My Frozen shoulder nightmare

Bones, joints and muscles
1

I've never posted anything before on a forum I'm completely new at this.

I have a small dog Norfolk terrier/jack Russell, he's lovely, but last October time after coming to the end of the walk I put him on an lead extension but hadn't locked it.i was talking at the time and did nt see him bolt which consequently jarred my arm/ shoulder.

something so small has completely changed my life seven months on.

saw the dr in January was diagnosed with tendonitis I did mention the dog incident too.

By the time we entered march and I had a cortisone injection my shoulder had started to freeze. 

I've seen a consultant and my gp neither has physically examined me and presumed it was tendonitis.

ive been signed off work as I have a physical job and my range of movement is down to 20% I'm in acute pain majority of the time.

this has taken over my life! my mum sadly passed away suddenly too ,adding to my now miserable life.

Anyway, I've given up with nhs, the waiting lists, the lack of care I've received and misdiagnosis. I've eaten into all my savings, had an mri done it's shown small tendon tear, bruising to the bone and soft tissue trauma.

ive seen a private consultant who's finally given me this diagnosis and I'm having on Monday next week this hydraulition injection.

I'm proud we have an nhs service in this country but after working all my working life and paying taxes I'm very disheartened that they've let me down.it really does seem to be postcode thing.my uncle is going through the same thing right now and couldn't wish for better treatment.

in total I've spent 800 quid on this shoulder, my savings have gone fingers crossed this injection works and life can resume some normality, although it will never be the same without my lovely mum by my side.

2

I'm so sorry for your loss. Chronic pain is very depressing too. This is a good forum for support and advice. Plus knowing you are not alone. My shoulder also started by falling over (oh to turn back the clock!), I had physiotherapy, injections and hard core painkillers that made me very ill, before I had surgery (capsular release) in Oct 14, it's given me the movement back and mostly taken the pain away, some days it aches and that worries me. I've spent nearly £6000 so far as I've gone private. I do support our NHS but for things like this it's very slow. I hope the treatment will soon bring you much needed relief. Karen x

3

Thankyou Karen for replying, I'm pleased you have some pain relief now and movement back. It's so completely debilitating isn't it? It's my left hand and I'm left handed, I have to think how to do simplest of tasks.

did you have this hydraulition injection? If this doesn't work then I'm able to have a second then if no joy the surgery that you've had.ill keep you posted. Thankyou again, it's very hard without my mum too.

4

I fell over about 11 months ago which resulted in a frozen shoulder. Like you I have been out of work. I take strong pain killers but it does not help me sleep. I am heading back to the specialist in a couple of week to see what else he can do. The first time I went to the specialist he just took the symptoms and gave a cortisone injections into the joint (did not work sad ) then said it was a frozen shoulder and he said he may take 3 years to fix.

I also get frustrated with the lack of assistance from the medics. 

5

Hi Sara. So sorry to hear of your troubles especially the loss of your mum. But it may help a little to know that I had hydrodilitation for my FS and although it was very painful, due to the tightness of my shoulder capsule, it did help and the drop down pain almost disappeared over night and my shoulder had about 70% ROM back within 9 months (I then had another accident with it but that's another story). That may seem a long time but this thing can last over 2 years. The NHS were brilliant with me. I started with a sore shoulder in September 2013, diagnosed immediately when i saw my GP in november (due to that hideous drop down pain) s

aw a consultant in December and had the op just after Christma

s. I am lucky to live only 5 minutes from one of the top ortho hos

pitals in the country and my GP had worked there. Sorry I'm ram

bling on. What a shame that NHS care is so random. I wish you l

uck with your op.

6

I've not had hydro dilation my surgeon went straight for the op in my case... I'm right handed and it was my right shoulder! It's usually the way ugh. Just getting dressed, showering eating and don't mention going to the loo! All a nightmare. I did self medicate with red wine of and evening when it got really bad! (Still do). There's so many of us out there all looking fine but in so much pain, I wish in some way it would glow red so there was evidence of just how very very painful this condition is! Anyway off to work for me now x

7

Karenmarie this made me giggle. How true your sentiments are. I wish you all the best. Xx

8

Hi, I am so sorry for your loss, also for the postcode lottery NHS. There is light at the end of the tunnel, I am now 5 weeks post op from MUA and arthroscopy on the right shoulder, my range of movement is slowly imcreasing, although I still cant do up  my bra! I was lucky that my consultant had just recovered from FS himself and put me straight for surgery. Just 3 weeks after seeing him!

