Hello all fellow sufferers of FS - how do you cope? One year ago I fell downstairs (vertigo) fractured my neck and had severe pain in upper left arm, felt like a very bad bruise and a swollen but not broken wrist. Neck healed, pain in my upper arm remained and could move it but not do up bra etc without severe pain. Had an injection in my shoulder - made it worse. 11 months on I fell down a shorter flight of stairs (return of vertigo!) on to same bad shoulder/arm. Now frozen and pain from neck to finger tips all the time and even worse at night. Can't take oral pain relief tablets has anyone tried pain relief patches? The pain is so bad I can't do anything and I am getting seriously depressed and being driven to despair, its like being in constant childbirth labour! constantly having to massage my arm including from elbow to wrist and palm of hand into fingers. Given conflicting advice by every medical person seen so far. Seems it is likely multiple problems but still no MRI, xray shows no broken bones in shoulder. Read most of the discussions, not many triggered by injury unless I have missed those. Any support groups locally in Cornwall where we could at least cry openly! Thanks, Penny
Hi Penny.....has anyone done an ultra sound to make sure you don't have a torn rotator cuff.
My arm constantly ached, that deep bone kinda ache. If I bumped it or forgot and reached further than I should of, I would almost drop to the floor in agony. I could do or undo my bra, I couldn't reach my left arm ( bad arm) across my body to put deodorant under my right arm. I couldn't sleep, I just didn't know where to put my arm, it just ached so much.
anyway long story short, the ultra sound found a full thickness rotator cuff tear. Surgery was the only option.are you positive it's F/S and not a torn rotator cuff? 😊
Hi Kerri, thanks for responding. After the first fall, 3 months later the injection was given via ultrasound and they said no rotator cuff tear, after this second fall a month ago I don't know. I have had the exact symptoms you describe and if I sneeze I am rolling around like I have been hit by a bus and everyone thinks I am exaggerating the pain. Guess the frozen bit after the second fall may be on top of a rotator cuff tear. Two falls without the first problems being diagnosed is not helping matters. Did the surgery cure your problem?
I had 2 ultra sound guided steroid injections, one in December one in January, they never mentioned a tear either, that ultra sound is really just to guide the needle into the right place.
I then had an ultra sound on its own, they said I had an inflamed bursa, still didn't find the tear. It wasn't till end of February that I told my GP I wanted a second ultra sound at a different place as I wasn't happy with the first ultra sound. The second ultra sound guy found a tear, my GP then referred me to an Orthopaedic surgeon who did his own ultra sound and confirmed a full thickness tear. Surgery was my only option, done arthroscopically 3 weeks later. I am now 7 weeks post op.....NO pain at all. Spent 6 weeks in a sling while tendon knitted back onto bone.......now doing very passive physio till week 12 then starting to strengthen the muscle. 12 months till full range of motion.....BUT I am pain free Penny. Just make sure that isn't what you have. The pain prior to op was absolutely debilitating and often took my breath away 😊
Hi Kerri, thank you so much for this information - i am going back to my GP to get a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon to conduct his own ultrasound ! At the moment I am being referred back to the hand and wrist surgeon to assess my wrist pain having been told it is the quickest way to get me referred on to see someone about my shoulder. I don't think they have any idea how ill it makes you feel and each day is so difficult to try and get through. So pleased to hear you are now pain free and on the road to recovery, I will revert back and let you know how I get on. Thank you 
Yes please let me know how you get on Penny.
Your medical system definately is different to ours here in Australia. No offence, but your system seems to stuff you around a lot....I have been on this forum for probably about 3 months and the stories I have read about the proverbial run around is very sad.....as many people are suffering this insidious condition and not much seems to get done about it.....
