J
    Sheila_J caitlin39841

    Posted

    Caitlyn,

    Everyone is different but I took Lortab and gabopentin.  If you have an addictive personality Lortab could be tricky.  You probably have to try different things until it helps.  Those meds only took the edge off to be able to function but I didnt want to take more than that.

  • mary82457
    mary82457 caitlin39841

    Posted

    i had something similar, and i believe it was caused by impingement of the cervical nerves, although i never got a diagnosis. it resolved with PT after months. i had loss of arm/hand strength as well, another sign of a pinched cervical nerve. Something to think about, but i'd be careful of any invasive procedures unless PT doesn't help. You  might want to ask for an EKG, but you probably already know that. Best, M.
  • Eve_63
    Eve_63 caitlin39841

    Posted

    Hi Caitlin, 

    im in a similar situation , I'm over thinking and worrying a lot about exactly what is up with me.

    i have been in severe pain for months, under my breast and in my shoulder and in between my shoulder blades , also down my arm upto my elbow. I have never experienced pain like it.

    i also have weakness, lack of movement for example putting my coat on, holding plates simple things.

    im so worried, can't sleep with the excruciating pain in the evenings.

    i have been to three different doctors with lots of guessing going on from trapped nerves etc.

    i have even been to physio, no chance of a scan or X-ray they keep saying I have to wait. I feel so sick at times too xx  I have private medical insurance and the doctor won't refer I don't know what to do, I am even thinking cancer as I am getting deep pains so worried. Anyway I just want you to know you are far from alone xx

    • caitlin39841
      caitlin39841 Eve_63

      Posted

      hi eve. thank u for message. i'm so sorry to hear the extent and level of pain you're experiencing. i really would insist on an a x-ray/scan. otherwise how are they to find out what's causing the pain. a guessing game is not good enough.

      i've had an x-ray and waiting to speak/see my Doc for further management intervention. i hope u get those tests asap. keep us posted as to how things go.

      best wishes

      Caitlin.

    • mary82457
      mary82457 Eve_63

      Posted

      WIth the weakness, It sounds very much lIke my arm problem of a few years ago. I had excrucIatvng paIn, arm weakness and even a kInd of contracture and partIal paralysIs. PT dId the trIck, LOTS of deep, deep massage and adjustIng of shoulder and rIbs; It took a few months to resolve, now I have zero problems wIth that arm.

      My problem was tentatIvely labeled as ImpInged BrachIal Plexus, (underarm nerves), but I thInk It was spInal (neck) nerves. 

      Thank God It fInally went away; I thought I'd dIe from the paIn.  

      PhysIcal therapy saved my lIfe.

      SpInal nerves:

      ​An MRI would show any problems wIth the spInal nerves.

      Could you get a referral from another doctor?

      But;

      You say you feel sIck as well??

      There are a few other thIngs that can cause referred paIn to the arm/shoulder/back.

      Could It be angIna?

      Is there any reason to suspect a heart problem? Are you older, say, over 50? If you thInk you are at rIsk, maybe ask for an EKG? If they don't want to do one, tell them you have dIzzy spells; you'll get the full work up.

      (More than you ever wanted, so be careful wIth that suggestIon. I told them I was dIzzy once, and got a whole year of tests, culmInatIng In a cardIac cath, and then got sent home wIth a clean bIll of health. Yeesh! My blood pressure medIcIne caused dIzzyness!If the paIn's on the rIght sIde, how's your gall-bladder? Although I doubt that would cause arm problems,  It can cause the chest/back/rIb paIn.

      LIke beIng kIcked In the rIbs by a mule.

      I sIncerely hope you fInd the help you need.

      No more paIn! 

  • ali42615
    ali42615 caitlin39841

    Posted

    In my experience, you are the best judge of what feels 'normal' or not. The muscles do surround this area and I was troubled with chest pains too. I had to add tramadol to my meds in order to alleviate the excruciating pain. Naproxen, omeprazol and tramadol. Not a nice concoction but  when you're in pain, your physio will not be successful. 

    My frozen shoulder was dismissed by my GP for a long time, followed by cortisone injections and told to find myself a physio! On insisting later on an xray it revealed calcification. My condition became severe and I've had arthroscopic decompression, followed months later by manipulation under anaesthetic. Don't make my mistake and  accept without question. Your pain may be worse at night because you've used your muscles during the day and lying down is increasingly harder with a frozen shoulder.

    good luck 

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