Frozen shoulder

Hi Wobbly frozen shoulder and depression, what a bummer, I can empathise.

As others have said recovery seems to take two years, mine did, despite having many physio appointments where many different approaches were tried including acupuncture.

That doesn't mean I was having the same level of pain all of that time though.

It's miserable, like having toothache. You're right about having a lot of living to do. I'd be a 'nuisance' at your surgery if necessary. Try everything to find what works for you to relieve the pain.

I wish I could be more helpful.

Again, thank to everyone for your input, it really does help.

When you are 72, the thought of 2 years of pain is very depressing, I have too much living to do to be laid up.

When my left shoulder froze, I had a steroid injection [eventually and privately at the cost of around £1000! ]. It worked, but by that stage it was so bad I had a second injection. worked a treat, not had trouble since.
When my right shoulder froze, the doctor [different surgery] tried to give me steroid injection, but then said it was something else; eventually [after 8 months of excruciating pain, was crying half the time] i had an operation which fixed it. Was a long haul though.
Both shoulders dodgy, but the pain is only occasional.
For sleeping, I found the cushion under the elbow helpful, as was a V-shaped pillow from Dunelm for a few pounds.
All the best.

That is good news Wobbley and maybe in the meantime you could alternate between a hot water bottle and an ice pack to try and relieve the pain.

I had a frozen shoulder once, - very painful, aren't they, but couldn't stand the idea of a big needle being stabbed in me, so I let it heal its own. The doctor said they always do heal eventually. Mine took ten months, and has never returned, thankfuly.
I was able to cope because I was retired, and living with a helpful partner at the time.

Good news indeed!

Good news this morning, phoned clinic and they have managed to fit me in on Monday 13th, which i am very happy with as it means I will be in the Dr's minor surgery loop before he goes on holiday.

I have just had inj for frozen shoulder which I'd had for 9months it took a while to work I am now having physio I have more movement now . Hope you get it sorted soon .

Diddy1, don't apologise, that was three hugs I hadn't had before {grin]

Grannywise, in our area you can self refer for NHS physio. I applied a couple of weeks ago and got a letter yesterday to say that the physio would contact me soon.

I'd recommend seeing a physio. I found immediate improvement and after a few sessions - and religiously doing the exercises - was totallying painfree. Some years later the same shoulder started hurting but was sorted after 2 sessions.

My doctor has been trained to give steroid injections - had one in my shoulder and one in my foot. Both worked well TG.
I can't understand the huge cost of the injection if you go to a private clinic. Eldest dauhter needed one in her foot, got an estimate from a private clinic and it was nearly £300. She didn't go.
I looked up the cost of the medication and syringe used and it came to about 15€, about £11.

I also have a frozen shoulder I had a steroid injection about 7 months ago and it gave me relief for about 3 months ,but it is only temporary and the pain came back worse than ever I can only describe it as being like a constant nagging pain like toothache sleeping is impossible without painkillers.
I get some relief from an infra red lamp also an elastic bandage can help.

Sorry dont know what I did there, no need for two comments from me, I apologise

Hi Wobblybits, I empathise with you, I am into the six month stage of Frozen shoulder, visited the physio a week ago after having a steroid injection three weeks ago, that did help somewhat but at night it is a nightmare, cant sleep on my favourite side! I am going to the physio next week, she said maybe warmth and massage might help, but she did say it would get better, but may take up to two years to do so! no consolation from me, but my heart goes out to you, I do hope you get some help with the pain and then you will feel a lot better I am sure. I hope our shoulders start to "thaw out" soon. Sending a hug x

Hi Wobblybits, I empathise with you, I am into the six month stage of Frozen shoulder, visited the physio a week ago after having a steroid injection three weeks ago, that did help somewhat but at night it is a nightmare, cant sleep on my favourite side! I am going to the physio next week, she said maybe warmth and massage might help, but she did say it would get better, but may take up to two years to do so! no consolation from me, but my heart goes out to you, I do hope you get some help with the pain and then you will feel a lot better I am sure. I hope our shoulders start to "thaw out" soon. Sending a hug x