Hi Kerria
I had an accident at work I December 2013 and was in agony with a sore shoulder and neck , had physio and cortisone injections which did no good! I was off work for 5 months with constant shoulder and neck pain , I was forced in to going back to work with threat of half pay! Finally after a lot of pleading I got an app with orthopaedic consultant and had xray that showed I had an acromioclavical injury!! I was told physio had made it worse and cortisone injection given by GP was in wrong place! I had surgery on the first of February 2015 where they carried out subacromial decompression and excision of distal clavicle and also release of my bicep tendon which was badly frayed! At my follow up at 8 wks post op Consultant informed me I had frozen shoulder , I knew something was wrong with the amount of pain I have. I have physio weekly and all that does is give me more pain. I had shower this morning and trying to wash my hair is almost impossible with left hand, I tried a normal bra today instead of a vest and really struggled to tie it St the front and then slip it round, it's sooo painful can't put arm behind back at all can't sleep unless propped up with more pillows it's a living nightmare !!! I have follow up on 17th June with consultant and he has indicated if it wasn't any better he would take me back in and remove the adhesive capsule ,so role on June I just want to have a normal life 😊 I really feel for you and hope you get some relief soon big hugs xx
My frozen shoulder happened after an injury. I fell due to no fault of my own.
I won't go in to details but had useless treatment from the nhs and it got worse. I fell 4 and half months ago. I am very depressed too. It ha stopped me doing everything I enjoy, nothing is the same. I can't do my work I can't drive everyday chores and dressing are a nightmare. I wnet privately in the end. I had a scan this moring which showed I did not have a rotator cuff tear (I have been asking for one from the nhs the nearest date they could give me was July) It is such a relief i do not have a tear. I had hydrodilation this moring and if that does not work I will have to have keyhole surgery. I really hope it gets better as I can't imagine going on like this for much longer. My husband is not very undeerstanding, but he does drive me to all my appointments. I have M.E. as well and it has made it 10 times worse.
Best of luck
Alison
Hi Alison
Sounds as if you've had a right time of it. I know what you mean about NHS ! I struggle to drive and with lots of day to day tasks. I worry when I do go in to town that I will bump into someone from work and because they can't see anything it looks as if there is nothing wrong with you. I would never have known how painful frozen shoulder was until I ended up with it. I hope your treatment gives you relief and a proper rest take care xx
Hi Kerri, glad to hear that in Australia you seem to get less of the run around. After pushing hard I got a short ntoice appt for yesterday to see the hand and wrist surgeon within whose power it is supposed to be to refer me immediately to the shoulder surgeon decided by my GP as the quickest way to get attention. On arrival computers not working properly and he could not access my notes (second time this has happened) also said that it is only the GP who can refer now to consultant but that he would try when I explained to him just how much pain I am in. He wanted to give me another cortisone injection, this time in my wrist as he thinks I also have carpal tunnel now but I fought against this because of side effects last time. I said I just want a clear diagnosis of the problems from shoulder to hand as it is now a year since my first accident and have still not had an mri of my shoulder yet or seen a consultant about it. Excuse the pun but the left hand doesn't seem to know what the right is doing in the NHS. I will now go back to my GP again for another letter in case the consultatn doesnt get anywhere. So this has put me back a further 8 weeks , in the meantime physio are wanting to work on me (only 6 sessions allowed with the NHS before having to be re referred!) on the basis it is nerve damage from my neck which may well be right but worried I will be forcing my shoulder to move when not fully diagnosed as to the problem and previous physio has not helped. I cant drive my manual car any more and housebound much of the time in a rural area with no income and little savings left which I was going to spend on a secondhand automatic car to enable me to get back working but now think I need to try and find a private surgeon to see if anything can be done which will likely take every penny left but I just have to do something to stop this level of pain. In response to Alisons comments I also have a partner who is less than understanding which doesn't help and I am sure this impacts on recovery psychologically. To everyone out there who appreciates how you don't want anyone to knock into you or grab your arm I am working on a product to help address this through a social enterpise (profit for people and the planet) I was setting up even before I had my own injury - the irony isn't lost on me - will want input from as many of you have gone through this to support this work. Meanwhile if anyone knows of a good private surgeon in the west country that would be great to know about too. Will keep you posted and it is comforting to share similar stories, knowing you are not an alien and even better when you hear of a positive outcome and eventual pain free living again!
