Working with a frozen shoulder

Posted , 6 users are following.

Hi Everyone I'm Michelle I have been told by hospital I have a frozen shoulder and require physio and surgery but the waiting list for physio is 12 weeks my arm is also numb most of the time I work in a kitchen as a cook and I'm trying to keep working just now but it's getting harder every day any advice thanks Michelle

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Posted

    I have full sympathy for you. I managed to keep working for the first 4 months but then could not go on any longer, mainly due to lack of sleep. You need to listen to your body and decide what is best. Unfortunately there are no medals for persevering and no-one thanks you on the end. Do what's best for you and take care of yourself.

  • Posted

    Hi Michelle,

    I have had a frozen shoulder for 1 year on my non dominant arm. My specialist in Houston advised against scoping (surgery) due to the possible side affects: numbness, shooting pain, etc. I have been in so much pain that I've tried an aggressive form of massage treatment which consisted of Eastern methods, acupuncture and PT twice weekly for the last 5 months.

    A FS has a mind of it's own and there isn't much you can do but wait it out. I still have not slept on my left side for 1 year. This week I was able to fasten my bra for the first time and shave under my arm. Those two accomplishments were huge.

    I'm sorry to hear you are trying your best to continue working. Fortunately I'm a retired teacher.

    Know you are not alone and that each person on this site understands and empathizes with you. Hang in there!

    Sending hope from Houston! ❤

  • Posted

    Dear Michelle,

    I had what a highly accomplished Orthopedic surgeon called "A severe case of F.S.". I did physical therapy in an extreme and highly motivated way with a professional medical facility at a hospital. I worked very very hard three and four days a week with a big strong Physical Therapist lady who really put me through serious stretches, bends, pulls, lifts, tugs and hanging from bars etc. etc.

    After around four months of exceedingly painful workouts with my Physical Therapist Lady (She looked like Maria Sharapova the famous tall, strong Russian Tennis Star) I had regained a tremendous amount of my lost movement. I have regained virtually all of the movement that F.S. had stolen from me. It took about a year to regain most of it and then two more years to regain virtually all of my movement.

    Strangely, I still have a small loss of movement that I will never regain and I can feel the reminiscent pain in certain positions. However, for all intents and purposes I am completely healed and I would now say that I have regained ninety-five percent of the movement of my arm.

    Incidentally, I am a very healthy non-diabetic, non-thyroid problem, lean, athletic man in my 50's. I have no health problems and I have been super healthy all my life. I had no injury to my arm that could have caused the F.S.

    If I had it to do all over again----I WOULD ABSOLUTELY undergo MANIPULATION UNDER ANESTHESIA at the hands of an accomplished and seasoned Orthopedic Surgeon.

    M.U.A. is painless, quick and highly successful.

    I hope this helps you.

    Sincerely Yours,

    Bobby

  • Posted

    Hello Michelle, there is no need to wait 12 weeks for physio. If you check online, there are some great physical therapists that have put the basic frozen shoulder therapies online. You can do them at home.

    The one that got my arm feeling better right away were the pendulum swings. It looks silly, like how could swinging your arm in a circle help, but it really does start that initial stretching of the tight tendons. There are also exercises called table slides that are simple.

    I also found an inexpensive pulley that could be placed over any door to begin a deeper stretching. It is good if you can do some warm up overall body exercises, like walking, to get some circulation going before deep stretching. All of these stretches were also given to me by my PT.

    Getting started now at home, may avoid the need for surgery altogether. Surgery always carries a risk.

  • Posted

    I've had two frozen shoulders. I'm on my second one now. Firstly, they will heal eventually if left alone. There is no need for surgery, but surgery can speed up the process.

    Additionally, when you get to the point when it hurting most of the time - it is then best to give it a rest.

    Pillows around the arm at night act as great support.

    If you are on facebook you will find both an international and a uk frozen shoulder support group. Both are excellent and very supportive.

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