Frozen shoulder

[PrincessBandit]

Yep, doc reckons I have frozen shoulder which is causing me so much pain down my right arm. I know I just have to keep doing the physio (very hard in the cold and when it's so painful :crybaby::crybaby:), but does anyone have any other suggestions as to how I might be able to assist my muscles to get over this?

p.s. I'm too big to fit in the microwave to "defrost".

[Chooky]

:yes::yes:

[Dirty_Harri]

Hey girl,

You poor thing, frozen shoulder sucks big time!! Being a physio myself, I'm going to be biased and tell you to keep going with your treatment. You could also ask your physio to refer you for corticosteroid injections if he/she thinks it appropriate. They are only a temporary cure for pain, however they can help in conjunction with physio by getting you through the painful treatment sessions. Anti-inflammatory meds are also a winner, but if you're in that much discomfort you're probably already as high as a kite ;). Are you putting a heat pack/ weat bag on your shoulder before treatment?

Gen

[James Deuce]

Take it out of the freezer. First dryers, and now this.

[YellowDog]

Have you tried Sauna and Steam room treatment?

Take advice first however I find it good for relieving deep rhumatic pain.

Take care :)

[tribsanor]

:stoogie::apint:
Yep, doc reckons I have frozen shoulder which is causing me so much pain down my right arm. I know I just have to keep doing the physio (very hard in the cold and when it's so painful :crybaby::crybaby:), but does anyone have any other suggestions as to how I might be able to assist my muscles to get over this?

p.s. I'm too big to fit in the microwave to "defrost".

Acupuncture gave me relief for weeks from muscle and nerve damage,25 years later I just live with it ! A few drinks at night and an electric blanket or a joint before bed or a combination of all or some of the above:drinknsin

[hayd3n]

wheat bag /hottie

a bong or 3

[BiK3RChiK]

Dawn, have you tried swimming? I go to Osteopath for my lower back/hip problems, and he has recommended swimming, especially backstroke to loosen my joints up.

I also find Omega 3 to be excellent for Joint movement. These can be bought from any health shop.

As recommended above, the wheat packs work too.

Ask you Physio what would be best for you, too. I did this with my Osteopath. They will recommend what they think is best for your situation.

All the best, and hugs to you... Pain can be such a mongrel.

[PrincessBandit]

Thanks for your posts and suggestions everyone, I appreciate it.
Just saw the doc again yesterday for xray, and the bone looks like it's a non-union. Having an ultrasound this afternoon to see what (doc assumes it's ligament) is holding the ends from moving around.

He used the name "capsulitis" for frozen shoulder and when I googled that on the interdweeb was so relieved to read that what I'm experiencing regarding the limited mobility was there to a tee.

Still doesn't answer what will happen about the non joined bone, but at least I don't feel quite as helpless regarding my shoulder now!!

Thanks heaps,
Dawn

[howdamnhard]

Yep, doc reckons I have frozen shoulder which is causing me so much pain down my right arm. I know I just have to keep doing the physio (very hard in the cold and when it's so painful :crybaby::crybaby:), but does anyone have any other suggestions as to how I might be able to assist my muscles to get over this?

p.s. I'm too big to fit in the microwave to "defrost".

Avoid sleeping on that side/shoulder. I had problems with my shoulder a while back and changed which side I slept on. That made a bigger difference than the physio. Dress warm and avoid movements which aggravate it, ie give it time to heal. google about.com , has quiet a bit of useful info. The problem with the shoulder joint is that nerves and muscles run through narrow spaces and when you hurt it they become inflamed and larger thus pinching it even more and thus the cycle continues. Sometimes it may require surgery to open the space up.

[howdamnhard]

Sorry should have read your last post before posting. Ligaments hold your bones together as opposed to tendons which join muscle to bone. Sounds like one of the bones in your shoulder has shifted out of place due to a torn or strained ligament. If not to bad may heal with rest but they take a long time. If to bad may require surgery to reposition it. The shoulder is a complicated joint .

[howdamnhard]

Hey girl,

You poor thing, frozen shoulder sucks big time!! Being a physio myself, I'm going to be biased and tell you to keep going with your treatment. You could also ask your physio to refer you for corticosteroid injections if he/she thinks it appropriate. They are only a temporary cure for pain, however they can help in conjunction with physio by getting you through the painful treatment sessions. Anti-inflammatory meds are also a winner, but if you're in that much discomfort you're probably already as high as a kite ;). Are you putting a heat pack/ weat bag on your shoulder before treatment?

