Came down with frozen shoulder

[hotwheels]

Out of nowhere, my left upper arm/sholder mobility is suddenly severely impeded. I can still scratch my butt, but not may back - so it could be worse. Reaching up high can be painful. My primary care doc sent me to the orthopedic surgeon, who did some test, a few x-rays, and who diagnosed frozen shoulder yesterday. No other joint issues, no traces of arthritis, thank you! He gave me a cortisone shot, guided by a live sonogram, right into the shoulder joint. Didn't feel a thing, because they also injected a painkiller to verify they injected the steroid in the right location.

The steroid should reduce inflammation beginning within a few days. The doc also sent me off to physical therapy, and I had my evaluation earlier. I was sent home with a belt and instructions for one exercise that should increase arm mobility behind my back. I can expect full recovery, that means however good it's gonna get, within 12 months.

No idea what brought this on. I did not have any sport or other injuries. I swim regularly, I walk and hike a fair amount, I train with weights and I do calisthenics and isometric exercises, and I think I'm in reasonable shape for a borderline geezer. Doc says frozen shoulder can just happen out of the blue. I don't recommend getting it.

Does anybody else here have frozen shoulder, and how is your treatment?

hotwheels

 

[NHGUY]

Sounds like a lack of lubrication to me.

 

[hotwheels]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Sounds like a lack of lubrication to me.


Maybe I'll dab some Marvel Mystery Oil on later!

hotwheels

 

[dlundblad]

I dont know what it was called, but I had something similar to this when i was 4. I just woke up one morning and could hardly walk.

It was something painful in my hip and I needed crutches for what seemed like forever. Looking back it was probably only a week though. Lol.

 

[KD0AXS]

My dad had something similar not too long ago. He could barely raise his arm above shouler level. He went to his doctor and an orthopedic specialist, nothing they did seemed to help much. Then one day he did something and apparently moved his shoulder in just the right place, he felt a pop in his shoulder, and it's been fine ever since.

 

[aws]

I feel your pain have had in both of my shoulders, first was when I had torn my right rotators cuff and the frozen shoulder set in.
Got the cortisone shots and they did help,but after favoring my right arm my left went out.Wound up going to a sports therapist and he gave me some exercise to try, with your arms straight out make slow small circular motions at first, and progress to larger ones. And push ups against a wall with arms level with your shoulder. Hope you get better soon hotwheels ,but the 12 months sounds about right.

 

[michaelluscher]

My dad had something similar earlier this winter.


Even w/o arthritis, Cold + Age = things hurting

Good to hear you taking action, instead of the unfortunately common "Take a Salt Tablet" mentality.

 

[Cardenio327]

Cortisone anecdote:

A friend's brother was getting shot up with cortisone weekly for about a year at a local pharmacy without a doctor's supervision or prescription.

He was standing in line at Citibank and just passed out. He was transported to a prestigious hospital in Puebla, where he was in a coma for about a week, then he died.

The doctors in Puebla said his body was so riddled with cortisone that they couldn't even figure out why he had went into a coma.

 

[tom slick]

WD-40 and DMSO will have those joints loosened up in no time!

 

[qjohn]

From what I've read, the shoulder is complicated with a lot of moving parts and very tight clearances. One piece moves by a mm and there is interference and can lock or impinge.

Good physical therapist should help fix and prevent recurrence, maybe can shed light on why it happened, also.

 

[hotwheels]

Originally Posted By: Cardenio327
Cortisone anecdote:

A friend's brother was getting shot up with cortisone weekly for about a year at a local pharmacy without a doctor's supervision or prescription.


How is that even possible? Anything other than low dosage topical cortisone cream or spray requires a prescription. Not sure why a pharmacist would go along with illegally dispensing and injecting cortisone.

