What a relief to find fellow frozen shoulder sufferers - I thought I was the only one and the way the doctor looks at me, I feel like I am a new medical headache... Can't tie my hair up, shave underarm, wash my hair and have taken to wearing cardigans and can't sleep (not at my best)...Now the big choice either to go for surgery or try and stick it out with acupuncture. I have heard that the damage done during manipulation could lead to osteoarthritis in the future.
Will it slowly subside? It has taken 12 months to get to the shear agony stage so I am not hopeful.
I so sympathise with you.
Normal daily activities are painful and frustrating.
Try a tens machine, it does not make it go away, and does not improve the symptoms, but it gives slight relief, especially when resting.
It took about a year for mine to start slowly improving. The pain will lessen slightly, but the stiffness continues for quite a while after.
I had it first in my left arm and then just as that was nearly better (still not got 100% movement back) I had it in my right arm.
Sometimes I feel twice my age as I struggle with things, like you, doing hair, dressing, hanging out washing, shaving.
I dont think my upper body strength will ever return, but am thankful that the pain is now becoming less.
Night time was and still is disturbed, but not as much as it was. Appl;ying heat and using the mini Tens helped me through the worst of it.
~I tried physio and cortisone injections with the first shoulder, but they didnt help so ~I didnt bother with the second shoulder.
I have shed plenty of tears in pain and fustration. I feel for anyone going through the same. No one can possibly realise what it is like unless they have suffered with it.
Hang in there, it will get better.
Take heart, as there is a new treatment available on the NHS for a frozen shoulder which is non-invasive, only requires a local anesthetic, and takes just ten minutes to perform, with a success rate of between 80 & 90%. I am a fellow frozen shoulder sufferer, although I have only had mine for four months, but already I have lost all mobility in my left arm, and spend most of my time in excruciating pain. I was recently referred to an orthopedic surgeon at Ipswich hospital by a physiotherapist, to discuss the possibility of having hydrodilatation on my shoulder. Hydrodilatation consists of a needle being inserted into the shoulder capsule, which then has a saline solution pumped into it under pressure. As this is done the adhesions which cause the immobility and pain break away, releasing the shoulder joint. The saline is pumped in until the capsule fractures, whereupon it is apparently able to heal itself. This is all done under a local anesthetic. The procedure is then followed up with physiotherapy.. It would seem that this is a new procedure in this country, and is only carried out in a few hospitals, although apparently it has been the routine treatment for a frozen shoulder in Canada for some time. Even my doctor was unaware of it. In fact even this website makes no mention of it. If you would like more information I would suggest you Google hydrodilatation, where you will find far more details, and definitely visit your doctor to discuss the possibility of having it done. Good luck, and I wish you a speedy recovery.
Hi Diane, do you know where the hydrodilation procedure is done in Canada?
Hi Diane. have you had this procedure yet? I saw a specialist at my local docs and had a steroid injection but it wa only 1ml. I have now been put forward to have this done at Ipswich hospital. it may take about 2 months to actually get it done, but ive had x rays etc already and seen a physio specialist so im hoping i can get through quickly as i just cannot carry on in this pain.
Hi Guest have just found this thread - I see you posted this over a year ago? What treatment did you eventually go for and more important has it worked?