I have just finally weaned myself off the tramadol I've been taking for months, not pleasant at all, but I am now just taking paracetemol. Which is amazing considering the pain we all know with FS!

I am doing all the exercises and also doing gentle yoga which is making a difference.

I've been of work since February and dont think I'll be back this side of the summer as I have a physically demanding job, but I know it is getting better. Hang on in there. x

9

Ask about this other injection it's a hydraulition my understanding is is that it's saline anaesthetic and cortisone , meant to be very successful  can have up to two then looks like surgery.mention this to the consultant,I really hope you get some assistance with this.its extremely painful and debilitating.dont except  you have to wait three years they can do things good luck. Be noisy.šŸŒŗ

10

Hi mymaude, thankyou for your condolences, this is brilliant this forum, I'm not feeling so alone in this now, I seem to be spelling that hydro injection wrong but this is what I'm having on Monday, it's encouraging  to here that this has helped. Can you explain what you mean by drop pain? Lowering your arm? Have you been. Having physio too?

11

Hi Karen! I like the self help red wine idea! I can't shave my armpit in fact I haven't seen it for three months!, wash my hair with one hand have ditched the bra, I'm wearing these bra top things bit more comfortable, generally feeling cheesed off and wine does offer an distraction.šŸ˜„ ha !, and we won't mention the loo!, thankyou for putting a smile on my face today. Will update after injection.šŸ˜Š

12

šŸ˜Š that's was a stroke of luck that he'd been suffering with FS too! So did you not have any injections? I didn't get on with traumadol! I'm taking codeine night time and in the day when it's really bad, I can't see me getting back to work soon either as I also have a physical job, when I'm able I'll look into the yoga that's good for everything and I think your spirit too. Mines feeling all over the place at the moment. Thankyou for positive words, will keep you posted .šŸ˜Š

13

no injections at all, I had just kept taking the pain killers and when I finally saw him he said was it too far gone for physio or injections and went straight for the surgery.

The tramadol was the only thing to take the edge of the pain, but after a bad sickness bug a week ago and doing research on tramadol, I decided to go cold turkey. I think I'm over the worst now, the withdrawal was pretty awful. I have taken the tablets back to the gp and will never, ever taken them again.

14

Blimey these docs all do things so differently! I'm worried that mine is too advanced for this injection as I have just 20% movement  he seems to think injection first though..... I hope he's right at 400 quid a shot!!!

i hatetaking medication too! But when your reeling with the pain needs must.

sounds like you are well on the road to recovery now I wish you well meltoadhall.šŸ˜Š

15

I was so glad I found this forum too. There is a Facebook page too but I didn't find it very helpfull. I was able to carry on working with my FS, had no choice as I am self employed, but had to adapt a lot. If I so much as brushed against something the pain was such that my legs gave way and I ended up on the floor sobbing until it subsided which could take up to 10 minutes. It is normal (ha) with FS and I know most people have suffered to an extent, I just call it the drop down pain because that's what I did. I had physio after the hydro which was gentle stretching just to help increase ROM. I was told NEVER to push beyond where it started to hurt. Good luck on Monday. Xx

16

Hi Sara,

I have had two frozen shoulders - one that was treated by a doctor & physical therapy (PT) and one that was not. I have the same end results for both (restricted range of motion) but minus the agony of PT. I recommend that people skip the doctors and PT and use ibuprofen for the pain. It does resolve on its own and after going through two of them, the doctor really doesn't do anything. Even for those who undergo surgical release, outcomes are less than desirable. My own female OB'GYN suffered this malady and said of it "there were many tears."   

The best thing that I have found to help me is a product called Hyaluronic Acid capsules, 50 mg or 100 mg. I researched all brands for the most bioavailable one. I don't know if I can reveal the brand or not. I posted a response yesterday and included the brand and a link to a well-known vendor in the UK and the US, but my post was deleted for that link.

So, I took just one 50 mg capsule daily and noticed pain relief within a few days. It was nothing short of amazing. You can read reviews of the product at the well-known vendor site if you wish additional input. I have no interest or gain from sharing my own experience with you, I am only trying to help others. Good luck!   

