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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 | Oct 7, 2022
In reply to @russet3 "Thank you! I am so glad to know that I'm not alone in this experience, and..." + (show)
@russet3

Thank you! I am so glad to know that I'm not alone in this experience, and that my impression of a pinched nerve might be correct. (I messaged my orthopedist but he was noncommittal.) I'm also glad to know that I'm not alone in finding AC painful in general. Not that I wish pain on anyone, but everything I've read says that it's supposed to stop hurting after a while, and mine hasn't. And I'm glad there is hope!
Did the cortisone help? My orthopedist is recommending it, given the continued pain. Otherwise, he says studies have shown that nothing will make this condition heal any faster; I just have to wait it out. That actually makes sense to me. But see my reply to Colleen above – I may have some secondary posture or compensation issues that would benefit from therapy.
Thanks again for your support.

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surgery will fix a frozen shoulder.

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russet3 | @russet3 | Oct 7, 2022
In reply to @auntieoakley "Waiting it out is exactly what my doctor said. He said there is surgeries and manual..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

Waiting it out is exactly what my doctor said. He said there is surgeries and manual manipulation and a few other things but he said he has never seen any of them work. The cortisone shots really were a lifesaver for me. He also would not order PT until it was thawing on its own because he said that he never found it to be successful either. But once I started doing PT, it thawed and felt better pretty quick. All told I was in it more than a year, and I still have to be careful of shoulder posture. Do you have an appointment for a shot? Have you ever tried topical nsaids, or topical lidocaine?

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@auntieoakley Thanks. I haven't tried the topicals yet – hadn't even heard of Volaren before this discussion. I think my first goal was to figure out what is wrong and whether it's normal before starting to look for remedies. I'll follow up!
@tsch Thanks for your input. Sometimes a treatment works for some people but not for everyone. I'm glad you're feeling better!

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alive | @alive | Oct 7, 2022
In reply to @russet3 "Thanks! I appreciate your support and experience." + (show)
@russet3

Thanks! I appreciate your support and experience.

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I had frozen shoulder in both of my shoulders due to GVHD (post stem cell transplant). Going to PT three times a week for two months brought me back to normal. My PT had me do exercises and he also stretched both of my arms. It was somewhat painful to experience, but the results were amazing.

I think getting the best PT you can find is very important. A few years later and in another city I had PT for a different problem. That PT didn’t really do anything except watch me do the exercises. He also couldn’t believe that my frozen shoulders were resolved in two months. Needless to say, I quit going to PT because I could do those exercises on my own.

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1 reply
Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Oct 7, 2022
In reply to @tsch "i had manipulation in one shoulder in 2000 and surgery on the other in 2005-both have..." + (show)
@tsch

i had manipulation in one shoulder in 2000 and surgery on the other in 2005-both have been fine ever since. See a new doc.

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This doctor put me back together after an accident that left every bone on my right side above the hip broken. I think I will stick with him. But thanks anyway.

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russet3 | @russet3 | Oct 8, 2022
In reply to @alive "I had frozen shoulder in both of my shoulders due to GVHD (post stem cell transplant)...." + (show)
@alive

I had frozen shoulder in both of my shoulders due to GVHD (post stem cell transplant). Going to PT three times a week for two months brought me back to normal. My PT had me do exercises and he also stretched both of my arms. It was somewhat painful to experience, but the results were amazing.

I think getting the best PT you can find is very important. A few years later and in another city I had PT for a different problem. That PT didn’t really do anything except watch me do the exercises. He also couldn’t believe that my frozen shoulders were resolved in two months. Needless to say, I quit going to PT because I could do those exercises on my own.

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@alive Good point about finding the right PT! They are not all the same.

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colely | @colely | Oct 8, 2022
In reply to @russet3 "Thank you! I am so glad to know that I'm not alone in this experience, and..." + (show)
@russet3

Thank you! I am so glad to know that I'm not alone in this experience, and that my impression of a pinched nerve might be correct. (I messaged my orthopedist but he was noncommittal.) I'm also glad to know that I'm not alone in finding AC painful in general. Not that I wish pain on anyone, but everything I've read says that it's supposed to stop hurting after a while, and mine hasn't. And I'm glad there is hope!
Did the cortisone help? My orthopedist is recommending it, given the continued pain. Otherwise, he says studies have shown that nothing will make this condition heal any faster; I just have to wait it out. That actually makes sense to me. But see my reply to Colleen above – I may have some secondary posture or compensation issues that would benefit from therapy.
Thanks again for your support.