Gen

As above , all good advice. The corticosteroids and anti inflammataries will reduce the swelling and thus reduce the pinching and thus reduce the pain.The warmth will speed up the healing. Still need rest or surgery to fix ligament though. Good luck and get well.:niceone:

[CookMySock]

[....] or a joint before bed...This works for me too, PB. :niceone:

Although, if there is something or someone interesting to do, it can keep you awake for hours mucking around with it/them. :devil2:

That stinks about your soreness. It will pass before very long though.

Steve

[sinfull]

Sounds like the same shit i had princess ! I feel for ya !
They cut me open to reattach but as i'd had it strapped for 3 month prior to that, they said it was all good and left it ! 3 Months later i pinged it again doing sweet bugger all and have had nothing but pain since ! Raise the arm to shoulder level and it collapses, feels like a tendon pops out of the way which causes geat pain !
Take yr sweet merry old time with the rehab and give it twice the time strapped up if ya can !

[SMOKEU]

roll it up, light it up, smoke it up, inhale....exhale

[martybabe]

Oh dear, that's a bugger. My Doc reckoned Frozen shoulder has a life span in that it will get better on it's own in time. It took about three months for mine to bugger off, in the mean time I had acupuncture, anti inflams, physio,nothing worked.

If it is frozen shoulder, pain killers and time is all I can offer you but the good news is I had it once and it never came back, touch wood, it's darn well debilitating.

I feel for you Princess, speedy recovery lady. x

[PrincessBandit]

Avoid sleeping on that side/shoulder. I had problems with my shoulder a while back and changed which side I slept on. That made a bigger difference than the physio. Dress warm and avoid movements which aggravate it, ie give it time to heal. google about.com , has quiet a bit of useful info. The problem with the shoulder joint is that nerves and muscles run through narrow spaces and when you hurt it they become inflamed and larger thus pinching it even more and thus the cycle continues. Sometimes it may require surgery to open the space up.

Thanks for that. It's really annoying that I haven't actually been able to sleep properly since the accident (mid March) - can't lie on my right side at all, the side I usually sleep on, and sleeping on my back or left side is still not comfortable either. Lying on my front can be comfortable for a short time, but if I fall asleep like that the pain in my back is almost as bad as my shoulder!!:crybaby: Reading that I sound like such a baby, but the lack of sleep is really getting to me. Oh well, big lesson - don't fall off bike! Um, yeah.
Will see what the ultrasound reveals this afternoon.

[F5 Dave]

Good luck & speed to getting that knitted & associated working.

[Winter]

I got out of hospital yesserday, had My shoulder cut open and some sort of arthroscopic repair done to stop the damn thing dislocating every time I'm out in a stiff breeze.

But now I have to wear a sling for 6 weeks and take up to 6 months off work to let it heal. stupid shoulders!

Hope you get it sorted quicksmart :)

[Icemaestro]

Hi, sorry coming in halfway through - In last year or physio training, seen a couple of people with idiopathic (no known cause) frozen shoulder, and did a lit review on it last year...I gather from a brief mention about non-union of bone that you've fractured something...may I ask what and how and how long it has been since the #, and what is being done to manage it?

Often with secondary AH (adhesive capsulitis, the other name for frozen shoulder), it's due to a lack of mobility - a patient I have at the moment started developing it following a rotator cuff injury, and can often be resolved with lots of passive range of movement exercises, mobilisations etc...please do reply - there seems to be a few injured people asking stuff at the moment, it's quite interesting :-) always like to help...

[PrincessBandit]

Buuuump.

Saw the shoulder specialist this morning. Gave me the steroid injection into the back of my shoulder. Far-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ark my arm is sore! The jab itself was fine although he did move my arm a bit as he did it, all was good then 1/2 an hour later I felt like I'd been kicked by a clydesdale!

He did warn me that the first day or so my arm might feel quite a bit worse, but then it should start to come right. Will wait and see! His suggested plan of attack, after seeing all my xrays etc., was to try to rectify the frozen shoulder as see if the freedom of movement allows the bone to still rejoin. Apparently it is not unknown that even after this long (5 months) for it to still knit if the bones are allowed to move closely enough together.

Will keep posting progress on here for anyone interested.

[PrincessBandit]

p.s. he also said that Voltaren and other anti inflammatories such as Neurofen Plus have an ingredient which can impact significantly (in a negative way) on bone repair!! I didn't know that! :gob:

[gijoe1313]

Crikey girl! Still in the wars huh? :pinch: Ah well, good to see you are being pro-active and still getting out on the bike! (I saw you and Balu heading off to parts unknown heh)

[Icemaestro]

Yeha antiflams do just that...decrease inflammation, which is the body's response to healing.
Did he do the injection under ultrasound guidence?
It's not unknown for it to take up to a week - the crystals slowly release themselves over about a week though it should start feeling better relatively soon. Bear in mind cortisone won't fix the clavicle :-P

[ready4whatever]

i hear infra-red heat lamp helps?

