Frozen shoulder

[ladyengineer]

It appears I've hit the jackpot of qualifying for a frozen shoulder namely I'm female, in a certain age group and diabetic. Whoop! Does it really clear up? I am not convinced as this started around March and the pain and lack of sleep is driving me nuts.
I finally got on the appointment list for NHS physio (still waiting on acknowledgement of the ortho referral from July) and had my second session late last week. Since then I have been in agony. Heat is my friend but even that has it's limitations.
I read a thread on Frozen Shoulder from a couple of years ago and all the issues about dressing, especially bras!, carrying anything, sleeping ... you get the picture, are all familiar and there is some reassurance in seeing that I'm not the only one.
If there are any further tips on how to cope with this I would appreciate hearing them.
L

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Does it really clear up?

Can do. Mine did, but I'm perhaps exceedingly atypical. I think the usual prognosis is good, though.

In terms of getting better: do the recommended exercises. (i.e., follow medical advice.)

(My hobby's dancing tango, so when I got really mild adhesive capsulitis in my left shoulder I noticed it and saw my GP. He referred me to a physio and (because it was a bit snowy out) I got an appointment really quickly, and after one session (during which she commented she never sees cases as mild as mine) I was pretty much OK.)

 

[grovesy]

Mine did but it took quite a time with the help of Chiropractor and Sports Massage Therapy.

 

[Greymouser]

I started with mine last December. I had to self refer to the physio, then I had to chase it up six weeks later, much apologies, sent for an initial assessment, then told I would need treatment, so an appointment would be made, lots of leaflets given to me. I then had to chase it up again, to be told she had forgotten to forward it and would try again. four weeks later told to go for another initial assessment! I mean what is that all about, why no treatment yet? Finally gave up, cancelled it and just followed the advice online and from the leaflets, which is all in fact my GP told me to do: look up the exercises online! Makes me quite cross it does, as all this self referral is supposed to make things easier, but it really has not! 😡

On the positive side, it is now getting a lot easier. 🙂
( On the negative, the other is now starting! 🙄 )

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Finally gave up, cancelled it and just followed the advice online and from the leaflets, which is all in fact my GP told me to do: look up the exercises online!

My GP suggested that was an option, and I almost took it. But (because it happened to be winter time) I was lucky and got a quick physiotherapy appointment, and I'm so glad that happened. The manipulation felt so good; I didn't realise how much the shoulder hurt until she'd removed the pain. If it happens again and I couldn't get an NHS appointment fairly quickly I think I'd find a private physiotherapist.

 

[DaveB]

Hi. If it is genuine Frozen Shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) then sadly there isn't an awful lot you can do and it can last for many months (sorry). My wife has had three (yes, it returned in one shoulder). Be aware that steroid injections won't help genuine frozen shoulder but many GPs don't understand this. My wife's consultant prescribed low dose Amitriptyline which really worked for pain control and had no side effects for her. He was the one who said steroids don't work for this condition.

 

[Lilian]

I had both shoulders frozen. Spent weeks and weeks with physio to no avail. In the end physio recommended manipulation under anaesthetic. I had this done and it cleared it up completely. This was about 20 years ago.

 

[Ljc]

Hi . You have my sympathy.
I seem prone to frozen shoulders.one seems to be in an ongoing cycle of freezing and thawing I’ve tried physio, it did help a bit. I’ve had my shoulders injected , that helped a lot, it’s not a cure but the pain goes.
I’ve not tried manipulation so I can’t comment on that.

I do exercises at home. It can be difficult to find a position to sleep in. If this is of any help Atm if I sleep on my affected side I need to ensure my shoulder is pushed slightly forward, on a previous occasion I had to sleep on my other side with my arm resting straight along my body but with wrist turned so that my thumb resting on my thigh.

TBH I have found it takes time , a lot of time to clear up . I also use Arnica Gel, though it’s hard to find, I get mine online from SBC it’s not cheap. I also take Paracetamol when necessary.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I’ve had one side which cleared up a few years back and I’ve got one on the other side now that I haven’t bothered to get necked out because it feels so familiar.