Jump to this post

Please try cortisone shots! My Physiotherapy Doctor wanted me to try them for six months. They were like a miracle
No more pain. I could go on to work successfully with my P.T.

REPLY
me49 | @me49 | Oct 8, 2022
In reply to @russet3 "Thanks, @colleenyoung . I imagine it could be posture or compensation. I've tried to adjust my..." + (show)
@russet3

Thanks, @colleenyoung . I imagine it could be posture or compensation. I've tried to adjust my stance myself, with inconclusive results.
I had a bad experience with PT, so I don't completely trust it. This whole problem started last winter with something that appeared to be tendinitis. My physician recommended PT. The therapist worked me pretty hard, and after eight or nine weeks, my shoulder seized up. The therapist didn't know what the problem was, didn't recognize a frozen shoulder. I stuck with the treatments for a couple more weeks and then left, and it's been downhill ever since. I have wondered if PT made things worse instead of better in the early stage.
On the other hand, I have a friend who knows a PT who specializes in shoulder issues, so I may give that person a try.

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I had a torn rotator cuff and was given a cortisone injection that lasted 2 weeks. I was also prescribed physical therapy and home exercises to do 3x day. The exercises and therapy only seemed to aggravate the condition. The doctor then said to rest the arm for 8 weeks and then try therapy again. I developed frozen shoulder, but was glad that I didn't have to constantly use an ice pack . The second round of pt was painful, but productive. I was in pain for a day or two afterward, but my range of motion was getting better. Pain is always a symptom. There's no harm in seeking second opinions. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

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dmk | @dmk | Oct 9, 2022
In reply to @russet3 "Thanks, @colleenyoung . I imagine it could be posture or compensation. I've tried to adjust my..." + (show)
@russet3

Thanks, @colleenyoung . I imagine it could be posture or compensation. I've tried to adjust my stance myself, with inconclusive results.
I had a bad experience with PT, so I don't completely trust it. This whole problem started last winter with something that appeared to be tendinitis. My physician recommended PT. The therapist worked me pretty hard, and after eight or nine weeks, my shoulder seized up. The therapist didn't know what the problem was, didn't recognize a frozen shoulder. I stuck with the treatments for a couple more weeks and then left, and it's been downhill ever since. I have wondered if PT made things worse instead of better in the early stage.
On the other hand, I have a friend who knows a PT who specializes in shoulder issues, so I may give that person a try.

Jump to this post

In my experience not all PTs are great. I found one for my RTS and TKR. HE IS AWESOME ! Is A DPT (doctor of physical therapy) and has many more credentials at a young age now 31. He uses many modalities such as manipulation,
massage, EMS, Cupping, dry needling, along with equipment to name a few. He thinks out of the box.
Prior to my first surgery my surgeon said go find somewhere you would like to go for therapy after my RTS. So I researched the different places in my area by calling and visiting them to ask questions before finding the one and to date couldn’t be more pleased. A great therapist is just as important as a great surgeon. Good luck to all
Also he explained after therapy ends (he set me up with exercises)I need to continue regimen for foreseeable future( in other words forever commitment). Commitment on our part is key is well. Therapy is not for the weak.
Good luck to all!!!!

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russet3 | @russet3 | Oct 9, 2022

Thanks again, everyone. Here is another question. Has anyone found that their pain responds to the weather? I felt terrible a couple of days ago (cloudy, rainy, low air pressure), somewhat better yesterday, and much better today (clear, dry, high pressure). I'm wondering if it's the air pressure or if I am perhaps reaching the less painful stage, which would be great.

REPLY
1 reply
russet3 | @russet3 | Oct 10, 2022
In reply to @russet3 "Thanks again, everyone. Here is another question. Has anyone found that their pain responds to the..." + (show)
@russet3

Thanks again, everyone. Here is another question. Has anyone found that their pain responds to the weather? I felt terrible a couple of days ago (cloudy, rainy, low air pressure), somewhat better yesterday, and much better today (clear, dry, high pressure). I'm wondering if it's the air pressure or if I am perhaps reaching the less painful stage, which would be great.

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Following up: my orthopedist says yes, air pressure definitely makes a difference!

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