Oh my goodness....what a damn joke Penny. I honestly feel for you, I have spoken to many people on this Forum, and to be honest many many of them have been completely let down by the NHS. It's very sad, I know how excruciating the pain is and how debilitating to you and your lifestyle it is. Throw in a partner that doesn't understand.......you poor darling 😩, you are getting the proverbial run around from all directions.
Your right about the MRI don't they need that to diagnose what the problem is.......I had an ultra sound that diagnosed the tear in my rotator cuff, the bottom line it was diagnosed, that's the main thing. I've been told the MRI can be quite uncomfortable on your shoulder and I know someone that couldn't complete it because of the pain, she is now waiting for a MRI under anaesthetic through the NHS, God now show long she will have to wait. Anyway I think your best bet is to somehow see an orthopaedic shoulder specialist. I wish you all the best and hope and pray you get a resolution soon I'm sending you gentle but living hugs 😘❌❌❌❌❌
I had the hydrodilation on Monday. It did not hurt just slightly uncomfortable. I ws given exercises to start the next day and then physion yesterday. so far I have been able to hang out the washing, take my trousers off the normal way, fill the washing machine, lift pans i could go on.
I have more movement, not a lot but the pain has gone. I just cannot beleive it. I am just hoping it continues in this way. I am just about to have a shower now and am going to try and put my bra on the normal way, I think that might just be pushing it a bit but you never know.
Woo Hoo Alison.......that's great news, here's hoping it stays that way and you experience the journey back to normality 😘❌❌❌❌
Could not do my bra up, but I can reach slightly further behind my back.
Hi Jan, sorry to hear that you have had two things in succession and think your concerns about physio making a situation worse are fully justified when they all seem keen to push us into physio before any proper diagnosis is made. I think that sometimes they dont appreciate there can be multiple problems especially following a trauma induced frozen shoulder. Unless there is just one thing they can deal with they are stuck, it is bad enough trying to get someone who deals with the whole arm instead of one expert for the shoulder, one for the elbow and another for the hand and wrist - not forgetting that neuro are also involved if the neck is! You had an injury and they have dealt with the one thing when perhaps you already had a frozen shoulder starting too as it appears that the symptoms are difficult to distinguish between the various causes from what I am reading on this site. Two people I know explained their symptoms and one turned out to be the shoulder and surgery cured it, the other it was her neck and surgery to her neck cured it but the symptoms were the same. Also with frozen shoulder many just say you have to go through the stages and it will come right again in the end but can take years! I am finding with the NHS that the quality of treatment and qualifications of those advising are being diluted as a way of moving you through the system more slowly but at the risk of conditions being aggravated or becoming chronic when at A & E they could deal with all this much better. I would have gone home with a broken neck if it wasnt for a very caring doctor standing up against the opinions of others and erring on the side of caution to protect me until another opinion could be sought. I am so thankful to him. Since then though no one joins the dotted lines and you have to fight for everything. I have been advised by sufferes to take powdered turmeric, use epsom salts in the bath and use Birch Arnica body oil when my lovely daughter calls around and massages it in for me. Soothing if not curing and that all helps
Hi Alison
That's fantastic news and must be such a relief for you 😊 hope it continues to improve and you can get back to a normal life xx
Hi Penny, I've wrote down my story on other forum threads, & the. Symptoms ring true with me..my second FS...then a fall (caused by instability of FS while trying to step over a tiny fence!) that sent my pain level through the roof....its a long story. I'll try tto summarise. Started in my thumb went to hand consultant, she advised injection fora nerve/tendon condition De Quervains (though looking back 10 months ago, it was mis diagnosed & was the start of FS)I kept saying my upper arm is painful etc...no one listened...had steroid injection in wrist...FS continued to worsen, and have had physio no, useless, more painful& wrist not improved infact the range of movement is more restricted , which is so worrying & serious. My shoulder has all the usual FS hellish symptoms as we all are suffering...I am sure it's hormone/ag/stress related ...in my case anyway, but obviously falls/trauma must also trigger & other related conditions I've read thyroid diabetes cardiac etc etc etc can also be triggers...I'm now at the insisting on a shoulder specialist referral , have to wait 2. More agonising sleepless months...I like you wish. There were face to face support groups, this is torture, & my family & friends who were supportive, have given up, not knowing what to do or how to help...& a bite tired of hearing it!...its so stressful & restricting I'm trying to be strong, but afterendless sleepless nights, I'm just 'done in'! & Im a positive person, so I dread to think ...if I wasn't!!dont want to harp on but I just wanted to let you know I sympatise & feel your pain! please let me knowhow you get on, btw my last FS was eventually helped with hydro dilation...I'm praying I will get this at some point, though who knows with the NHS, its a bit of a lottery at the moment!
