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Adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder: What helps?

Posted by Chris, Volunteer Mentor @auntieoakley, Jul 30, 2019

About 4 months ago I was diagnosed with a frozen shoulder, the doctor said take nsaids which I was already taking. Then I had a hospital stay for prancreatitis, complicated by a perforating ulcer and was told it was from nsaids and never to take them again. So here I am responsible for everything over 5 lbs at our house with a shoulder that just never stops hurting. Into my elbow, into my collarbone, and into my neck. Nothing really helps, not ice, not heat, not creams or lidocaine. Does anyone have suggestions for me. The doctor said it would resolve itself in one to three years but in another month I will be ready to cut it off myself.

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tsch | @tsch | Apr 6, 2022
In reply to @deanna2 "I'd advise anyone using this to first take time to carefully read the manual directions for..." + (show)
@deanna2

I'd advise anyone using this to first take time to carefully read the manual directions for procedures and for warnings as to which areas to safely use it on and which people shouldn't use it at all. I would NOT expect it to immediately eliminate pain as an aspirin might do for a headache. To answer your questions, I used two pads on the sides of my shoulder twice a day. Sorry, but I don't recall exactly how many days I used it. Might have been a week or more. However many, it was worth it! Best wishes.

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I have had both shoulders frozen. Both repaired, one with arthroscopy in 2005 and one by being torn by a doc in 2000. Both fixes worked, and i have no ongoing issues. Some people can get resolution with PT, but it did not work for me. I dont think anyone should be told to live with this. Its very painful.

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Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Apr 6, 2022
In reply to @heather47 "Hello all. I would love to chat with others that are experiencing severe frozen shoulder. I..." + (show)
@heather47

Hello all. I would love to chat with others that are experiencing severe frozen shoulder. I have now developed it post surgery and am having a really rough time . It’s been 4 months now and could really use some advice/talk therapy with others that are going through it as well .

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I did have frozen shoulder, in fact my orthopedic doctor believes both have been frozen several years apart. The first my primary care had said I had a torn rotator cuff and it would heal in time. It did but it took a year or more. When the second one started there really was no possible injury and it slowly just froze up and got more and more painful. When I went for the recheck and asked for PT, my doctor said yes and also gave me a shot of cortisone which helped with the pain. It took more than a year, but eventually it did start to loosen. It is not pain free but it is certainly usable, and bearable. This is not something I would ever wish on another human being, but if it happens to you, seek out the best orthopedic doctor you can find.

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1 reply
Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Apr 6, 2022
In reply to @auntieoakley "I did have frozen shoulder, in fact my orthopedic doctor believes both have been frozen several..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

I did have frozen shoulder, in fact my orthopedic doctor believes both have been frozen several years apart. The first my primary care had said I had a torn rotator cuff and it would heal in time. It did but it took a year or more. When the second one started there really was no possible injury and it slowly just froze up and got more and more painful. When I went for the recheck and asked for PT, my doctor said yes and also gave me a shot of cortisone which helped with the pain. It took more than a year, but eventually it did start to loosen. It is not pain free but it is certainly usable, and bearable. This is not something I would ever wish on another human being, but if it happens to you, seek out the best orthopedic doctor you can find.

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Thanks for sharing this Chris. I have never had one but have observed my sister-in-law's struggles. You concern is appreciated.
@artscaping ( Chris)

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dmk | @dmk | Apr 6, 2022

I had relative that had frozen shoulder in past complaining of pain too. After my experience with a RTS I bought her a set of pulleys to use for every day and they she said after a few days of using she has no pain anymore and continues to use daily. I have learned from my pt exercises need to be done even after therapy has ended!

