My hydrodilation. Experience.

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi

I had an mri. 10 days ago. And was told it may be suspected frozen shoulder. And burstitis. 

I had my hydrodilation today. 

At 9.15am.

Told to eat light breakfast.

Take ibuprofen. 

I changed into gown. I was topless so they tied the gown around me. Like you would a sarong under my armpits and knotted at the back. I forgot to tie my hair up. Which was curly and prickling my face as you are told to face away from your right shoulder. Towards the wall. While right arm down and  lies parallel to body. 

And told I could not have anyone in with me. 

Then told to lie down on with my bad shoulder (right) higher than my face and right harm parallel along by my side.  Doctor kept adjusting my body. 

I had local anaesthetic. Little prick. 

Which was nice. 

Then came the steroid injection; that felt ok. Quite nice. I asked Dr is it true steroids make you fat. He said this one was inside little crystals? 

Then came worst part for me. The saline. I felt my right arm blowing up line a balloon. We heard two cracks. Am told this is could. I did start whimper and scream. It hurt so badly. But was told to contain it. As it was important throughout the procedure never ever to move. 

It was over in 15 minutes end to end procedure. Although the 30 minutes I was in there - 15 minutes was pre-brief and debrief. 

The nurse was lovely. She held on to me. Was very soothing. 

Afterward Dr checked my movements. It was a bit better. He said give it 4-6 weeks.

I have PT session next Wednesday. Via NHS. As the above procedure was done on my private medical insurance. And simulataneously decided to trigger nhs referral - so it cratches up and can do follow up care. 

I left. It was painful. And had tea. Biscuits. Had hot bath. And taking ibuprofen. To help with inflammation. 

Told to check by Monday. Three days after any problems. Infection is rare. But still. And also not to drive. And slowly do everyday stuff. Eg hoovering. Washing up. But to be slow. And carry on as normal as much as possible. 

I hope to god this works. 

As since mid August not slept properly. And been on painkillers. And never know chronic pain. This is my first illness. I am 47. Been grateful

 All my life for health. 

Thank God for NHS. My private health insurance. It is worth the money. I always knew it would come in handy one day and had it since 2011. Without ever claiming. 

I saw my bill for mri. It costs £500 alone. And suspect the injection possibly £300. And two consultant session at a Surrey hospital for about £250. 

No Money can be put on health smile

If you had my experience, please please share. Tell me it gets better. As I cannot notice any immediate huge change - and whether you are recovered and can sleep. 

Thanks. 

Yasmin 

2

Good luck with it I hope it gets better. 

I have 2 frozen shoulders and can not have hydro. I haven't slept well In months. But it could be worse. You just need to stay positive and look after yourself. 

3

I had a similar procedure in Canada only was told had to do special exercises for 24 hrs every hr on the hour.It worked .You will be sore for a few weeks but complete ROM immediately.Definately keep moving it.FS is scar tissue you have to break thru it.I did pool therapy really helpful.Don't lift weights for a month .Also get massage therapy.Good luck.

4

I had the same procedure 4 weeks ago 

After 2 weeks I noticed some improvement but since then it seems to have just stayed the same

Any sudden movement is still painful but at night it is much less painful

However after 3 months of waking all night, my sleep pattern is shot too pieces

I can live with this just about but am aware it's going to be a long haul

My consultant who is a shoulder specialist recommends swimming or breast stroke type exercise but gently 

He does not recommend any vigorous physio or massage

Good luck everyone

It's nasty

5

My experience was documented here.  Mine wasn't painful - did your doctor inject into the front or back of your shoulder?   I've had two (on different shoulders) the thread in the link below mainly covers the first time, when my shoulder was badly frozen.  I didn't regain all my movement immediately but was out of pain after 2 days and remained so, which was a huge relief.  I regained a lot of my movement over the following couple of months and the rest gradually - the main plus for me was it stopped that awful pain.

You may get a bit of aching when the anaesthetic wears off but this should pass after a day or two as the cortisone starts to kick in.  Do your exercises when you've seen your physio - but don't push to the point of pain.  Avoid carrying anything heavy for a while. 

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/hydrodilatation-my-experience-489438

When my other shoulder started to freeze, earlier this year, I opted to get treatment much sooner, as I know what it was this time.  3 months on, I have almost 100% movement and apart from a bit of discomfort on an extreme stretch and if I sleep on that side too long, I'm pretty much back to normal.

Good luck and I hope it works as well for you as it did for me.

6

I had the hydrodialtion as well and it didn't work. I felt the worst pain upon inserting if that needle into my shoulder. The next day I was in worst pain. Now 7 months later I am in the worst pain ever, cannot do anything at all, and eat pain pills like candy.

7

Had my procedure yesterday after suffering since May with my frozen shoulder.

It was such a positive procedure, I was very nervous but the consultant and nurse were brilliant.  The only pain I had was mild needle inserting and just chatted all the way through and was surprised when I was told it was all done!!

I sat up right facing away from from the consultant through out.  It was achy for the rest of the day with what felt like less movement.  I was able to lie down at night without pain but oddly not able sleep at all even with tramadol, co-codamol and amitriptyline so maybe it was a side effect of the procedure.  24 hours on I feel great... a little more movement range.... a very low level ache which is hardly noticeable in my shoulder.

The NHS have been slow on the uptake of getting to this procedure and a change of gp made all the difference.

I have a prolapsed neck disc c5-c6 pressing on my spinal cord causing pain down my arm which possibly caused me to guard my arm leading to a frozen shoulder.

I’m post menopausal, diabetic,  a bit chubby so a classic example of who gets a frozen shoulder