Louise
Hi Louise, sorry to hear that you are suffering so much too, it is absolute hell isnt it. I think you may be right in that hormones can aggravate it further perhaps and some forums suggest this can be the cause although for some of us trauma injury is definitely the trigger. I am 54 and end of menopause now. Tuesday I went to referral back to hand and wrist surgeon who I was told would refer me on quicker to shoulder consultant as well as deal with my wrist. Couldn't access my info on the computer (both times I have seen him this has happened) he said the system has changed and had to go back to GP again for separate referral but that he would try and do something for me when he agreed he could not really help with the wrist until we know what part the shoulder is playing in it all. He also suggested cortisone into the wrist to see if it helps as it might now be carpal tunnel too. I objected on basis it caused me more problems last time and havent had any diagnostic info i.e. xray on wrist since latest fall which has clearly made everything worse. Friday went to private physio gentle massage for therapeutic purposes and told I had the most badly injured shoulder seen in a long time. Pain on Friday so bad (like the knocked into you pain but not recovering) ended up phoning GP and asking for serious pain relief not via the stomach (IBS) advised to try ibrupofen gel on skin and I asked about patches - finally got some prescribed by GP but told it will still affect my stomach. Stuck in town I could not move for the pain I was in and got to the hospital A & E - they bent my wrist back and forth and moved my arm pushing it further than it wants with FS when already in 10/10 pain and told me I probably have regional pain syndrome and gave me codeine tablets - would not do any further investigations and said they cannot refer me to anyone other than suggesting I get referral to pain clinic from GP as there is no physical cause for the pain. when you are in agony it is hard to try and push any point like how do they know whats wrong when no ultrasound or mri ? My arm and shoulder are red hot to the touch. Told them this and they said it was because I was rubbing it, I told them it is like this anyway I just rub it to try and ease some of the pain. Tried the gel, didnt work but stomach not affected so at least something. Put on first patch - slow release of painkiller 10microgram per hour - called BuTrans - Buprenorphine. will take 24 hours to start to take affect. Likely to cause drowsiness and nausea but heres hoping it wont or that this will be better than the pain. I will let you know if it works. Have hardly slept and cannot do a thing except type this one handed while rocking in pain. Daughter found another specialist NHS clinic in Plymouth and spoke to them on the phone, they seemed really efficient and caring and advised me to get immediate referral there from GP and they will see me within a week. Also suggested acupuncture so will try this too but travelling to appointments not much fun and cost of all of it too will shortly be prohibitive. Fingers crossed. Gentle hugs to all of you going through this pain x
Hi first thanks for sharing second apology in advance for any spelling mistakes all down to FS!!
sorry to hear the pain went 10/10 ?.. hoping the patches help, though I hear the battle your having to get any help, meanwhile in agony.
No joke it's pure torture trying to get anyone to listen & act on that ...I was saying on another thread re health professionals sharing best practise with this
condition...as is a common ailment. Seems v odd that there's no course of
'standard' diagnostic path, which then leads on to treatment & hopefully
improvement. Everyone is getting so many mixed messages, this leads to
lengthy delays in recovery, & months/years of excruciating pain ( no one
should suffer in so much pain in 2015!) one only has to read this forum!
