What is your external rotation like?

It seems a lot of people have trouble with the side rotation. Are you gaining range in other directions? By 3 weeks postp I had 100% forward flexion, and could get my hand halfway up behind my back, but absolutely no external rotation. Now taht I am 15 weeks postop I have very good behind-the-back (can reach my opposite scapula without any help from the other hand), but I only have about 10 degrees of external rotation at the side!!! I can however, put both arms on the floor in a 90 degree angle  (ie, the arrested position). i worked really hard at that every day with a 2 pound weight.

You seem to be suffering from a purely mechanical problem. If it were the capsule from a frozen shoulder the literature says you never lose mor than 70 percent of external rotation. If some movements return without others in the same ratio this is not the capsule I would think. That would leave the idea that the cause of loss is say scarring in the soft tissue in the front of the shoulder. Get the therapist to mobilize the head of the humerus in a manner which will stretch out the shortened tissue.

Yes, I'm seeing an osteopath who seems to really get in there and rip the front of the shoulder. it's pretty frustrating. I know i can't have just 'part of a fozen shoulder'... it's all or nothing, but the doctor kept on that trend for sooo long! I'm very anxious for a diagnostic ultrasound in 4 weeks' time but getting impatient because even after that, I fear I will be waiting more time for a diagnosis (if at all). It would seem strange to me that just a bit of deep tissue release is going to fix this problem but it is nice to keep up the hope.

I should say...i've had frozen shoulder since june of 2016.....

Thanks for your note. I am 4 months post release and wonder if I will get there by six!! The rotation feels like a real block. Instead of pivoting at the elbow like the other arm, it seems to slide outwards two inches before starting to rotate and its excruciating.

Hi sue l have had frozen shoulder for 2 years nearly but l did smash my wrist then had a fall February 2016 spoke to my specialist about the time scale of it getting better if l had manipulation he said it would be about 3 weeks faster than if l let nature take its course .Ihave decided not to have manipulation as l think l have suffered enough pain.I do try to go swimming at least twice a week and I find this helps me personally quite a lot.I have to go back to see my specialist in June when l reckon he will discharge me. Hope all goes well for you.

That's promising, and interesting to hear! The strange thing for me, is that my arm does rotate in the socket, and I can get my arms up on the wall behind me in a 90 degree angle ( or lying on the floor), but it will barely move out to the side when elbow is bent. Extreme pain, and the therapists and doctors are confused by this strange limitation when I have almost 100percent  in all other directions. It's good to hear that it will return eventually I guess. Although I had three surgeries so it isn't idiopathic.

mmmm... at least you have docs and therapists checking you. And great to know you have such good ROM in other directions. Everyone is different, but it does seem strange that you get ROM in the other planes but not that one. Maybe ask for a scan in case there is something else happening? or is it normal post op if you've had 3 surgeries?

Hi sean66 l have quite a lot of movement now can't really get my arm behind my back when l went to see a private doctor in Feb this year he said it really doesn't seem that you have much movement at all as far as getting it behind my back.l do find that l have a lot of pain down my left side and around my chest it was my left wrist and shoulder that l broke l was told that in July which will be two years that l did my wrist that l should have much better movement .myself like you don't hold much hope but l am still doing swimming twice a week and l find that helps me .good luck Sean hope l works out for you.