recovery time after frozen shoulder manipulation

I highly recommend MUA's! Takes a few minutes, usually in a series of 3 visits, your put under, in a matter of minutes your out, very little pain! You may feel sluggish or that you got tackled for a few hours but the next day you'll notice a big difference. Over the years I've had a series of 6 of them  for my lower back and the relief is wonderful for many many months. My shoulder was frozen after my surgery in November and it was horrible, Had to wait till April and he did second surgery broke the adhesions, took out scar tissue. It didn't seem to help at all first, it's a incredibly slow recovery. But it does work!! I would not hesitate to get it done!!! I wish you the best!! Have had 16 surgeries over the years, 4 back ones etc. Shoulder surgeries are indeed the worst!!

Michelle79631, everyone is different, but my 2 cents:  YES YES YES!!!!  MUA was the answer for me!  I had FS 6 months.   After PT and one Ortho doc telling me to "wait it out because it can last so long to 'thaw'", I sought out a 2nd opinion from an actual ortho surgeon.  She recommended the MUA.  I had it in April.  You have pretty intense PT for about 4 weeks after the procedure, which may have you leave a few times in tears... BUT.... here is it is 5 months later and I have almost 100% ROM completely back.  The only range I struggle with is putting my arm behind my back (when hooking bra or washing back).  I can get the arm back there but it still feels restricted somewhat.  I was told this range is the last to come back and most likely will not come back 100%.  I am happy with what I got.  I am in the beginning stages of rebuilding the strength.  It's amazing how much loss of muscle and strength comes from FS, so BE PATIENT IN YOUR RECOVERY!   Hopefully you'll feel the same way I did after the procedure, which was "Gosh, why didn't I do this sooner!!!!????"  Good luck

Thank you Dale that helps a lot.

Hope you are doing well.

I wish you well!! I'm finally getting there!! almost a year after my first shoulder surgery in Nov. Hang in there!! It does get better!!

EVERYONE who see's this I have a question.  when you had MUA... were you still "freezing' or were you already in the "frozen" stage.  My ortho is suggesting MUA, but i'm still freezing... should I wait till it's frozen?

Had many MUA’s over the years for lower back and highly recommend them!!

were you done freezing when you had MUA?  or were you Frozen?  

I think they wont do the MUA surgery unless you are in fact in the "frozen" stage.  I dont think it would work if in the "freezing" stage.  I just had MUA and arthroscopic surgery on 10/31/17 and I still do not have ROM back, and also in pain still, especially at night.  I am getting discouraged and depressed because of the pain.  I still feel those "zinger pains" sometimes during the day.  I been going to PT about three times a week - doing stretching exercises.  When I went back to the surgeon last week, he said I was bad - very tight and cleaned out a lot of scar tissue and also had a bone spur. Havent slept in my bed since before surgery.  Lay on back in a recyliner but not all the way back...I am frustrated to say the least!!!!

Hi Bobbie1007... I had the MUA on 11/14 (last Tuesday)... I did not have to have the arthroscopic done.  But my sister did 3 years ago.  Hers was really bad with recovery too.  She said it took her months for the surgery pain to go away, but the Frozen shoulder pain will continue until it's done running it's own course.

Since my MUA last week,  I had my follow up yesterday, I was as tight as they get, zero rotation internal and external, and 25% horizontal and vertical.  I can't function without my pain meds.

the first 2 days I did PT every two hours (that's around the clock through the night)... I'm now every 5 hours around the clock and through the night.  I'm very strict with my PT and won't stop a session early, takes me about an hour each time.  I probably stretch too much, but I don't want to loose what I've gained.  I'm beyond tired...

for my ROM... once I'm done with my PT, horizontal/vertical ROM is almost 80% , and my internal/external ROM has dropped to about 50% so it's stiffened back some.  I can not get that much range if I don't take a pain pill. 

I've been sleeping in a recliner since August, a bed is out of the question.  lol  but until it's done running it's course and finishes it's thaw... we will both be in our recliners. 

stay strong my friend, this takes a seriously long time to heal, pain will be our "friend" for a long time. 

