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[Losingtheplot]

Hi Ladies I am so crippled with pain in my left shoulder  .

Over a year ago I ended up feeling pain in my left shoulder which got worse and worse over the coming months.  I saw my GP and he referred me for physio by the time I got the physio appointment I was in so much pain day and night.  Tried 12 weeks of physio - kept telling physio shoulder was getting worse movement more restricted pain too much even though I was doing the exercises.   But was told to continue with exercises until surprise surprise shoulder was then diagnosed as frozen shoulder! Long story short I had US guided hydrillation which did allow more movement after couple of weeks and pain decreased a little so all been good for a few months.  Still niggly pains but was so much improvement.  Then last week the same debilitating pain returned in my left shoulder, at side of my neck just awful!  I didn't realise that my shoulder could freeze like this again!  Has been 15 months since I first had the start of the original pain  and know it can take years to sort.  Just after any positive stories of anyone who recovered from frozen shoulder.

Am debating whether to have another hydrillation but I didn't enjoy the experience and the pain after was so bad for atleast 2 to 3 weeks.  Doesn't help that I type in my job either.

Please give me some hope that you have recovered from this?  It was so bad a t weekend that I booked in for a massage and the massage therapist was using her elbows to try and get into the solid muscle in my shoulder and to the side of my neck 

[MrsE!]

Morning Losing the Plot
I feel your pain.
I've only had to suffer,  and it really is suffer,  from the  agony of frozen shoulder  just once. It was on my left side, being a lefty didn't help!!!
After dx from gp, referred for physio,and exercises.  I was given one of those stretchy elastic workout bands & plenty of exercises to go with them.  I used to go outside, put one end onto circular top of railings & off I went.  Tops of doors worked as well. I only needed 1 session because I was determined to get rid of the pain,  & be able to use crutches again.  Ask your physio, or gp for one.  They are really helpful for all sorts of things x

[Losingtheplot]

Morning Losing the Plot
I feel your pain.
I've only had to suffer,  and it really is suffer,  from the  agony of frozen shoulder  just once. It was on my left side, being a lefty didn't help!!!
After dx from gp, referred for physio,and exercises.  I was given one of those stretchy elastic workout bands & plenty of exercises to go with them.  I used to go outside, put one end onto circular top of railings & off I went.  Tops of doors worked as well. I only needed 1 session because I was determined to get rid of the pain,  & be able to use crutches again.  Ask your physio, or gp for one.  They are really helpful for all sorts of things x

Hi Mrs E
Sorry you have also experienced this.  Thanks for the advice I will look into the band xxx

[LC1962]

Hello, Ive been here before for years, used to be Sweet Pea,  but lost my email address so had to re register.

I too suffered with frozen shoulder (such an innocuous sounding name for such a hellish condition….) and I sympathise.  Mine started just as I entered menopause and I honestly thought I had bone cancer or something awful.   I had NO idea what it could be and was in agony all day every day and sleep was out of the question.   It took a while for my shoulder joint to become immobile but I was in terrible pain for a few months.   Male doc didn’t connect it with frozen shoulder at the time and just shrugged.    I remember trying to get myself onto a couch for my smear examination and the nurse practitioner asked me why I was in so much pain.   Turns out she had done her degree thesis on declining estrogen, menopausal tendonitis…and told me it was probably a frozen shoulder.  Did you know, Asian women rarely get FS, probably because they take lots of soy products!  Anyway..eventually the shoulder froze and all that came with it,  more pain, no sleep, trying to wash under arms, dry hair…drive….cook….everything.  I went to physio but the daft woman tried to manually push my shoulders back, and after almost attempting to kill her, I never went back.  I once slipped on ice in the driveway and automatically put my arms out to get my balance …I nearly passed out from the pain.   I tried the scarf exercise, where you throw a belt or a scarf over a door and try to pull up your bad arm with your good arm….nothing helped.  After a year, I tried Bowen Therapy and I’m not sure if I was about to recover anyway, but it was almost miraculous the recovery I had in a matter of weeks.  Full elevation of the arm and no pain!   Bowen Therapy is a little strange..they work on the fascia of the muscle with tiny movements and then leave you in a dark room for half an hour…but it definitely helped me.  Wishing you well.  It’s a terrible condition to have and I pray I never get it again. 

[Losingtheplot]

Frozen shoulder is so painful,the steroid injections work but probably only mask the pain,I felt mine starting up last week and I tried a nurofen patch on it,they're not really meant for shoulders but gave it a try anyway and it worked!! I suppose it depends on the severity,hope it feels better soon xx##

Hi Jaypo,

So pleased the Nurofen patch gave you relief.  I have used deep heat patches in the past.  x

[Losingtheplot]

Hello, Ive been here before for years, used to be Sweet Pea,  but lost my email address so had to re register.

