I've went to see my GP after my upper arm really hurting for a month & my arm movements getting more restricted.
My GP sent me for physio who I saw today. He diagnosed me with frozen shoulder. My symptoms are VERY limited arm movements with the most intense awful burning pain in my upper arm muscle towards my armpit. This radiates down my arm and the back my wrist feels numb as if my watch is too tight. At no point though have I had ANY pain in my actual shoulder itself so I was very surprised when the physio said that's what I have.
Yes...very common to have pain running down the arm and some numbness/tingly feeling. When I feel real pain in my shoulder itself (and then it generalizes) is when I do any kind of movement that creates a yanking motion to my shoulder. So imagine trying to pull apart something sticky....when it finally breaks free...look out! This summer I was husking corn on the cob and this happened and I cried, felt nauseous, and had to sit on the floor as I was about to faint from the pain. Now I am super careful....even opening a package/mail....
Take care and I hope that you start to feel better soon.
Hi Hayley, it sound like frozen shoulder. My pain is towards the front of my shoulder, in my bicep, down my arm into my elbow and I get pins and needles thru my fingers also. Also pain down towards my breast.
The joys of 'frozen shoulder"
Unfortunately it doesn't stay just in the shoulder!
The excersises from the Physio will help though but it takes a really long time to get better ....,
This sounds all to familiar. My pain was more in my bicep, down my forearm elbow wrist and even fingers but I could not raise my arm without my whole shoulder lifting. I am thankfully out the other side. I had intence pain for months and many sleepless nights, but there is an end to this, I now have around 95% ROM back in my right arm.
Good to read your post and be given some hope Cindy. I'm still in the very painful stage. Some days and nights worse than others but hoping one day soon there'll be no more pain and a full nights sleep!
I had Xiaflex injections done in my FS. Is a protien that only eliminates collagen build up that causes the pain and loss of ROM
After two weeks went back in for manipulation and the had a splint and a couple weeks of therapy. That was 8 months ago and have full range og movement back and no pain.
My experience was identical to ours..but now almost a year since my diagnosis I'm no longer in intense pain but my ROM is still very restricted and I get slight muscular pain feeling on my shoulder now.. Hopefully this FS is working its way out ....
Hi Irene.you probably do not want to hear this because I know it feels like a life time away from where you are now but I think.it was around the 9 month stage when the pain subsided. Movement was still limited but oh the relief was immense.
My Physio says it's partly because some muscles are overworking and getting tired and sore, and partly because of reflected pain.
This week he was pressing on muscles at the back of my shoulder blades, the back of my shoulder blades felt nice, like they were un-knotting, but at the same time I had a horrible ache in my upper arm, he said that's where the pain is reflected to, from that muscle.
I see him once a week. I have a big improvement after seeing him and then the pain builds up again.
I've started having a turmeric drink each morning, magnesium tablet at night, sleeping with my sore arm resting on s pillow and am trying out a better quality pillow. Also doing exercises and trying to stretch.
Hi my symptoms are the same ..... it's so debilitating and feels like there's no end to it! I've seen a chiropractor and have been doing physio. I'm a very active person and not being able to do my yoga and swimming has really got me down ..... I have been given gabopentin pain killers( used for epilepsy)but they don't give any relief and have started to make me itch.sleeping on my back all night is so uncomfortable too Going back to my GP to see what I can do. I am normally a very positive person but really struggling to stay that way with this continual pain
Hi Tracy . I identify with your symptoms .I was originally diagnosed with frozen shoulder in February 2017 after experiencing very restricted movements in left shoulder and pain from shoulder to arm . Also at times pain in breast in same Side .i was sent for X-ray . Dr then said I have arthritic wear n tear in shoulder . However I seem to have pain right down from shoulder thru elbow to forearm . I find it difficult to get dressed and to drives I dint know if it's worth going back to see GP or not . I am on Naproxem and co codomal . Sorry for huge message . I just wondered have you found any other treatments effective ? Thanks in advance
This is how frozen shoulder starts. Get an X-ray to rule out other conditions though. If you don't get pain in your shoulder waking you up at night that's good. I am suffering from my second frozen shoulderš±. Tramadol didn't work last year, nothing did! This year I am on Naproxen, a friend used it for her frozen shoulder. I learnt a lot last year, so as soon as I felt the pain at night in my shoulder went to the doc. I also organised an early steroid injection. This is not pleasant but the pain I endured last year was beyond description. More and longer lasting than child birth! I set up a Pinterest board to help others. Do not put any heat on your shoulder, just frozen peas! Get a chiropractor too!
Hi, I have had 2 cortisone injections into the joint and 1 hydrodilatation ( cortisone with 50ml saline which is meant to 'blow apart' the frozen shoulder.) they only worked temporarily and I have just had a second surgery on my shoulder to clean out the damage (again) and the specialist is hoping this will fix it. Generally the injections work for most people , just not me