That is awesome that you are sticking to your PT.  What meds are you taking?  I wont take the Oxy's but I am taking 800 mg Ibuprofen every 6 hours; and marijuana edibles/vape pen when I am not at work.  Did your sister have the MUA along with the arthroscopic?  I really hope I dont have to wait two years for this to go away.  I just had a "zinger pain" about an hour ago at work because I picked up and answered my cell phone in an odd position while on the charger - yikes!    Good luck to you and keep me posted on your progress.  Barb

I am was on oxy, then needed a refill, but he gave me hydrocodone this time, it does not work as well and I can’t get the movement I was getting.  I can’t do the 800 ibu, they do nothing but give me belly issues.  It will be some time, everyone is different.  Yes she did, hers was about a year and a half ago, she is pain free but still has some limit on external rotation.    If hunny that the smallest movements set it off.  Ugh.  Good luck!!

Hi Bobbie1007,

How are you doing now, roughly 3 months post op? Were you in the frozen stage (no pain) when you had your MUA and arthroscopic surgery? How was your pain level in the weeks and months post surgery? Did you have to take pain meds for weeks or months?

Why all the questions: I met with my Ortho surgeon yesterday to book my MUA and arthroscopic capsular release (I've been dealing w/ FS for 13 mo in dominant arm, still in freezing stage, unresponsive to everything else) & he scared the crap out of me so I didn't schedule it. He told me the pain I would be in post op would be "brutal" (as if I'm not in extreme pain already) but he said no, you'll be at 100. When I asked for how long, he couldn't give me ANY time frame. WTF. So that's when I went online and found this forum and came across your post. 6 weeks? 3 -4 months? He gave me nothing. So I am confused about whether to proceed at this point, and what to expect. 

Are you glad you did it? Any advice? How long did you do PT after? Can I expect to be pain free in 8 weeks or is that simply unrealistic? 

How is your ROM now? Pain? Sleep? Thank you in advance & I hope you are so much better!!!

Hi Darci:  It will be three months Jan 31st since I had the surgery.  I was in a lot of pain right up to the surgery - I couldnt sleep on that side, and if I reached my arm out, or simple things as putting my put bra on, I had that awful pain.  And also if I jolted it, I would get those "zinger pains" which brought me to my knees for about 10 seconds or so.  So I had the surgery on Oct 31st.  I would not take percs - the surgeon said I would need them but I just dont like opiods. The first week I didnt feel bad and didnt take anything except smoke a marijuana vape pen.  Then after a week or so, the pain was awful - please note I had a bone spur too that I had no clue about til I went to my first post-op appointment with the surgeon - I also had a LOT of inflamation - he said I was bad.  He took the bone spur out or shaved  it, ya know not exactly sure how he got rid of it but its gone.  It may have ended up tearing something if I never had the surgery and maybe have needed rotator cuff surgery in the future if I didnt get that out.  So back to the 2nd week I started taking 800 mg of motrin two to three times per day.  I went to therapy about three times a week up until Nov 30th because then my insurance was changing and had no coverage for it.  The surgeon said as long as I do the exercises at home he was fine with me stopping with the physical therapist.  I stopped taking the mtorin at about 6 weeks....But may have taken a few here and there after that but not much at all....The pain was diminishing slowing but was not as bad as it was that month after.  At times that first month, I was depressed, broke down at work and at therapy a couple times because of the pain...I wished at that time that I didnt get the surgery.  But now almost three months, I am probably 95% pain free and feel great and I can sleep on that side sometimes but not for a long period; it does hurt if I stay on that side for a long time.  I havn't had a "zinger pain" in awhile but did have them sometimes in the past few months after the surgery.  But here is the thing - I do not have full range of motion - it IS better but I still cannot move it high, and when I put a jacket on or a tight shirt, I have some difficulty putting them on and taking off.  I do stretches but not as much as I should.  I went on vacation the last 5 days to Colorado - I was afraid I wouldnt be able to ski so I did not attempt it but I did snowmobile which was a real work out, which was good because it was stretching my muscles and today I feel great - no arm/shoulder pain.  I had went back to work six days after surgery because I had to. I would get upset at work sometimes because the pain was awful.  A few weeks ago we had zero degree temperatures here in New Jersey and it didnt bother me but about a week later, it rained for two days but wasnt that cold and I will tell you I was hurtin a lil. During the first month though when it was cold, I was in pain so the weather will affect it.  But I was in Breckenridge this past Tuesday and the weather was about 3 degrees and I was fine.  I think you should go for it.  Suck up the pain for about 6-12 weeks - you may not have full ROM back but you will feel better .  I am hoping by the summer I will have full range of motion back.  It was quite an experience, and I hope I do not get it in the other shoulder/arm.  I hope this helps, if you have any other questions, please ask - because I was like you - I was upset and didnt know what to do.  Everyone is different too and you may only be in pain for a month, or you could be in pain for two months.  Good luck to you and if you decide to get it done, please post!