I too suffered with frozen shoulder (such an innocuous sounding name for such a hellish condition….) and I sympathise.  Mine started just as I entered menopause and I honestly thought I had bone cancer or something awful.   I had NO idea what it could be and was in agony all day every day and sleep was out of the question.   It took a while for my shoulder joint to become immobile but I was in terrible pain for a few months.   Male doc didn’t connect it with frozen shoulder at the time and just shrugged.    I remember trying to get myself onto a couch for my smear examination and the nurse practitioner asked me why I was in so much pain.   Turns out she had done her degree thesis on declining estrogen, menopausal tendonitis…and told me it was probably a frozen shoulder.  Did you know, Asian women rarely get FS, probably because they take lots of soy products!  Anyway..eventually the shoulder froze and all that came with it,  more pain, no sleep, trying to wash under arms, dry hair…drive….cook….everything.  I went to physio but the daft woman tried to manually push my shoulders back, and after almost attempting to kill her, I never went back.  I once slipped on ice in the driveway and automatically put my arms out to get my balance …I nearly passed out from the pain.   I tried the scarf exercise, where you throw a belt or a scarf over a door and try to pull up your bad arm with your good arm….nothing helped.  After a year, I tried Bowen Therapy and I’m not sure if I was about to recover anyway, but it was almost miraculous the recovery I had in a matter of weeks.  Full elevation of the arm and no pain!   Bowen Therapy is a little strange..they work on the fascia of the muscle with tiny movements and then leave you in a dark room for half an hour…but it definitely helped me.  Wishing you well.  It’s a terrible condition to have and I pray I never get it again.

I totally have the constant pain again day and night and was in this position a year ago so I am so disappointed and frustrated that it has returned so severely. Its like having no use of a limb and even when not used it still hurts like crazy!! And all surrounding tissue and muscles.  I am so pleased the Bowen technique helped you.  I am back to yoga again after instructor had a short break and hope the stretches help xxxx

[lilbebel]

I developed this in 2014 and was found in the end to have myofascial pain syndrome which can result in frozen shoulder and other dysfunction and pain due to tight fascia and muscular trigger points. I literally couldn’t turn my head or move my arm. Has your physio checked you neck and shoulder for trigger points. I get regular physio now to release them and it keeps me mobile and in manageable pain levels.

[Losingtheplot]

I developed this in 2014 and was found in the end to have myofascial pain syndrome which can result in frozen shoulder and other dysfunction and pain due to tight fascia and muscular trigger points. I literally couldn’t turn my head or move my arm. Has your physio checked you neck and shoulder for trigger points. I get regular physio now to release them and it keeps me mobile and in manageable pain levels.

Hi
This is interesting a previous physio several years has checked and did comment there were trigger points but that was long before I developed frozen shoulder.  I regularly have massages and there are usually areas knotted and tightened which the therapist tries to release and is extremely painful.  When I had massage recently muscle to left side of my neck was in a huge knot as was my trapezium, and muscle along back of shoulder blade also just so painful. The most recent physios I saw don't believe in massaging and releasing trigger points as they say affect is temporary and issues returns after an hour or two.  I am pleased this helps you.  xxx

[lilbebel]

I developed this in 2014 and was found in the end to have myofascial pain syndrome which can result in frozen shoulder and other dysfunction and pain due to tight fascia and muscular trigger points. I literally couldn’t turn my head or move my arm. Has your physio checked you neck and shoulder for trigger points. I get regular physio now to release them and it keeps me mobile and in manageable pain levels.

Hi
This is interesting a previous physio several years has checked and did comment there were trigger points but that was long before I developed frozen shoulder.  I regularly have massages and there are usually areas knotted and tightened which the therapist tries to release and is extremely painful.  When I had massage recently muscle to left side of my neck was in a huge knot as was my trapezium, and muscle along back of shoulder blade also just so painful. The most recent physios I saw don't believe in massaging and releasing trigger points as they say affect is temporary and issues returns after an hour or two.  I am pleased this helps you.  xxx

I would find a physio who is trained in dry needling. It’s a technique specifically designed to release trigger points. It’s extremely effective and the gold standard for treating this condition. The effect is cumulative overtime and I go every three weeks. I am way better than I was when I first developed this condition. I was literally paralysed. I needed help getting dressed and doing basic things. The trigger points do need to be released or they can develop satellite triggerpoints and compensatory pain patterns. But massage is not the most effective for this. A very good book I can recommend is by Claire Davies and explains this condition and where the trigger points are in each muscle and how they cause pain and prevent movement. I found learning about it to be really helpful and empowering. I’ve even learned to release some of my own now.

[Losingtheplot]

Hi lilbebel

Thats great help thank you what is the name of the book please? I have had acupuncture years ago to release muscles to and that was very effective but was only allowed 5 sessions on nhs

[lilbebel]

Hello, it’s called ‘The trigger point therapy workbook’, by Clair Davies. I learned so much from this book and it’s a terrific reference. It gives great self-help tips, but I really did also need regular dry needling to release the trigger points. They can’t release themselves. They don’t go away by themselves. The dry needling elicits a twitch response in the muscle which floods the trigger point with fresh blood and oxygen and releases the knot. Not every physiotherapist is trained to do this (it’s an additional specialisation that is becoming more and more popular as it’s so effective) and it’s different to acupuncture. I also get acupuncture. Best of luck. It’s a painful condition and I spent many hours trying to find answers and treatments.

[Losingtheplot]

Hello, it’s called ‘The trigger point therapy workbook’, by Clair Davies. I learned so much from this book and it’s a terrific reference. It gives great self-help tips, but I really did also need regular dry needling to release the trigger points. They can’t release themselves. They don’t go away by themselves. The dry needling elicits a twitch response in the muscle which floods the trigger point with fresh blood and oxygen and releases the knot. Not every physiotherapist is trained to do this (it’s an additional specialisation that is becoming more and more popular as it’s so effective) and it’s different to acupuncture. I also get acupuncture. Best of luck. It’s a painful condition and I spent many hours trying to find answers and treatments.

Thank you so much xxx

[CLKD]

Any improvement?