I am so sorry :-( I feel your pain... literally. I have only been dealing with FS in my left shoulder for a few months. Thankfully I received a depo medrol injection 1 month ago which brought my pain level from non-stop excruciating to almost complete relief. Unfortunately the injection started to wear off about a week ago and the pain is steadily coming back. I too feel FS coming on now in my other shoulder...my right shoulder. The twinges started about a month ago and like you I was very hopeful at first that the pains I was feeling were just from over using it...but I'm afraid that's not the case as the pain is getting worse, it is in all the same places as my left arm, and is brought on by the same movements that my left arm pain started with. I wish I had some words of wisdom or encouragement for you...unfortunately I don't...I just wanted to tell you you're not alone!
As mentioned above sometime Xiaflex injections can help as in my case I had a injury and collagen had built up around the injury like a thick enough to loose ROM.
Xiaflex has been approved by the FDA for FS in 2014. It is a protien that dissolves the collagen blocking ROM that in some FS can help regain ROM. along with therapy and shoulder brace .
Heather H,
I just received my second steroid injection in the last three months. The first was cortisone, followed by Toradol, an NSAID injected into the joint, about a month later. Neither seemed to work. This time we went with the Depo medrol, just yesterday, or Friday, because it's now 3:17a.m., and I actually can't sleep. I am sore from the injection, but my pain is better if that makes any sense. I seem to be getting relief, much earlier than expected. Fingers crossed. Many of the studies I've read, say that Depo is their first choice. My left arm has very limited ROM, from a previous severe fracture of the proximal Humerus at the surgical neck. I had the,"joy," of one of my doctors at the famous Massachusetts General Hospital tell me my pain was all in my head! Long and very limited recovery there.
So I am being the most compliant patient ever, with a new orthopedic surgeon. I REALLY want to get as much ROM back when this FS is finally resolve. Good luck to you! The Depo seems to be the one that ma helpn me be on my way to recovery. Fingers crossed for you, too.
I am there two. My FS on the non-dominant side started last fall, but I didn't see my doctor for almost 6 months. Physical therapy didn't work, cortisone injection didn't work either. The dominant side started hurting shortly after my initial visit to the doctor. My primary doctor, my physical therapist and my sports medicine doctor said it was just strain from additional use -- bilateral concurrent FS is very unusual. However, the pain pattern, the beginnings of issues with range of motion all point to FS. In addition to the initial x-ray I had, I've now had an MRI and EMG to rule out other possible causes of bilateral shoulder pain. So double FS is it. I am really worried about being able to cope -- basic care, driving and working (I do a lot of computer work) were already very difficult!
I went to my family doctor on Friday to get some help with pain and sleeping. As I cannot take NSAIDs or codeine I was sceptical of what she'd give me as I'm hesitate to start narcotics. She gave me cymbalta and said to take some tramscet for the first week or so at night until the cymbalta starts to work. Already, it has made a big difference. I am only waking up 2-3 times per night and am noticing less nagging pains in my shoulder. Just thought I'd share.
I'm sorry you are going through this but unfortunately it can happen! I have a frozen shoulder that I have had for 2 years now and a couple of months ago I started noticing pain in my right shoulder. I haven't gone to the Dr. Yet for my right shoulder but all the symptoms point to the same thing! It really stinks.. I feel for you cause I know what your going through, take care!
So I finally (after 16 months of this) got an X-ray done. My doctor hasn't done any imaging since I'm a textbook case of FS. But she needed images to refer me so had these X-rays done. Well luck me..... I also have calcific tendinitis! Because FS isn't enough to deal with! So in two weeks I'm off for an ultrasound to see how bad it is and if they can do something to help me. At least it is only in one shoulder (from what the X-ray says) even though the FS is in both. Anyone else had this?????
My physio therapist thought I had calcific tendinitis and he was hopeful it was that because you can have an injection which breaks up the calcium as he explained to me. I hope you get some relief soon and at least with the X Ray now things should happen, take care
My doctor told me about that too but says you need to be a perfect candidate. The calcium deposit needs to be on just the right spot on the tendon to be able to have that procedure done. And if you can't have it done, it is a very long recovery time, like 5-10 years. So I'm not getting excited yet! 🤔
So had my X-rays and ultrasounds done on both shoulders. I have frozen shoulder both left and right, both shoulder have calcific tendinitis with the left should having a 1.8cm long calcific piece! And my right shoulder has bad bursitis and my left has mild. OMG!
Off to shock wave therapy on Monday. The hope is the break up this calcium and in the process relieve my pain and help rom. Anyone else had calcific tendinitis with FS?