I am 3 months into frozen shoulder and the pain has been so bad at times . I have the steroid injection which gave no relief , been to Osteopath which made it worse. Over the last few weeks I have stuck to ice and heat and in bad days taken pain killers , over the last week the pain was starting to ease even though my movement was poor . I really had hoped that maybe I was about to enter second phase , however today I have woken to increase pain again . I just wondered can this happen in the first stage? . I had hoped that it was going to get better. Is it normal to get these fluctuations before it moves on. The pain throughout out as been bad in my upper arm ... Xxx
Hi Teresa,
I'm exactly the same. Mostly in pain although sometimes more bearable except at night time. I'm nearly 4 months in with FS and about to arrange steroid injection for some relief so I hope it works.
I hound that arm pain got worse if I used it too much. Have you looked into mua? That really helped me. It is now four and a half months later and I am Pain free and have mostly if my rom back.
Yes. Such fluctuations do seem to be normal I'm afraid. I certainly got them between the freezing and frozen stages. The dividing line between the two stages is very blurred. Even after surgery there are good days and bad days for no apparent reason although the general trend is less pain over time. Resting or exercising make little difference to the pain, but exercises definitely help to increase ROM.
Yes I'm at 5 months and at 3 months I kept feeling like I was about to hit frozen stage! About 4 month mark the pain level dropped from a constant 7-8 to a constant4-5 and would only go to 7 as the day progressed or if I used the computer or ag rebated it with something! At 5 months it is constant 1-2 pain which seems like nothing and gets to like a 4-5 when agrevayed very rarley hitting the 7 mark! I stopped at pt at the 3 month range as my dr told me it was time to dsi mua as I was suffering to much! He told me to stop pt since I was going to do surgery anyway! Now my pain level is so much better I'm struggling to follow through with mua which is scheduled for nov 30th! It's hard to make the decision to go back into pain after just escaping it! But living with little rom for possibly years is tough to! Have a second opion scheduled so we will see what I decide! Just rejoicing in the pain level drop for now! Hold on it sounds like you are nearing the end of the freezing stage you will notice the pain drop when it happens! Let it rest heat and ice and don't do to much let the inflammation settle and it will hit the frozen stage!
Hi Teresa.....u r quite right chiros and physios r no good for a FS shoulder. They cannot unstick the scar tissue. Hydrodilotation or an MUA or Trigenics which is expensive is the brave way forward. On my second FS enough was enough. .3 weeks after a MUA I am finally nearly without pain and getting sleep. Good luck...
So you have had good results from mua? Pain was only bad for 3 weeks? I'm so afraid to do it and go back to pain how bad was it? I'm scheduled for mua and capsular release on nov 30 but just can't stand the thought of being back in pain or causing it to start refreeezing? It will be 6 months since I got frozen shoulder from a labrum/biceps surgery?
Hi Alison. ...the nerve block was great but wore off the next morning. The MUA pain was similar to my FS pain. It didn't last long...48 hrs...then it settled down.I started physio two days after. She put me in the hydrotherapy pool. Amazing. Took all the aches away. I live near Teddington. A Council run pool. As soon as u get in the aches go and my arm lifts when I put an arm band on. My first three sessions were with a physio in the water. I do hydro on my own 3 times a week and land physio twice. She pulls it and it does hurt but she said the first six weeks are important .good luck
Im on Celecoxib 200 mg....an snti inflammatory for a month with co dydramol if I need it....I took them initially at night but use my TENS machine....good luck...
I hope the steroid injection works for you , it does for some people but I found it gave me more pain afterwards. Good luck xx
No I haven't looked into mua but have heard alot of people mention it . I will give it a go if it helps . Pleased you are pain free now must be so nice . X
Thanks for advice really helps xxx
Hi Teresa,
I am 4-1/2 months into FS. I too find that cortisone shots do nothing. They last until the morning then I'm in pain again. I had my first PT visit this past Friday and I was pleasantly surprised with it. I've got them scheduled twice a week through November. I hope that it will continue to help. My pain level since the PT on Friday is still constant but more about a 4-5 instead of the 8-9 I've been having since this started. I only hit a 10 (really about a 100!) when the arm moves suddenly away from my body. I never do that on purpose; but it's more of a reflex like catching something from falling. Then BAM!, I'm usually on the ground crying. I found this message board and appreciate reading everyone's experiences. It's nice to know we aren't alone, cause it sure feels like it sometimes. Good luck!
Sorry to hear this. I'm into my second year and although I have movement now I still have pain. Get yourself a TENS machine. They really help. Best of luck to you. X
Hi Alison. I had a similar dilemma to you. I had reached the frozen stage and pain was minimal although ROM was at its least. I was booked in for capsular release at the end of September but I was wondering whether to go through with it as the surgeon warned me there would be pain afterwards. Anyway I did go ahead (after one postponement by the hospital). The pain post-op was nearly at freezing stage levels for 2 to 3 weeks. but it has gradually I improved. It is nearly 5 weeks since the op now and the only significant pain is at night, and even that is improving. Still early days, but I think overall it was worth going through the surgery but of course you can never tell what it would have been like without it. Life is a gamble I suppose!
Hi I am 12 weeks after a fall wasn't told what damage I'd done but the specialist has now told me I have a frozen shoulder now my symptoms are just like yours I felt like I was reading about myself last Friday I thought ooh it doesn't seem to be as bad then wham on Sunday evening I've been In agony since I have even less movement than I had I've already had a cortisone injection and I'm due to have a distension guided injection next week so I've got my fingers crossed for some pain relief 😉 I hope you feel better soon hun it's not nice is it x
Hi Moll the d...g...injection sounds like a UK hydrodilatation....is that how u spell it...saline into joint....hope it goes well...I think FS is very individual. ..but looking back on my first I wish I had been more active in treating it ...I.e. hydro or MUA...anyway I'm 3 weeks after a MUA...chronic pain has gone...it's a grim condition..I've had four complete sleep nights in five months...good luck
I know it gets you down and you feel like it's never going to end . I feel like I just have to get on with it . My doctor says to just take pain killers to manage the pain and in time it will go. I just feel I have been pushed aside and left. Take care x 👎👎
Aww bless ya thanks I feel like I have been sofa surfing on and off for the last 12 weeks 😣 take care x
Nearly 4 months down the line in constant pain but for the first time this morning I've woken up after another bad night, and to my delight I actually feel a little more comfortable! I really hope this is my light at the end of the tunnel. 😀
I've been swimming regularly, doing a little physio and taking painkillers at night. Just wanted to share this with you guys because reading these posts has helped, informed and given me hope when I've felt down and sorry for myself.