[Mom]

Ouchy! I hope that settles down really soon for you. Pain is such a subversive thing. You probably operate on a reasonably high tolerance for pain and the bit more that has been added to your burden has made it feel really bad! Get into some magnesium suppliments.

[PrincessBandit]

Crikey girl! Still in the wars huh? :pinch: Ah well, good to see you are being pro-active and still getting out on the bike! (I saw you and Balu heading off to parts unknown heh)

Lol. I did wonder if you'd recognise me in my lovely baby-blue M2R jacket! But then I realised you'd probably have seen Rik just up ahead and put 2 and 2 together, or you recognised my beautiful steed.... (the bandit, that is :shutup:)

We did the ride down to Ngatea and back. By the time we got there I was ready to clamber off and give my arm a rest. Yacked to a couple of riders at the Copper Kettle who were heading back to Aucks from the Mount. Then by the time I got back to Manurewa I was definitely ready to stay off the bike for a decent amount of time! The pain in my muscles between the elbow and wrist were telling me that my endurance was spent.

Fantastic ride though, and even better, the specialist has said that continuing to ride is fine! Woo hoo :wari: Have to see him again in 5 weeks...

[Icemaestro]

i hear infra-red heat lamp helps?

No. evidence is about as good for it as therapeutic ultrasound.

[chanceyy]

Hey PB I hear you on the pain factor .. I have ultrasound n stuff to confirm I have a rotator cuff injury .. the pain factor is right up there and I totally hear you on the no sleep, can not get comfortable either, so do not look forward to getting to bed ..

Apparently I may have done this injury about 6 months ago as I had wicked pins n needles in my arm, which would have been the start .. over the last two months have completely aggravated it (torn - ultrasound to confirm)

As its my right arm I can not ride my bike as I can not maintain pressure on the throttle and even though I have high pain tolerance, at the moment the pain is certainly doing me in .. but not being able to ride my bike, work my horses or get out in the garden which are the 3 things that relax me is by far worse

good luck in getting yours sorted .. I really feel your pain

[BiK3RChiK]

All the best Dawn getting it sorted. There's nothing quite like a broken bone or joint pain... it gets right into you. Hugs for you.

Mavis

[normajeane]

Not been there but can empathise with you. Any chance you can go to a pain clinic to help with the constant depressing pain I imagine you are in. Some more legal drugs are probably worth a try. Laugh therapy is good also, just look at all the postings on KB and you will laugh away your pain. Well it is worth a try as I don't think you are a hooter head!:niceone::sunny:

[BiK3RChiK]

No. evidence is about as good for it as therapeutic ultrasound.

.............anything that makes one feel good, releases endorfins and good lovin' into the body which hastens the healing process. What's good for the mind is good for the body:niceone: So I'm all for the feel-good options when it comes to pain therapy!

[PrincessBandit]

Not been there but can empathise with you. Any chance you can go to a pain clinic to help with the constant depressing pain I imagine you are in. Some more legal drugs are probably worth a try. Laugh therapy is good also, just look at all the postings on KB and you will laugh away your pain. Well it is worth a try as I don't think you are a hooter head!:niceone::sunny:

Thanks!

Quick update. Now 5 days since the cortisone injection in the back of my shoulder. Movement has improved marginally, but the major benefit is I no longer have constant debilitating pain down my right arm. It's wonderful!

Still doing gentle stretching exercises, especially rubbing my hand up and down.......






the soapy bathroom wall tiles (you dirty dirty rats).

Also starting to get a bit more movement of my arm behind my back. Haven't been on the bike since having it done, so am looking forward to seeing how it affects my time on the bike.

p.s. will take photos of my newly elevated boots whoar! which now enable me to put both feet flat on the ground while seated on the bike. Will post pix as soon as I've done it in my "platform boots" thread in the gear forum.

[chanceyy]

hows that cortisone injection working for you know PB ?

results of my scan are in.

shoulder bursita and bursal impingement along with neck damage at C5/6 C6/7 so its a cortisone injection and physio .. pain level has gone from over 10 to a relative 6 all the time .. so been hearing good & bad on cortisone injection but if it gets rid of the pain then hell I am sooooooooooooo ready for it

ohh the other interesting thing is mild osteoarthritis is present in the ac joint .. hmmmmmmmmmmm

[F5 Dave]

Good to hear it was working, sometimes they are like magic I am told, sometimes they don't work. I need a scan on my neck I think, muscle has been swollen since accident. Had hoped it would go down afer op.

