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[panda762]

Thank you for the links Trey & Rowan,

I think I've googled it to death to be honest, and none of my findings have been particularly positive (clearly no 'quick fix').

My frustration is that I didn't actually DO anything to injure it - it just 'happened'. If I'd lifted something awkwardly then at least I'd have a legit reason as to "Why me?!" which would help with the whole 'mentally dealing with it' issue. I already had chronic neck and lower back pain and this really was the last thing I needed

I realise that it's likely that in a couple of years my shoulder will (possibly) get better, which is a positive thing, but that doesn't help me to deal it on a day-to-day basis.

xxx

UPDATE:
Had a cortisone injection 5th Match but it hasn't helped.
Am due a second one on April 2nd....(can only have 3 in total).
Have had 2 physio sessions but my shoulder was too painful to do much (next session 11th April).

[Trey]

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm'topic=a00071

This is such a good explanation of frozen shoulder

[panda762]

Thanks Trey

Currently in agony and can't wait for my 2nd steroid jab next Tuesday! Really hoping it'll work this time (can only have 3 jabs).
Have postponed further physio until after the jab.
Don't want surgery (!) but I'm in so much constant pain (not to mention the sleeplessness) that I'd agree to ANYTHING for some relief right now

x

[Trey]

Hi Panda, what blew my mind is that surgery is not a usual option but time is.  I have a friend who can't raise his arm and he simply assumed torn rotator cuff when it is frozen shoulder.  I did not understand this condition but when I had it acupuncture by a Chinese medical doctor did the trick after six months of agony.

[panda762]

Hi Trey,

Frozen shoulder is self-limiting. It will (in most cases) get better on it's own, any treatment you have is purely for pain relief. You can be in agony one month and 6 months later you're either in the stiff (non-painful) phase, or even out of the whole frozen shoulder episode completely.

Everyone is different and some people are fortunate (?) enough to have relatively brief episodes, while others end up having it for 3 years.

I know that in time, even if I do nothing about it mine will go away, but as I already have pain from osteoarthritis in my neck and a possible trapped nerve in my lower back (both conditions have been plaguing me for many years) I'm not tolerating my frozen shoulder very well. I haven't been able to sleep since I don't know when and I'm desperate. I'd do absolutely anything  to get rid of this pain asap, and if someone offered me surgery right now I'd take it!

For the moment, all I have on offer is a 2nd cortisone injection on Tuesday (and then a 3rd one if that also fails).
xx

[Trey]

Hi Panda, I so feel for you.  Do you have low level light therapy available in UK?  Also called 'cold laser'.  It is very effective for reducing inflammation of this condition and arthritis.  It is used more by vets for expensive race horses and more and more for humans in US and parts of the world.  I finally bought my own as have arthritis and spondylitis in neck, shoulder and spine.  I use gel ice packs to reduce inflammation and pain, but sure you know all this.

Hope your case ends soon.  Such a nasty thing to deal with.

[panda762]

Hi Trey,
We don't have cold laser available as far as I'm aware. I've had ultrasound before (my chiropractor used it after a particularly difficult session years ago) but it's not something that's available on the NHS (not where I live anyway).
This cold/wet weather we're having in the UK really isn't helping either
I've tried ice-packs but that doesn't seem to help my neck or shoulder (although it did help ease my lower back pain).
Currently using hot-pack on my neck for the arthritis as it seems to help (plus, it's so cold here ANY extra warmth is welcome!)
Really hoping that 2nd cortisone jab on Tuesday will work, although I have to accept it may not....
xx

[Trey]

Hi Panda, I would think heat might be more effective as heat increase circulation and may bring more fluid to the area.  Because the condition, at some stage involves a lack of lubricant, perhaps heat would help.  Ice more effective to reduce swelling and thus reduce liquid or lubricant.  Just rambling thoughts.

I just got a miserable nickel allergy to my new Apple computer.  It's always something, it seems.

My friend having MRI in a few days and I will be interested if it is frozen shoulder or rotator cuff.

I sure hope you get relief from the next injection.

[panda762]

Hi Trey,

Hope you find a way of dealing with the allergy.....other than getting rid of your brand new computer!

Had the 2nd cortisone jab this morning and it hurt like hell  (The first one didn't hurt that bad).

12 hours later it's killing me.... near the injection site is excruciating and I've got no idea how I'm meant to get any sleep tonight. 

