Frozen Shoulder

[Jan B]

Good day,

I am so happy there are people in this forum who know what Adhesive Capsulitis is. I experienced it for 8 years (5 yrs first shoulder; 3 yrs second one). and NEVER ran across a doctor who knew more than I did about it (I just read a lot from the internet). In all of America, I found one specialty clinic in NY! I didn't go.

Cortizone injections were all that was ever offered, other than physical therapy (which I did at home and at therapy centers). I refused cortizone after my first experience with it (3 days for bs to go under 500).

For me, accupuncture was the only thing that would give some relief. And the only true relief was prescription pain meds that no doctor wants to give long term.

For the first time in about 8 years, I am sleeping again without pain & even without Tylenol PM. Range of motion is only 70% in one shoulder, but no more constant pain. Just a little bit of discomfort.

What I learned is that NOTHING works . . . you just have to wait it out. And 2 yrs per shoulder is the average course.

Are there different ideas and opinions out there?!

[princesslinda]

Been through that myself....someone on the forum (maybe it was Cyborg) gave me a list of exercises for it, and they really helped. I really didn't want to get the cortisone shot.

I have a herniated cervical disc, so i'm used to neck/shoulder pain, but this was different. It didn't take 2 years for mine to go away, fortunately for me. Anytime I have shoulder pain, I worry that its coming back...but so far, so good. Glad you found some relief.

[moorejames]

I was never formally diagnosed, but I'm convinced I had (have) it.

Deep tissue massages seemed to be the thing that worked the best for me. I'd pay for an hour, and the massage therapist would never get past trying to work out the knots in my shoulder.

Only my left shoulder, and it was probably 3 years of nearly constant pain before it eased up. It never completely "froze" up, which is probably part of the reason it wasn't diagnosed. That, and I wasn't a diagnosed T2 at the time....

[EasyType2]

Had a bout this past spring. A shot of cortizone helped for a few days. Long term, it was PT, for 6 weeks, including ultrasound.

About 95% range of motion now with occasional bouts of more restriction, but I learned the exercises that loosen it up. I don't think "waiting it out" is an attractive option.

[notme]

I also had it twice. First time was my left shoulder. Nothing worked. I tried PT and many exercises. I was told there was nothing that could be done. Finally after about two years of different stages of pain, I had the cortisone shot. The first day after the shot, my shoulder felt warm and anesthetized. After than it pretty much went back to the way it was. Within two months, it was gone. My blood sugars were terrible, but I was not in control, so I didn't care.

The second time was my right shoulder. I knew it was coming and couldn't stop it. I went to an orthopedic surgeon for help. He sent me to a specalist who said that PT might help, but she doubted it. She said surgery could be done, but it would be a last ditch type of surgery. After a year and a half, it was over and I didn't need the surgery. I did the cortisone in my right shoulder as well and I do believe that it shortened the duration.

I wish they would find an answer to why this happens to diabetics more frequently. I am afraid of getting it again. It is painful and the duration of pain is frustrating.

[Scratch]

If it's any comfort, notme, recurrence of frozen shoulder is extremely rare.

My right shoulder began going bad in the second half of 2003 and the year of 2004 was absolutely miserable. It began getting better at the end of 2004 and in August of 2005 I began swinging a golf club.

I still don't have full range of motion in my right arm, have trouble rotating the arm internally, but it's a lot better and I still see gradual improvement, maybe just because I keep trying to use it. People that read the exercise forum know about my working towards running a half-marathon, but another fitness goal of mine is to one day be able to do one arm chin ups. I've gotten to the point where I can pull myself up with my chin over the bar, let go with either hand and hold myself, then slowly began a descent and stop it.

I don't know what it is exactly, but it makes me smile when I do that with my right arm, considering how miserable I felt with it in 2004. Who knows? Maybe I'll be the first diabetic to have had a frozen shoulder who afterwards was able to eventually do one arm chin ups.

[Gangrel]

I had FS in my left shoulder a few years back. I lived with it getting worse and worse for 6 months or more before finally going to the doctor, and getting sent to pyshio.