I realise that I haven't actually been scanned or even X-rayed on my shoulder which is usually the first step in any sort of ' injury' as basic!
im just going to now start a nagging campaign to my GP to insist I get x, y, z in stead of quietly suffering! At the end of the day, it's us that is having to deal with it...not family friends or the health professionals...it's like a bit of a battle!
Btw I tried acupuncture, worth a try.. Maybe even to feel ' pro active' in DIY treatments! I do v v gentle Aqua excercise...just to keep moving, as I'm not feeling as generally motivated &/ or mobile to excercise, cycle or frankly lift anything! So many things are a no go my life is on hold, as I can't use my arm normally, I want to scream with frustration ....instead I write on this form...,which helps!
pre FS non of this applies to the ' normal' me! I just like us all, need my normal self back ASAP! & until that time keep pushing for pain relief methods,hydro dilation & basic treatment & support ....we're only human
after all!
If I find anything that's helping I will post it up, as by us all sharing we will find our way through this....power of positive thinking....& all that!
Keep going 
Louise
My sleeplessness is worsening, it's every night I'm woken in pain, I realise that after
Hi Kerri, how is your recovery going? a lot happens in a few days; ended up in A & E Friday because I could not move with the pain and stuck in town not able to cope with public transport trip home and then walk. Doctors there said they believe it is regional pain syndrome caused by the brain and no physical cuase for the pain and that I need a referral to a pain management clinic as this is my only option. Told me there is nothing wrong with my shoulder but would not allow me to have any diagnostic tests. Sent me away with painkillers which I had already said I could not take. Went back to my GP (fourth different GP in as many weeks from same surgery and each one has had a different opinion/comments, each contradicting their colleagues) who said I was referred to physio now and that was sufficient. I put forward the request to refer to the specialist NHS clinic in Plymouth for diagnosis and if necessary treatment but had to really fight for a referral, not easy when in such pain - she even stated it was going to cost (meaning her practice!) I argued that I have not been properly diagnosed since the first injury a year ago and instead had numerous conflicting diagnosis and have been through physio twice already. Dont know if she will actually make the referral and if she does if it will be to the clinic I have asked for. So much for patients choice. Hand/wrist surgeon secretary phoned me to say he coul dnot make an internal referral to shoulder specialist either and commented on not knowing what is going on with the system as patients being blocked in all directions Had a light bulb moment and phoned a specialist sports injury physio clinic I went to years back ( luck would have it the same very experienced and qualified man who correctly diagnosed bulging discs when told by my GP nothing wrong back then still operating) and he immediately saw me, used ultrasound and confirmed the frozen shoulder and not neck as cause of the pain and said they have great success using Radial Shockwave Therapy, very few failures. Had the first session there and then which was pretty uncomfortable but then nothing is going to be pleasant when in such pain anyway, immediately had slight improvement on movement range. Exercises to do alongside but he reckons that after 2 or 3 sessions the movement will be almost back to normal and pain relieved. I hope so ) If it works then better than surgery. He also looked at my wrist and it is full of fluid, hence the swelling but thinks that this may all improve when the shoulder is dealt with and agreed with my own thoughts that it is better to avoid investigative surgery on that until the shoulder is improving. This cost me £40 - if I went privately to a hospital the ultrasound alone would cost about £300 and god only knows what the NHS get charged. Why oh why can't someone see that the system could be changed so very quickly to help people more quickly - most people are in a chronic state by the time the correct diagnosis and treatment is offered. A little compassion would also go a long way to help rather than being made to feel you are wasting their time and making things up. I will let you know how it goes. I will take up the physio offer and work on the exercises and will still hang on for the referral in case it doesnt work or something else is found but at least I feel I am doing something and my condition is acknowledged. Thank you for your hugs and sharing them back with you x