Good luck.

[PrincessBandit]

hows that cortisone injection working for you know PB ?

results of my scan are in.

shoulder bursita and bursal impingement along with neck damage at C5/6 C6/7 so its a cortisone injection and physio .. pain level has gone from over 10 to a relative 6 all the time .. so been hearing good & bad on cortisone injection but if it gets rid of the pain then hell I am sooooooooooooo ready for it

ohh the other interesting thing is mild osteoarthritis is present in the ac joint .. hmmmmmmmmmmm

Oh dear, that doesn't sound too good. Is the arthritis treatable at the same time? I suspect I have it in my elbows (right one in particular) as this has been a problem for me before in cold weather prior to my accident.

I would certainly recommend having the injection done even though others have given me mixed reports about it. I've been pain free, pretty much, since having it done - little twinges here and there, but nothing at all like what it was like pre injection.

It did surprise me that the pain relief has lasted so long, my suspicions were that it might "wear off" after a few days, but over 2 weeks later it still feels great. I was talking to my nana the other night about it and she reckons they last for months, so hey hey hey bring it on!!!

For myself it was only because the specialist recommended it that I had it done, to be honest. I reckoned "who am I to argue with the expert" and am very pleased with the results so far. Range of movement has improved a bit but the pain relief has been the best benefit.

I see the specialist again on 17 Sept, and he wants me to have another xray immediately before my appointment to see if the bone has meandered any closer due to increased flexibility in my shoulder.


Good to hear it was working, sometimes they are like magic I am told, sometimes they don't work. I need a scan on my neck I think, muscle has been swollen since accident. Had hoped it would go down afer op.

Good luck.

Thanks F5Dave. It sounds like I'm definitely one of the lucky ones. I do hope that they discover what the story is with your neck, and that it comes right too.

[chanceyy]

Thanks for that PB .. yeah been hearing the good & bad .. I know the injection will have to be done under ultrasound to make sure it gets into the tendon ..

just looking forward to the "no pain" outcome (fingers crossed)

[Usarka]

Bump....

Hows the shoulder PB?

I've just been diagnosed with same, likely due to inactivity from accident.

I went to a physio who said I didn't need to be referrred, trust me, etc etc, 5 months later doctor tells me cortisone is standard treatment and usefull during the pain-phase and no physio required. No shit sherlock 2 visits a week = loads'a ACC dosh for not referring.

Anyway, keen to (hopefully) hear that it's a lot better.

[F5 Dave]

Yeah advice should be go to physio, I'm not convinced they can help with back issues, but when it comes to getting joints moving again they are pretty good. Mine then followed up with some therapeutic gym work to rebuild the muscles (they had a physio in the gym). I was dubious having never been in a gym & hating the vacuous dicks that go. But it helped & I got more movement & more. Just have a patch of about 5degs that I am a little weak in but I largely have full movement.

[PrincessBandit]

Bump....

Hows the shoulder PB?

I've just been diagnosed with same, likely due to inactivity from accident.

I went to a physio who said I didn't need to be referrred, trust me, etc etc, 5 months later doctor tells me cortisone is standard treatment and usefull during the pain-phase and no physio required. No shit sherlock 2 visits a week = loads'a ACC dosh for not referring.

Anyway, keen to (hopefully) hear that it's a lot better.

I had a titanium plate screwed into the bone as the ends never joined (through 2 planes - vertically and horizontally, too far apart). My operation was at the beginning of Dec (9 months after the accident) and was given another cortisone jab during the op. Initially my movement was understandably very restricted but I can now (6 months post op) raise my right arm vertically. I can also put my hands behind my head etc. although extension through a bent elbow is not fully recovered yet. I'm hoping that it will return eventually. Haven't actually returned to physio as the specialist gave me exercises to do and was happy with my progress through those.

Effectively I have very little pain, just the occasional twinge, and my shoulder is no longer a hinderance to riding. Overall the range of movement I have regained is amazing since recovering from the plate surgery. As it is not causing me any problem it will most likely remain in place - the specialist told me that the potential for nerve damage is greater when removing plates due to scar tissue, so as long as I feel this good it can stay there!

Sorry to hear you're in this dilemma - it's incredibly annoying and painful. Hope you get through it quickly and regain full movement.

[F5 Dave]

I would try a physio at a gym to try regain all movement, if you leave it too long it may not recover fully. Still ACC subsidy, the physio will know.