About 6 months of pyshio did the trick, although I'm sure my shoulder isn't quite the same.... especially after I separated it last year. :D

[EasyType2]

I must disagree with FS not recurring. If I don't exercise my shoulder daily, it begins getting very stiff. With stiffness comes moderate pain when I attempt an extreme motion.

I do a little series of motions daily, watching for the stiffness. If I have any, I do the full set of exercises I learned at PT. That helps tremendously.

Some of this may be age related.

[Scratch]

I must disagree with FS not recurring. If I don't exercise my shoulder daily, it begins getting very stiff. With stiffness comes moderate pain when I attempt an extreme motion.

I do a little series of motions daily, watching for the stiffness. If I have any, I do the full set of exercises I learned at PT. That helps tremendously.

Some of this may be age related.
I stated that the chance of recurring is very slight. That does not exclude the chance of recurrence, nor does it exclude the possiblility of other ailments which may affect shoulder range of motion or feeling.

[volleyball]

I had a shoulder problem years ago. I had trouble hitting a ball hard overhead. I took glucosomine for 6 weeks and changed my sleeping habits. Pains been gone for years now.

[Keezheekoni]

Just a question because I'm clueless... How do you know that it's this Adhesion Capsulitis and not bursitis? I've had bursitis in my shoulders and my sports medicine doc just shot me with cortisone and a few days later I was better. Are there tests that confirm either one? All my doc did was move my shoulder around in different ways and decided that it was bursitis...

[peej07]

I had it in my right shoulder when I was about 25 and it lasted for about 3yrs. The more I stretched and kept it loose the better I was. Now I'm fine but still very stiff in the morning.

[notme]

Rikki there are certain tests that an ortho can do to pretty much guarantee the results. With frozen shoulder the pain usually worsens at night (bedtime). You are unable to do certain motions like putting your hand, (palm facing away from your back) on your lower back. The motion of putting on a shirt or jacket is painful and you need help to get your arm in your sleeve. The pain is relentless and unforgiving. Many people with frozen shoulder sleep with a pillow under their arm. I was totally unable to put the back of my hand on even my butt. It is just certain motions that are telltale signs. There are also phases in adhesive capsulitis. The first phase is the aching stage. Your shoulder just aches. Then there is the pain phase that is excruciating. Any fast movement will cause you to sit on your %^$# and you will not recover for about two to three minutes. The pain phase lasts about six months or so. Then the healing phase where it feels a bit better, but is still very painful. Slowly it starts to heal.

My ortho told me that he also had frozen shoulder and he was quite sympathetic. He said you just have to muddle through. He told me that exercise will help it not freeze up completely (mine never did, either time) but it will heal on its own with time. Frustrating and at the time, not what you want to hear. I always wanted the magic bullet.

Scratch, I will hang on your words. I have had it once in each shoulder, so according the theory, I am done. Whew!

[princesslinda]

I had a shoulder problem years ago. I had trouble hitting a ball hard overhead. I took glucosomine for 6 weeks and changed my sleeping habits. Pains been gone for years now.

Did glucoasmine cause any adverse effects on your blood sugar? I've heard it can elevate it, but in times of severe pain, I'd do whatever worked.

[georgepds]

I was born with nothing and I've still got most of it.

Love the sig... reminds me of what Job said when he was having a very rough patch ( in rough translation)

"Naked came I into this world and naked shall I return, you-know-who gives and you-know-who takes it all away"

--G

[lisa821]

Ah yes, my old friend frozen shoulder. I got it in one shoulder for the first time a few years back--I think it came from using too much weight on the Nautilus upper body equipment. Either that or computer overuse, as I'm a graphics artist who hunches my shoulders when I'm stressed. Physical therapy helped, and I also took up yoga--NOT the hyperdrive American-style yoga, but easygoing Hatha yoga taught by a woman in her 70s! The stretching really helped. Later I eased off of yoga and my body had the nerve to get capsulitis in my other shoulder. Now I've got something similar in my hip joints. Stretching always helps, and I use the elliptical trainer, which is much easier on the joints and seems to be helping my hip joints.

I also tried acupuncture and massage, but probably needed more intensive therapy in order for them to work effectively.

I used to get trigger finger off and on for a while but haven't gotten it in the last 4 or 5 years for some reason.