Something else I forgot to mention, I iced it a lot especially after therapy and I could only sleep in a recliner at night, and would fall asleep with the ice on it.  But the PT guy said I should put heat on it because its already frozen; the surgeon said ice, so really not sure which is correct.  I bought this thing in CVS - you can heat it in the microwave or freeze it so I used that back and forth sometimes. But I had multiple ice packs that I used too.  I slept on the recliner for about four weeks then went back to my bed.  The night time is the worst  - the surgeon said because your body relaxes.  I hated the nightime because I love my sleep and all I wanted was a good night's sleep.  I couldnt figure out why as soon as I got in that recliner the pain was through the roof, so thats when I had asked the surgeon and he said because you are relaxed.   Its a year since my pain started.  I am thinking it may be another year til I get full ROM back but at least the pain is very minimal now.  Again, good luck to you!

Hi Bobbie, 

Thanks for your reply, & I am glad to hear you are doing better pain wise. So, after 4 weeks you were able to move off of the recliner and back into bed for the whole night? Like you, sleep is very very important to me lol! I'm not into the idea of taking Percs either, maybe for first week or two post op but that's it, from what I hear a lot of ppl end up taking them for months after the surgery and I just won't do that. I know what you mean about the pain being worse at night too, when you're trying to get to sleep. I have cervical DDD (degenerative disc disease) w/ several bulging and herniated discs and when that pain began years ago going to sleep became impossible b/c the pain became elevated when the body was in a relaxed state. It's an awful cycle! Ice packs have become my BFF too, I can't sleep without them and I have them on rotation in my freezer.  

Would you say the pain was worse after the surgery than it was before you went in? If so for how many weeks? What your pain level at post op (not immediately after, I realize you had a block, but say day 2-week 2)

I'm realizing that the surgery & the extensive PT that follows (great more PT ha ha) won't necessarily get me all my ROM back right away, but I would like to be able to clean my house again, walk my dogs, do my hair, put on a bra like a normal person again and hold a coffee cup (or wine glass) without pain. IS that too much to ask? 

I love Breckenridge btw! Hope you had a blast despite not being able to ski; I know I would't ski w/ my arm like it is now that's for sure. Can't wait to be able to again though! 

So far I am leaning towards (this is just in last 24 hrs) trying to find a place near me that offers hydrotherapy and see if that works first. Have you ever try that? I just have to be careful about how many times I go bc I only get so many PT visits a year, & I need to save enough in the event that I do go w/ the surgery.                                                                                                                                                     We are going on our one big trip of the yr in 3 months and I fear that if I do the surgery the first of Feb that I may not be pain free by the trip. I was under the impression that he recovery time was 6 weeks (standard) and I'd like to be able to Snuba and snorkel (if possible w/ my arm as it is now) & at this point my thinking is that I may be better off waiting & doing the surgery after our trip if I haven't improved by then. It's great to know that you would do the surgery again, that gives me great hope!

 

The pain after surgery was a different kind of pain than before surgery.  But I did have those "zinger pains" sometimes after surgery too.  I would say you need at least six weeks to be normal.  I can put my bra on, reach out to pay toll, put seat belt on, drive-thru bank, etc. - all that stuff...Kinda difficult to put my coat on yet but no pain, its because it just wont move.   After surgery during the day sometimes it wouldnt hurt at all, some days it did but not constant - it was only constant at night til I fell asleep.  It was just so weird because nothing was consistent.  I cleaned and cooked and all that after, even vacuumed.  I went for a walk the 2nd day.  my arm was in a sling for two days til I could shower, then the sling came off and I did everything myself.  I live alone so I really had no help. I had surgery on a tuesday, and that Thursday they called me to come into work.  I drove myself.  It hurt lifting it up over the steering wheel but I did it.  I probably should not have driven for a week though. I have not tried hydrotherapy.   I think if you dont do anything, in another year you should be okay.  My sister had it in both shoulders for two years and then this past summer, just like that she was better.  It has to run its course.  1) the freezing stage 2) the frozen stage 3) the thawing stage   But she did exercises on her own, used that tens machine and got in her hot tub...I just wanted a quick fix so I got the surgery because I could not have that pain for another 1.5 years....Well let me know if you get the surgery.