17

I totally agree about skip doctors, PT, and surgical release!

Iā€™m almost out of frozen shoulder, but very interested in Hyaluronic Acid capsules for future. We are not young forever :D

Can we buy it in amazon? I found some. Or yours are specialist ones?

18

Hi Sara, welcome & sorry to hear your sad loss (that was me 2 years ago) if you read through a lot of posts they relate this condition to stress, hormones, trauma ( lots of of other medical connections diabetes etc) 

im in the same boat this is my 2nd horrendous FS, the first seemed to be resolved quicker, different GP (scarey how they differ in opinions so much with the same condition ...it's like ..umm let's try this today ?! Never mind we can try something else tomorrow attitude!) anyway after physio no I had hydro dilation, & it worked a dream...I had to excercise etc but it worked.

However & it was triggered after Mum passed away (& with the shock went into early menapause) it came back with a vengeance...so I'm now battling with my new GP & had a physio 'who doesn't agree with injections' ( meaning no hydro dilation for me with him ;() so after giving in I went back for round 2 and insisted my GP re refer me to a specialist physio, one who deals with shoulders,(have to wait another 2 months for this) as I've had no examination no X-ray no scan nothing, on my shoulder..in 9 months ...just Naproxen dished out by the bag full...as a 'cure'. Which btw gives me chronic constipation, another delight to add to the bag of pain and torture!

Last week I rang my GP & said I'm going to go to a&E as the pain and sleeplessness was intolerable, she basically said take another painkiller, ! charming! Next time I will book in with another GP...& I mentioned on a mother thread I'm speaking privately to a sports physio next week, after reading another lady Penny recommend ed this approach...as another DIY treatment we are all used to!...I've done the medication the acupuncture menapause supplements, vitamins and the red wine therapy! All at a cost! I do find a heat pad helpful and v v gentle Aqua exercise, & when it's really bad I support my arm with a sling...it's all in the moment ad hoc self therapy that is aimed at getting through this horrendous FS journey!

Throughout it this forum helps share the pain & help, and laughs sometimes...Got to keep my sense of my self & humour...this is not the normal me at all! Usually never have to reach out like this, but with FS it's a whole different life change (thank G it's only temporarywink

keep your chin up! & sending my best wishes for a speedy recovery! 

Louise confused

19

Hi Louise, thank you for taking the time to send such a lengthy reply. I too am sorry for your loss. Two years is nothing,still very early days. I'm just six months in and interestingly this is when my trouble with shoulder really took off. I do think hormone changes and stress do somehow play a part in this, also compounded with the dog incident.

i was reassured that this hydro dilation injection was successful for you, I'm having it tomorrow lunchtime.

im having to do this all privately though as the waiting list for everything is so long, and like you I've been pulling my hair out with the pain.

I take codeine at night occasionally in the day when it's really bad. Hot water bottle helps too. Off work and generally feel pretty low the timing couldn't be any worse for me on a personal level.

like you with nhs, no scan no hands on examination followed by a misdiagnosis, I did wonder about aqua excersise as it does feel comfortable when in the shower.

do you find the weather plays a big part? I do it's cold today and I'm feeling it. Also round the back shoulder blade, neck and across both shoulders, aaaargh sometimes I could scream.!!!!!

imnormally pretty active always got projects on the go my job is physical too! Have never been this immobilised in my life. It's unbelievable.

the nights are long aren't they? When you just can't get into a comfortable position. I didn't ever give this condition a thought before, but it's opened a doorway to a very different life,  one that I'm not too keen on.

i know I keep telling myself it will get better, do you know of anything you can do to prevent it from happening again? I've had a big life change loosing my mum I didn't need this as well šŸ˜„

i wish you well Louise and also a quick recovery I'll let you know about injection tomorrow.xx

20

Hi Devon,

very interesting information about the hyularonic acid capsules I'm looking into this, thankyou for sharing that info.

i. Find neurofen doesn't hit the spot at all, this consultant I saw mentioned it can take up to 18 months and even up to 5 years to get better on its own  at the moment it's too painful and can't work, I have a physical job too.šŸ˜• maybe a change in career is needed. Maybe this is the push I've needed!

 Injection tomorrow so fingers crossed, will post the results, thankyou again for advice and info.šŸ˜Š