Hi Wobblybits, I empathise with you, I am into the six month stage of Frozen shoulder, visited the physio a week ago after having a steroid injection three weeks ago, that did help somewhat but at night it is a nightmare, cant sleep on my favourite side! I am going to the physio next week, she said maybe warmth and massage might help, but she did say it would get better, but may take up to two years to do so! no consolation from me, but my heart goes out to you, I do hope you get some help with the pain and then you will feel a lot better I am sure. I hope our shoulders start to "thaw out" soon. Sending a hug x

In answer to your question Wobbly, yes the pain does decrease and becomes an ache, then eventually just a stiffness and lack of full motion . I found having a cushion in the bed to rest the arm on helped me to get more comfortable. At first I was sleeping (or not!) sitting up on the sofa. After a while there would only be pain if, for instance, I tripped and flung my arm out to save myself. When the pain allows it can be helpful to use a pulley which hooks over a door to stretch the shoulder, only around £5 from Amazon. Hope you improve soon.

TENS - good idea! I find I need to turn mine up to the point when it actually hurts - and it seems to blank out the greater hurt as the brain is trying to process too much info.

Thanks everyone for your response, really appreciated.

A question.

Once the pain phase moves into the frozen stage, does the pain subside.

I have only just remembered that I have a TENS machine, not used it for years. Just tried it and I think it has helped.

I mentioned the private hospital as I know they have a very good sports clinic and physio, I have used them a couple of time in the past. I tend to be suspicious of the credentials of some High St. physios.

We are all rooting for you!!

Sorry to hear of your additional pain wobbly you have the sympathy of all of us who've suffered. Reached for something at work one day without thinking, and fell on the floor with the agony! Just imagine trying to put on a bra

It can take a while to go completely as apparently there's a freezing, a frozen, then a thawing stage. However a steroid injection can work wonders. I had physio then an injection on my right shoulder and that worked great. I later got it in my left shoulder and went straight for the injection. Unfortunately it didn't work that time but overall wasn't as painful. Hope you quickly get something to ease it.

Hi wobbly. I had a frozen shoulder the year before last so I know what you're going through. It was a nightmare. I thought I would go down the physio route before considering an injection, and, although it took a while to get an appointment, the sessions and exercises worked for me. It took the best part of a year to get a full range of movement back, but it is ok now. It is the second time I have suffered with it. The first time was when I was working and my GP gave me a steroid injection, which was effective, but from what I can gather, sometimes, if not administered properly, they aren't. Hope you get some treatment soon. It's no fun.

I am so sorry to hear of your problems Wobbly, you have my sympathy. If you are having a steroid injection, it has a better chance of success if ultrasound guided, which means a hospital referral to an expert. DD went private and was seen very quickly and she felt it was well worth the couple of hundred pounds it cost.
Many years ago a friend and I both suffered a frozen shoulder at the same time. She had physio and I didn't, but both took about 2 years to heal. A year ago I tore the supraspinatus tendon in my shoulder and the pain was awful, especially at night. Your injury will improve, the pain becoming an ache, but that is no consolation to you at the moment, I am so sorry that it has made your depression kick back in. Get help with pain relief and/or treatment as soon as you can, and hopefully getting some sleep will improve matters all round.

Yes Wobbly I developed a frozen shoulder after my BC surgery and you have my sympathies. It really is excruciating. Every movement was agony. As I was already on a lot of medication, I only took ibuprofen which didn't have much effect. I didn't have any other treatment (fed up with being poked and prodded) and it gradually went away after about a year.

You really are having a rotten time. No wonder you are feeling depressed. ((Hugs))

It is a right bugger, Wobbly. I've had it twice and the advice was pain relief and physio. The physio helped a bit but the acute stage didn't last that long. Heat also helped. It is eventually more of a nuisance than painful.

Try ringing 111. Round here they are brilliant and can make appointments at the clinic if necessary so you avoiding the awful hanging round.