Frozen Shoulder.

[saintpeter48]

For the past 3 months I have had really bad pain in my right shoulder, difficult to put t-shirts on and off and limited use for everyday living, sleeping is uncomfortable as well.
I googled it and think it must be a 'frozen shoulder'.
I am reluctant to go to my GP as I don't really want to waste his time as they are so busy, he'll probably only tell me what I have already found out online.
Is there anyone out there who has had a similar condition that could give me a bit more advice on how to treat it.
Thanks in advance.

[Tuvok]

A friend had it years ago - and got regular acupuncture at the local hospital.

[Tyrion44]

I also had this. We have a walk in physiotherepy clinic at our local hospital. They checked me over and gave me some exercises to do at home. Glad to say it resolved the problem though it did take a couple of months.

[jakep]

I’ve been there and it’s very painful. Exercises do help, hopefully you may find them online. I tried a steroid injection from GP. It didn’t bring much relief. Unfortunately it is one of those conditions that you just have to sit out. It will go but it may be some months.

[Sqad]

I agree with the 3 posters above ...whatever you do, it will take time ...at least 6 weeks.

Injections of steroids work, if the injector knows what he/she is doing ??//

Start with Ibuprofen 400mgm every 6 hours and Ibuprofen gel twice daily.

[10ClarionSt]

Saint Peter, I hope this helps. But everyone is different. What suits one, may not suit another, but here goes. I injured my shoulder (not a frozen shoulder though) over 12 months ago when I fell and damaged the ligaments and small muscles. I was unable to lift my arm more than a few inches. My doctor told me if left it to heal on it's own, it would take at least 12 months. I had a couple of appointments with a physio, who gave me an exercise regime and I saw a specialist. There were other things too, but my problem wasn't a frozen shoulder. It was an injury. Can a frozen shoulder be caused by injury? I don't know. Anyway, I decided to try and do something different to the regime I was given by the physio, so I bought a dart board, set it up in my garage and off we went. I think it was a really good decision by me to do that, even if I say it myself. I am right handed, the injury was to my right shoulder, so it was ok in this instance. If it had been my left shoulder, the "darts plan" would have been a non-runner. Just over 12 months now and I am back playing golf and have managed to comfortably finish my decorating that had to go on hold whilst I recovered. Maybe a dart board isn't the answer, but to anyone recovering from a shoulder injury, it could well be worth a try.

[ParsleyDumpling]

Hi, I also suffer with a (self diagnosed) frozen shoulder. I work in a lab and have to use a PC also, the work benches are higher than desks so the chair I had was too low. I now have a chair which I can adjust to a higher height (?) and have found this helps enormously. Will agree with other posters, though, it will take months to improve.

[jennyjoan]

If ever go away!!

[mallyh]

I had this, very painful doc gave me cortisone jabs ,it did the trick x

[THECORBYLOON]

A few year ago I picked up a plate that I hadn't realised had been on a lit gas ring. It took about a second for the heat to register and rather than just drop it, I threw it onto a table.

I jerked my shoulder and it must taken at least a year to clear up but that was without any medical treatment.

[queenofmean]

I was diagnosed would frozen shoulder but after it persisting and getting worse I went back - I have Calcification around the tendon.

No harm in going to be checked over though. Better than being in pain!

[corylus]

Physiotherapy sorted mine out with exercises, get yourself referred!

[237SJ]

There are exercises that you can do https://www.health.harvard.edu/shoulders/stretching-exercises-frozen-shoulder but you should go to the Doctor to make sure that a frozen shoulder is actually what you have. I was referred to a physio which helped. If you are in pain at night, sleep on the unaffected side and put a pillow in front of you (as if you are hugging it) and stretch your upper arm (the painful side) across it. That stops the shoulder being bent at such an angle as to cause pain

[snowshoe1]

MY RIGHT SHOULDER I WAS HAVING PAIN WHEN EVER I TRIED TO LIFT ANYTHING,OR TRIED TO REACH FOR SOMETHING. I CAN'T SLEEP ON MY RIGHT SIDE BECAUSE OF THIS. I WENT AND SAW MY DOCTOR AND SHE ORDER X-RAYS.IT SHOW A LARGE TEAR IN MY ROTOR CUP. I CAN EITHER HAVE SURGERY TO REPAIR IT, OR LEAN TO LIVE WITH IT. YOU SHOULD HAVE X-RAYS DONE TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON.

[jazzyjen]

Oh, how I feel for you.
I developed frozen shoulder and went to doctor who told me to NOT MOVE it.
A couple of weeks later the other shoulder began to seize up. I was unable to do simple self care tasks without agony.
I went back and saw a different doc who was horrified with the advice of the first. He sent me for physio and said to exercise through the pain. (worse than childbirth)
After about 4 months with little improvement I was given injections into the joints which had miraculous effects and eased both arms within about 10 days.

[10ClarionSt]

Snowshoe, the injury I had is very similar to yours, but I didn't damage the rotator cuff. I damaged a muscle called (I think) the Supraspinatus. I was offered surgery and turned it down because it had been too long since the injury (8 months) and it was, very slowly, getting better. My doctor said it would take longer than 12 months if left to heal on its' own. I followed the physio exercises I was given, as well as buying a dartboard, but if your injury isn't to the arm that you write with, a dartboard isn't an option, sadly. But regular exercise should do the trick for you. It just takes time, unfortunately.