Anyone out there had this surgery? After suffering for a considerable time, missing the stage for injection I have surgery in a few days. I'm interested to hear others experiences post surgery, particularly around pain/mobility and return to work.
Thansk in advance, Mandy
Hi,
I had capsular release surgery on 13th Feb, so roughly three weeks ago.
My experience.
I woke up after the op with my arm upright in a suspended sling completely numb due to the nerve block thing. It was really weird as I felt that my arm was on my chest. The surgeon then came in moved it around, it looked like a rubber arm, it was a strange sensation. Next morning physiotherapist came in and started me on simple exercises that I felt were impossible to do, but slowly I was able to do most of them. Went home with the list of exercises to do every hour or so. As the numbing wore off pain did start, but nothing like the hell of FS. Took nurofen and paracetamol and was told to heat the shoulder before exercises and ice after, I did this and it makes a difference. After a couple of days I was able to go pain killer free, which was such a relief. I did not lift anything with the arm or drive for about 10 days.
It is amazing how quickly you start to feel better, once the dressing comes off (after 10 days) and you can wash your hair properly, I even managed to get my hair into a wonky ponytail! After two weeks I began to feel more like my old self, more energy as I am able to sleep better. I slept in one of those pillows with the long arms that surround you, I'm not sure of the exact name but you can get them online, I would suspend my arm over it to keep the arm open and not clamped to my side.
My range of movement was good, with support slowly I could lift it to shoulder height, then slowly over my head (lying down) every day you start to go a little further. You will need to be off work for at least a week, two if you can swing it, depending on the sort of job, journey to work you have.
I am returning to the gym tomorrow as I now feel able to do a Zumba class again,(gently) just to get the blood flowing and am booking a holiday to Florida, now that I feel so much better.
Don't worry about the op, it is a godsend, I highly recommend it, at least now I am going in the right direction. In case you are worried about the scars, dont, they really are tiny, one on the front of my shoulder and one behind - about 1cm.
Physio: Have had 2 so far, one was just exercises and one was hands on, which was a bit daunting, but they only go to the pain then stop, then try again.
Hope this info helps, good luck for your surgery, you will be fine. I will keep you posted on my progression.
Cheryl
Am starting to plan holidays
yes i had it on my right shoulder and after a few weeks of physio it was as good as new , well almost
Thank you both for your responses, that's reassuring - as you know when we are literally stuck in this frozen stage, in pain and hardly sleeping, looking like wurzel gummidge most days you can't remember what it's like to be able to move properly - it's great to hear positive experiences (and quick results by the sounds of it!) - thank you both!
Was your frozen shoulder due to an injury? How did you miss the stage for injections? I have had my frozen shoulder 9 weeks due to an injury and injections have not been offered yet and I do not fancy having an operation. I was told by the orthopeadic doctor that it will get better. It is showing no signs of it yet, in fact the last three days it seems little worse and now the other shoulder is hurting. I see my doctor tommorrow so will ask for another referal. I have booked some private physio to go along with the n.h.s. physio, i am hoping this will help.
Good luck with the op. Let us know how you get on.
alison
Good luck, it's the build up and anxiety that's worse. You'll wake up in a sling with a numb arm, due to a nerve block. Mine lasted that evening. I was a day patient and had good family support afterwards...you'll need it too.
my op was last October and I had to have (mua) manipulation under anaesthetic in February because there was still some blockage in physio. Not as bad. Just stretching and manipulating woe you're asleep. I was paralysed before op 1, which probably hindered the success.
try hard to stick to your exercises and do as much as is bearable. Hot wheat bag on for 20 mins prior to physio and 20 mins ice pack afterwards.
it is a struggle and I thought I'd never get the uses of my arm again, but I'm on the mend and pain free!
I have tiny scars one at the front, one at the back and one on the middle outer shoulder.
good luck and here's to pain free and sleep filled nights.
ali
I had my capsular release on 1/14/2015 about eight weeks ago. I went to PT the day of surgery and everyday 4 days following my surgery. I took oxycodone 15mg Indocin and vistaril for about 5 days post op and then went to Motrin Vicodin and skelaxin. It was pretty painful but I did my exercises 3 times a day I am still in PT and will be for another month. I still have pain but it is manageable I would use warm moist heat and then exercise and then ice after exercising. The best place I found to stretch was the shower. Hope your surgery is successful good luck
Hi Alison, no my shoulder wasn't due to injury, initially on visiting the GP in November after suffering for around 3 months gradually getting worse he had said not frozen as too much mobility and suggested physio as I had insurance. 7 weeks of that and no further forward, more stiffening and pain horrendous over Christmas and New Year (luckily I was off work on planned holidays), back to work in Jan and had to come home from work one day due to the pain, made an appt for GP following week. I'd also not been driving daily so I could rest it every second day. Hardly sleeping for months then had to call in to work sick, thought a few days rest may help, cancelled physio as would have been impossible, the second day of absence was my planned gp appt, who again knowing I had insurance referred me to private orthopaedic surgeon, prescribed pain killers - waited 3 weeks for a private appt and surgeon diagnosed frozen shoulder within 5 mins and not touching me, he then examined my movement and I had an xray to determine no arthritis and he said too far advanced for injections to work - two options, leave it to run it's course (not an option) or surgery. Tomorrow, the day before surgery I will have been off work 8 weeks. I can't remember what 'normal' is now to be honest! Interestingly on my first visit to physio she thought the pain and restricted mobility was due to bad posture, using mobile, tablet and lap top. Apparently physios are seeing more and more of these injuries and about session 5 she had said 'this may result in a frozen shoulder' .... it does make me wonder if that was the original cause...