This time it'd better work!!!!

Got to return in 4 weeks, potentially for my 3rd and final injection (not sure I can take the pain a 3rd time).

Ugh........

xx

[Trey]

Some doctors put some long acting anesthetic in with the cortisone, probably the ones that have had the injection.  Others try to move the needle a bit to break up adhesions.  This friend complains of rotator cuff, but no injury, so you can guess what I think.  MRI this month.  We shall see.

Can you ice it?  Heat draws more fluid and actually at some point frozen shoulder is a lack of lubrication.  What have you been told as to heat or ice.

Wish I could find a magic carpet and come over and use my cold laser on you.  Traditional double blind studies have shown it works on frozen shoulder.  And zero side effects.

[panda762]

Thank you Trey I wish I could try your cold laser too

Definitely no anaesthetic in the injection

I've tried heat packs (I use those for my arthritic neck) and cold packs, but neither makes a lot of difference. It currently feels like I just had 10 flu jabs all at once (odd because the pain is coming from an area which wasn't injected).

Didn't get much sleep last night so I'm really grumpy today and my pain tolerance is much lower than usual. Just got to see how things go over the next few days........

xx

[Evenstar]

I do sympathise with you I had a frozen shoulder a few years ago. I just woke up one morning and couldn't move my arm without a lot of pain. It just went suddenly like that with no warning at all.
    The pain was all in my upper arm though but boy was it painful, especially at night.
  It took a couple of visits to the Drs to get it diagnosed properly but after that I had an injection, which did get rid of the pain completely.
     I think from beginning to end, it lasted just over a year.
  They do say that if you've had a frozen shoulder once, you're quite liable to have te other shoulder go as well, but so far so good   
     Sending hugs xx

[panda762]

Thanks Evenstar

I had my 2nd cortisone jab Tuesday but it hasn't helped (yet). In fact, my pain is a bit worse (if that's possible). Got a 3rd and final jab 30th April and then I guess it's a matter of waiting for it to eventually go away

I really do hope I don't get it in my right arm (I'm right handed). It's debilitating enough with my left!

On amitriptyline (10mg) at nights and have now started taking two codeine/paracetamols (300/500) as well (which is still not touching the pain).

xx

[Jemima]

i havent read all of the replies in here, so may be repeating what othersmhave already said......but i started to get pain in my right should almost a year ago....my older sister had had it for a couple of,years and was told to have an op to freemher shoulder up.but the specialist said even having the op,would mean a long redovery time, maybe a couple of years and most frozen shoulders take two years to sort themselves out anyway so there was no point in having it done!

my sister had physio instead and was told to stand close to a wall and walk her fingers up the wall several times a day, also to try to grab her right arm at the wrist behind her back with her left hand and in time it would help. and guess what?

it worked!

no operation needed!

ive been trying the same thing and although incrediblly painful it is working!

the bad news for me is that my left shoulder is now freezing up and is more painful than the right one! i guess it was caused by over use when the right side was out of action.

i also have a sneaky suspicion that these huge mobile,phones we stare at all day holding them with two hands are contributing to these problems!

hope the original poster of this thread is now doing better?

by the way i dont take any painkillers for it at all, preferring to grin and bear it when i jar my shoulders, which happens several times a day.

hate painkillers with a vengence!

jem x

[panda762]

Thanks for the reply Jemima and pleased to hear some physio helped you

I've been having physio (another session this afternoon) but it's not helping at all and is making my shoulder more painful I've tried a wide range of exercises from reaching my arm right up (ouch) to shrugging my shoulders. I now have a resistance band to get some of my muscles back (weakened since I haven't been using my left arm).

I'm disappointed 2 cortisone jabs have also failed to help with pain relief but am holding onto a shred of hope for the 3rd and final on on April 30th.

My physio has mentioned the possibility of an MRI - just to rule out anything else (arthritis etc) as well as the frozen shoulder.

Yes, frozen shoulder is 'self limiting' and will go away (usually) within 18 months to 3 years 
However, the main aim is to get some pain relief so I can sleep at night. (Although some pain-free movement in the day would be nice!)

I was told under NO circumstances do anything which was painful (!) - to be honest, I kinda figured that one out myself, lol.

None of the painkiller have helped so far (tried everything from paracetamols, ibuprofen, naproxen to codeine!)

xxx