Also, the risks of steroids are commonly known. Weekly shots sounds insane. Let's say an asthmatic has a severe attack and requires a dose of cortisone to save his life. He will have to slowly reduce the amount over a period of time afterwards to reduce the chance of serious side effects. Cortisone is not a medication to be messed with by laymen. I am even wary when it comes to over-the-counter cortisone creams, because they may lead with continuous use to a thinning of the epidermis and some other nasties.

hotwheels

 

[friendly_jacek]

my wife had it a couple of years ago. it took exactly 12 months to recover. she wasn't a happy camper during those months. there is some association with thyroid diseases, get yours checked. remember to stay away from the ortho surgeons wanting to do surgery on you.

 

[hotwheels]

Originally Posted By: friendly_jacek
my wife had it a couple of years ago. it took exactly 12 months to recover. she wasn't a happy camper during those months. there is some association with thyroid diseases, get yours checked. remember to stay away from the ortho surgeons wanting to do surgery on you.


My thyroid is just fine. I get annual checkups. I went to the orthopedic surgeon, because he is the specialist for this type injury. He treats many of the local professional football and baseball players and he is supposedly the best we got. He never suggested surgery. It's even doubtful that I have full-blown adhesive encapsulitis. My symptoms are not that severe. I have no issues with normal daily activities.

hotwheels

 

[147_Grain]

Adhesive Capsulitis or frozen shoulder can be a chronically painful situation. Your PC can send a consultation to P.T. for starters and/or orthopedics for corticosteroidal injections IF therapy isn't working.

Surgical repair should be your last option, as P.T. is needed whether you get surgery or not and 40% of patients never fully recover from surgery and are not mentally strong enough to fully follow P.T Guidelines or fight through the pain with enough persistence to heal. Strongly advise professional guidance for best results.

 

[hotwheels]

Originally Posted By: 147_Grain
Strongly advise professional guidance for best results.


You clearly didn't read a word of what I wrote, other than the topic header.

hotwheels

 

[147_Grain]

Sure did. My general answer was to all who read and post on this topic. I don't diagnose and give specific medical advice online - only to patients I see face to face. Infections are known to settle in weak regions of the body where scar tissue and unhealthy cells co-exist, thus causing immobility through capillary cells acting like glue and the painful movement or lack thereof results in a frozen condition. This is known as adhesive capsulitis.

 

[hotwheels]

Originally Posted By: 147_Grain
Sure did. My general answer was to all who read and post on this topic. I don't diagnose and give specific medical advice online - only to patients I see face to face.


I coulda sworn your reply was addressed to me. Since it was a general comment, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Fair enough?

hotwheels

 

[sleddriver]

Yep. Been there. Done that. Could barely lift my arm horizontal. It took about 6 months to heal, then suddenly one day I could lift my arm overhead! I over did it kayaking. Swimming could also do it to you.

 

[hotwheels]

Originally Posted By: sleddriver
Yep. Been there. Done that. Could barely lift my arm horizontal. It took about 6 months to heal, then suddenly one day I could lift my arm overhead! I over did it kayaking. Swimming could also do it to you.


Swimming did not do it to me. I have no problems with breast stroke or crawling. My biggest problem is that I can't raise my arm much when I hold my hand behind my back. When I raise my arm as high as I can above my head, mobility is also somewhat limited. The pain that I get I feel in my biceps. That's called pain referral, because the pain is not felt at the place of origin, which is actually the shoulder joint.

From what I was told, I could be a lot worse off. I was also told that frozen shoulder usually resolves itself after about a year. The outcome between those who have gotten a steroid shot and those who just wait it out is statistically not very different, they all regain about 90% of mobility, but the steroid shot usually results in quicker healing. I was told to keep doing any physical activity I am doing as long as it doesn't hurt. The frozen shoulder exercise that I have to do is actually kind of painful, because it forces me to lift my hand and arm increasingly higher behind my back.

hotwheels

 

[hotwheels]

My arm feels much better today without raging pain when I'm lifting it up high, especially behind my back. Apparently, the steroid shot is effectively reducing inflammation. Now I can increase the amount of exercise I'm supposed to do to regain range of motion.

hotwheels