The physio I saw who assessed my first one suggested that typically there were three phases: getting gradually stiffer, being stiff, getting gradually easier. And that the three phases usually lasted about equal time. So if it gradually gets stiffer over 6months, you’re in for 18 months overall, more or less.

I think my second is going to be shorter than my first one. I can almost convince myself it’s getting easier already!

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Be aware that steroid injections won't help genuine frozen shoulder but many GPs don't understand this.

Cochrane disagrees: https://www.cochrane.org/CD011275/M...rcise-for-frozen-shoulder-adhesive-capsulitis (that's comparing manual therapy and exercise against steroid injections). They also consider oral steroids https://www.cochrane.org/CD006189/MUSKEL_oral-steroids-for-shoulder-pain-adhesive-capsulitis and there's a more general overview https://www.evidentlycochrane.net/frozen-shoulder-2/

 

[Browser]

I had a frozen shoulder which started round about January this year. I put up with it for about four months but eventually went privately to a physiotherapist. As everydayupsanddowns said, she explained in layman’s terms that the condition could be broken down to three stages. - freezing, frozen and thawing. That’s just what’s happening with me. I had three sessions with her during the frozen stage. She gave me hands on manipulation and a series of exercises and I am now recovering well, probably in the thawing stage. I’m not quite back to normal but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[happydog]

I had a frozen shoulder some years ago. The pain was severe. I was given two steroid injections which did not help at all and the consultant said that I would have to accept that I would never get complete use of my right arm again. I wasn't happy. I had physio that did not seem to help much. I got some exercises and did them every day and very slowly it got better and I now have complete use of my right arm. Sorry to say that it took just over a year. The plus side is that it does seem to get better. Good luck with it.

 

[DaveB]

Cochrane disagrees: https://www.cochrane.org/CD011275/M...rcise-for-frozen-shoulder-adhesive-capsulitis (that's comparing manual therapy and exercise against steroid injections). They also consider oral steroids https://www.cochrane.org/CD006189/MUSKEL_oral-steroids-for-shoulder-pain-adhesive-capsulitis and there's a more general overview https://www.evidentlycochrane.net/frozen-shoulder-2/

I know this is slightly off-topic. Thanks for the web links. I'm sure manipulation will help some people but steroids may only help with the pain as there isn't any inflammation to damp down. The shoulder capsule clamps down for unknown reasons and is not inflamed as such. As the links say, steroids would need to be repeated every few weeks/months so something like amitriptyline may help. Long-term use of NSAIDs would not be a good idea if you value your kidneys as my wife has Stage 4 CKD probably as a result of using ibuprofen long-term.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

As the links say, steroids would need to be repeated every few weeks/months so something like amitriptyline may help. Long-term use of NSAIDs would not be a good idea if you value your kidneys as my wife has Stage 4 CKD probably as a result of using ibuprofen long-term.

Those are fair points, and perhaps the linked pages should have been clearer about what the steroids are doing (and not doing), though maybe the intended audience understands better than I do.

I guess the main (rather discouraging) message is that frozen shoulders aren't straightforward to treat, and when you get one you can expect to have it for a while and the available drugs are mostly about pain management. (And maybe manipulation is largely that, too.)

 

[miguel81]

The only thing that cleared my shoulder pain and movement was in fact 3 cortisone injections over 5 months. No trouble since.

 

[Ljc]

The only thing that cleared my shoulder pain and movement was in fact 3 cortisone injections over 5 months. No trouble since.

I agree The Cortisone injections helped me an awful lot , much more than the physio ever did .

 

[ladyengineer]

Thank you for the responses. It sounds very much like it's a very personal journey and what works for one person is not necessarily going to help the next. I get the impression that the medical advice and response is widely varied ... hmm that sounds familiar.
I guess keeping it as mobile as possible through the physio and exercises is about all I can do for now.

L