Due to have this surgery Nov 16. Frozen shoulder for 8 months. Excruciating pain stopped nearly 3 months ago, but still hardly any movement. Physio unsuccessful. Never pleasant to have surgery -am tempted to wait this out. There are pros and cons to surgery as ever. surgeon dying to get his knife on it - (had same procedure on other shoulder for different problem 5 years ago and very successful). However, that problem would never have resolved without surgery and this will. Really can't decide what to do...,!
Hi Sarah! I'm sitting in your exact same boat except I'm only at 51/2 month my pain dropped about a month ago but it still hurts! My surgery is set for November 30th! I am meeting with another shoulder dr on the 10th and the 14th to get 2 more opinions then I will decide 2 weeks before surgery to do it or not! Such a hard decision but I think if either of the other dr says I should do it I will go for it! My new MRI shows something off from my original surgery on June 1st for a labrum tear so I'm afraid that the mua part with rip that again if it already shows weekness on MRI! I hope things go well for you! I will post to this feed after I see the other 2 surgeons although thAt will be just days before you go in!
I had the surgery and the only difference is recovery is a bit faster also it was all paid for by work cover and I needed to get back to work, if I had a job where I didn't need full motion I would have waited it out
Ah interesting- I can wait it out for work but wanted to volunteer in Europe next May - need two arms really - it could be a whole load better by then . why would you have waited it out? Thanks
Thanks Alison, I'll look for your updates!
Hi Sarah. I had ACR about 6 weeks ago. I was pretty much pain free before the op but with poor range of movement. I also debated whether to go through with the surgery but opted to in the end. Have had some measure of pain ever since the op, but it is reducing slowly. Worst at night, still need pain killers to get to sleep. ROM is definitely improving with PT and exercises.
I am not sure even now whether I would go for surgery rather than wait it out. I think on balance the surgery route is better but of course I don't know what it would have been like without it.
I'm not exactly sure what that is. It I did manipulation under anesthesia which I think is similar and as far as I'm concerned there was no downside to that and it really helped me. That procedure involves no cutting and you are under anesthesia for only 15 minutes.
Arthroscopic Capsular Release is a procedure using keyhole surgery techniques whereby the surgeon cuts away the adhesions inside the joint capsule. It is a very quick procedure usually done under GA, although mine was just done with a nerve block. You just get left with two tiny scars and a much better ROM! I think ACR is similar to MUA, though a little more controlled. Both techniques are used on the NHS, and there is a trial running to determine the best type of FS treatment (see my other thread ).
Hi Jull it's different to MUA, they go in and scrape away the build up of scar tissue and adhesions, most people have a 1mm thickness around their capsule, mine was 6mm, MUA is moving your arm to full range of motion, while having the ACR the surgeon will usually do an MUA at the same time
Just because it's major surgery and it might only be the difference of 6 months if I had left it and I wouldn't have been able to afford it, especially having 4 months off work all up
Hi there
I''ve cancelled my op and have decided to wait it out. I can function without full range of movements and so on balance I'm happier avoiding a general anaesthetic. I know I'm months away from recovery but, never mind - my shoulder will recover on its own eventually. Thanks all for your comments - good to know I'm not on my own!
Hi Sarah What about a cordisone and saline injection, the cordisone stops inflamation and the saline expands the joint. I have talked to to people who have had it done and said it fixed it in no time with no pain and full movment back quickly
Cheers Rick
Hi Jull, I had my capsular release and mua and wanted to check how you were? I'm only a week out of surgery but I think I remember that you used the dynasplint to help can you refresh me on your recovery process?
Hi Rick the injection only works if the adhesions are not too thick, I had the injections done and it was the most painful thing I've ever had done, it did nothing but my adhesions were 6mm thick 6 times what they should be.
I realise this is an old thread but thought it worth a shot asking my question.
I had capsular release 7 weeks ago and I’m in worse pain now than prior to the operation. I am doing physio but for the last week I feel each morning my range of movement is decreasing and the pain is increasing. I’m still icing and using heat pack as per physio instructions but I’m at the end of my tether now. I’m taking paracetamol and tramadol with little change, it takes the edge off at best and I’ve horrific burning pain in my bicep. Everything I’ve read online says people can go back to work within a month which suggests to me that by 4 week pain shouldn’t be an issue, if anyone has any first hand experience of their post operative journey I would greatly appreciate it.
sarah
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thanks for posting 3 months ago. you have me heart. thought my recovery was not going to plan.
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had decompression surgery and ACR done at the some time. feels lime i am going backwards. post 10 weeks.
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that bicep tendon i could cut out and throw away it is so angry. also the deltoid at the top is really peeing me off.
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done everything by the book. constant stretching everyday through the pain.
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have hired a Continuous passive motion machine to help movement. been to physio every other day putting me through hell.
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recovery is so slow. hard mentally. and disappointing. i had wandered the house if a night with a really deep ache .
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give me some good news have you pulled it off and how was it. i am due back at work in 8 days. i am a carpenter and do heavy work
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struggling colin
hi everyone in the ACR club
if anyone is still posting how was it and how did it go .
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i posted last week now 10 weeks post ACR and decompression surgery.
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really need to find out what some if the out comes were. me done it by the book. big ups massive downs.
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back at work next week phased in. lets just see if it holds up. my job is a carpenter. bi lateral frozen left 30 months. right 24 months.
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decompression right done post 6 months ACR left post 10 weeks.
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big down was post 8 days wasp landed on the newly operated shoulder tried to instinctivly flick it away. tore the shoulder muscles and dropped the shoulder blade out of position.
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try exercising with that as well. had a CPM for the full time. going back off hire 3 days time. .
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is anyone happy with the outcome how did you all do and what has helped with recovery .fellow sufferers are still searching for answers and tips.
please respond if you pick this up
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a fellow shoulder member
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colin
i keep on adding to this thread
i saw the surgeon yesterday. post 9 weeks. even with all the subsiding aches i still have. and some are grim on some days.
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he was happy with progress and it is natural to have this ache. he explained that technically he parted the ball of the shoulder from the cup.
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yup see why it aches. scar stop forming around 5 month. i have to keep up the stretches and physio.
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so if you read this and are still aching its normal and it takes a long time
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c
Hi. I am about to have this exact surgery that you had.: arthroscopic manipulation. Could yo tell me when I would probably be able to drive lightly and function, if everything goes well? how long was it for you?
Hi. I had Arthroscopic Capsular Release, which is perhaps not quite the same as arthroscopic manipulation.
I had the operation several years ago now, and memories are a bit sketchy. However, I think I was driving short distances within a couple of weeks. I had about 4 weeks of physiotherapy (weekly manipulation sessions in a clinic and daily home exercises) and full range of movement gradually came back.
Hope this is of some help.