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callalloo | @callalloo | Apr 7, 2022
In reply to @anniebrook "Sorry to come late to this conversation. I had what my GP ( UK) told me..." + (show)
@anniebrook

Sorry to come late to this conversation. I had what my GP ( UK) told me was frozen shoulder.I was a Psych nurse working with elderly many of which were non weight bearing and back in those days we had no hoists. After 10 yrs of suffering and still working my GP told me "you will have to change your career and learn to live with it".At which I answered "then I don't want to live with it anymore" and burst into tears. I couldn't lift my arm but as long as I kept my arm to my side or lifted it bringing it round in a semi circle in front of me I could still work. At my sudden tears he decided to send me to see an ortho surgeon. The surgeon told me as he walked into his office while I sat waiting " I am 90% sure I know what it is before we even MRI it and I can make you 99% pain free. I had a small build up of calcium that he removed and 6 weeks later I could lift my arm. I have since had the other shoulder done and the 1st one redone yrs later. I still suffer with a small amount of pain in and around that 1st one and I'm SURE if my GP had listened to me and sent me to see the surgeon sooner I wouldn't still have that residual pain. I think we have to be our own advocate and pressure Dr's to do more

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Wow. It's great that you got this solved and disappointing that your GP made such an u conditional declaration. That's a great example of not taking the first opinion or giving up in dismay.

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alive | @alive | Apr 7, 2022

I had frozen shoulders five years ago. I couldn’t lift my arms above my chest. I went to a wonderful pt clinic and my doctor had me do exercises and also spent a lot of time stretching and doing deep massages to loosen up my shoulders. My insurance only covered 5 weeks of therapy, but I was doing so much better at that point anyway. As a parting advice my pt doctor told me that I should exercise at a kids’ playground: hold on to the monkey bar and let my body hang. I was camping for a week after my pt was over and faithfully walked to the park’s playground and did what the doctor said. I have been fine ever since, at least as far as my shoulders are concerned.

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deonmarie | @deonmarie | Apr 7, 2022
In reply to @anniebrook "Sorry to come late to this conversation. I had what my GP ( UK) told me..." + (show)
@anniebrook

Sorry to come late to this conversation. I had what my GP ( UK) told me was frozen shoulder.I was a Psych nurse working with elderly many of which were non weight bearing and back in those days we had no hoists. After 10 yrs of suffering and still working my GP told me "you will have to change your career and learn to live with it".At which I answered "then I don't want to live with it anymore" and burst into tears. I couldn't lift my arm but as long as I kept my arm to my side or lifted it bringing it round in a semi circle in front of me I could still work. At my sudden tears he decided to send me to see an ortho surgeon. The surgeon told me as he walked into his office while I sat waiting " I am 90% sure I know what it is before we even MRI it and I can make you 99% pain free. I had a small build up of calcium that he removed and 6 weeks later I could lift my arm. I have since had the other shoulder done and the 1st one redone yrs later. I still suffer with a small amount of pain in and around that 1st one and I'm SURE if my GP had listened to me and sent me to see the surgeon sooner I wouldn't still have that residual pain. I think we have to be our own advocate and pressure Dr's to do more

Jump to this post

I went to PT. And got good movement back. Still have some pain sleeping on shoulders and during at home PT, but it goes away

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vic83 | @vic83 | May 26, 2022

This is certainly a late comment, but I just saw this post about frozen shoulder. About eleven years ago I started to have shoulder pain, had cortizone shots from specialist in one shoulder and then the other shoulder froze up. How weird! He told me I was getting old. I did some physical therapy......but here is the scoop. I started doing aqua aerobics, AND I have never had another issue with my shoulders since! The tension of the aqua is perfect for arm and rotator cuff exercises

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angie13 | @angie13 | May 27, 2022

Just saw the post. Over the years had frozen shoulder twice. Last time, six years ago, I was given a cortisone shot and about six weeks of physical therapy, twice a week, and I have been fine since.

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1 reply
russet3 | @russet3 | Oct 6, 2022

Hello. Can adhesive capsulitis cause nerve pain? I have AC with pain radiating down my arm, and it feels like sciatica, which I sometimes have in my leg. I'm wondering if the thickened tissues in the joint might press on a nerve somewhere?

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