Frozen shoulder and M.E.

Bones, joints and muscles
1

I am sure I have asked this before, but has anyone out there had M.E. and fozen shoulder a double whammy. I find them impossible to live with.

2

Excuse my ignorance Alison but what is M.E.??

3

Sorry I should have said. M.E. myalgic encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (some say these are not the same desease) It has also had its name changed to systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease.

I am extremely exhausted all the time. I am only up about 6 hours in the day. Everything I do exhausts me. After my shulder injury my M.E. bacame a lot worse.

4

Hi Alison. No I don't have ME, I know this condition is exhausting in itself with the pain, so I can't imagine how you must be feeling. I can't be of any help, but I can listen. I'm sorry.

5

yes, alison. i've got the treble wammy. ME & one a half frozen shoulders. an x-ray of one shoulder showed arthritic changes. i presume the other is the same as the pattern of pain & exacerbation triggers are the same i.e. cold weather, exhaustion. i don't get ANY sleep, so it's a lot of fun NOT. what kind of help have u had from the Medics?

Caitlin

6

Ditto again. My other shoulder now is showing signs of getting frozen the same kind of pain, but not the stiffness yet.  I am taking pain killers. I have had physio which has made it worse. I have made another appointment with the orthopaedic clinic for next week. What I really want is a scan just to see what is going on inside my shoulder before I have any more of anything. I feel that if they do not know what the damage is from my fall 3 months ago, what do they know to treat!!!" I am hoping they will say yes to one, but I have a feeling I will be offered an injection. I have been offered aqua puncture, but am not sure about it as there are risks and it probably won't help and my physio is going to give it to me and he is the one that made my shoulder worse with over doing things on my shoulder. So I have lost faith in him.

I have asked my doctor to refer me to an M.E. clinic after 32 years of having the condidition this is the first time I have felt the need. I have been bad in the past but not nearly as bad as this. In the past I have delt with it in my own way, pacing myself and resting.

Alison

7

hi Alison. i'm afraid, that i don't go with the 'standard' one size fits all approach to dealing with FS. there are many causes/triggers for this condition and Physio for an inflamed part in my opinion, only adds insult to injury. common sense suggests that one cannot cure something unless one knows how it evolved in the first place. so at the very least an MRI or/and an x-ray are imperative starting points. i suggest insisting on one.

Caitlin

8

I agree I have had three xrays in he first 6 weeks but I do think I should have a scan. The fact that my F.S. started after my injury suggests this is important to make  a proper diagnosis actually I have been saying this all along but have just been fobbed off each time. Not any more.

So far I have just gone along with what the medical profession has advised but look where that has got me. Thanks for your encouragment in suggesting I insist on a scan. Alison