Thank you Ali, your advice is very much appreciated! Here's to continually healing for you.
Hi Janice, thanks for the advice and information. How are you finding the mobility after surgery? How soon were you able to drive after surgery? Thanks in advance.
Hi I have good ROM I can lift my arm over my head and out to the side I can reach behind my back to my bra line. I am still sore and stiff but am just using Motrin before PT and icing after. I drove 2 weeks after surgery. I was a little shakey the first time out. I will be 8 weeks post op tomorrow. I lost a lot of strength in my arm and have started strength training with my surgeons approval Hopevthis helps
Janice
Wonderful Janice, that's so helpful. It's great hearing others actual experiences as my surgeon actually said he'd had people return to work the next day but the more I read on experiences it didn't seem to be the norm, even the GP was hesitant. I'd far rather have a realistic idea about what to expect. Interesting about driving, it must have been weird after all that time. Hope your recovering continues well and is fully successful. Best wishes.
Hi I had mua/arthroscopy and sub acromiun decompression with release of adheshions on 9th Feb this year. So almost 5 weeks ago - I am still in pain and movements are still very limited - still cant wash/tie hair up still cant drive so you get the picture? I have recieved x3 lots physio - the consultant says I may need another mua 
My frozen shoulder started last July and I am at the end of my tether - nothing helps the pain - even Morphine When I first visited my GP he did offer me cortisone injection which I refused not realising how bad it would get! If only he had taken the time to explain FS I would have jumped at it! My FS came out of the blue - I dont know what caused it I tried a whole lot of alternative therapies all to no avail This dreadful condition needs more research! I wish you luck with your operation - just beware you may need further manipulation!
Hi Mandy,
I had arthroscopic capsular release on left shoulder back in August and two weeks ago had manipulation under nerve block to try and stretch capsule more after the ACR not having been as successful as consultant (or I) had hoped. This is after having had hydrodylitation 3 months earlier and steroid injection before that. Not to be outdone- this is all after having recovered from FS on the right being sorted with 2 lots of hydrodylitation.still
Returning to work tomorrow more out of 'guilt' than feeling much better as I still have a lot of pain, particularly continued referred pain down ran and at wrists. This is all quite disappointing seeing how my right shoulder recovered relatively quickly.
I do hope, and expect, you will have better luck than I have had as immediately after the ACR back in August I did feel considerably better than before the operation.
With regards to the pain. GA and nerve block should mean a blissful 8 hours plus of no feeling in your arm but the time it takes to end can vary quite dramatically between patients and treatments. (My nerve block in August was in morning at around 8.30am and lastest through until 8pm. My block a fortnight ago was at 2pm and wore off at 8.30pm... 11.5 hours versu 6.5 hours). You'll most likely have oral morphine to take as block wears off (prob. 5mls every 4 hrs) and also paracetamol, codeine and ibruprofen to take to ease the pain.
Every circumstance will be different so listen to your consultant's advice. I am still on the morphine every so often (2 weeks afterwards!) when the paracetamol, codeine and brufen dose not suffice.
Plenty of physio ( provided NHS don't call you up the day before to say physio unwell - twice now in 2 weeks - argh!!) andif you are not up to doing all the exercises then certainly at least walking around (dog has never been out and about so much!) should help.
wish you well.
Andy
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Mandy, I am 5 weeks post surgery. The first week was fairly miserable, but it was very important to keep up with the pain medication schedule. Don't let them wear off under any circumstances. This will allow you to be comfortable to sleep and let the physical therapist work on your shoulder. I have three small slits in my shoulder and the swelling is almost gone. I am still sleeping in the recliner as laying down in bed is still painful. But during the day it's ok. Only taking Advil during day times but I need strong Meds at night which is still pretty bad. Your doctor will be the best one to tell you when you can return to work, based on what he actually does in your shoulder and the type of work you do. Don't rush your recovery because if it fails you will be doing it again. Let it heal. The best advice I got was to get / borrow some bigger shirts with to be able to get your arm in without pain and not need underwear. Tank tops were impossible as was a simple tee shirt until I got to week 3.
I still wear the sling when I am out in crowds even tho I don't need it because it keeps people from bumping into me which is still surprisingly painful.
good luck. I am glad I did it, even though I may have to have more done soon.
How come you are offered physio every week or have I misunderstood. I have been only offered every three weeks.
i had the surgery and although i was good as new in after about a month of physio , well almost as good as new , so good luck with it , i eas told if i didnt do the exercises i was given it probably wouldnt work , so if you are given them make sure you do even if its a bit uncomfortable
Go for the mua Linda. I've not looked back! It was still blocked and physio couldn't budge it. I now have minimal pain and great movement. Good luck. X
Hi Ali, yes I most certainly will 
I'm seeing consultant on 2nd April & thats when he said he'll decide what to do. My other shoulder has been painful the last couple of days so I will ask him what he thinks of that one!!
My operated on FS feels like its freezing again my shoulder blade feels like its being pushed out & I'm getting tight squeezing feeling at the top of my arm - so distressing cos I so want to get on with my life! Anyway I will let everyone know how the consultation goes......Thank you Ali for your valuble input & support xx
I just had this surgery six days ago I am in excruciating pain always what could be wrong