Frozen shoulder?
Discussion
The other half injured her shoulder in a fall approx 11 months ago and has since been to the doctors and been referred to a physio, she's seen the physio 3 times in the last couple of months and he is now referring her to a specialist because she couldn't complete all her shoulder exercises and he said because of little use the muscle is starting to lose size.
In between I've taken her up the hospital, around 4 months ago, because she was in so much pain. They X-rayed her shoulder and found no break or fracture.
I've been woken up tonight with her sobbing because of the pain in her shoulder, what the hell can I do about it? why should someone be made to put up with this in this day and age!!
Anyone out there had anything similar and what can be done about it?
In between I've taken her up the hospital, around 4 months ago, because she was in so much pain. They X-rayed her shoulder and found no break or fracture.
I've been woken up tonight with her sobbing because of the pain in her shoulder, what the hell can I do about it? why should someone be made to put up with this in this day and age!!
Anyone out there had anything similar and what can be done about it?
Poor girl.
When she was referred to the physio how come she only went three times? Normally with physio referral it's once a week for 6 weeks for shoulders and even then
it may not be enough.No anti inflammatorys prescribed? Should be a drug like Naproxen.Go back to the doctor and get more physio apps and try to get referral to a
shoulder specialist.In the mean time Nurofen at night and when sleeping a pillow hugged to the chest supporting the painful shoulder might help.
When she was referred to the physio how come she only went three times? Normally with physio referral it's once a week for 6 weeks for shoulders and even then
it may not be enough.No anti inflammatorys prescribed? Should be a drug like Naproxen.Go back to the doctor and get more physio apps and try to get referral to a
shoulder specialist.In the mean time Nurofen at night and when sleeping a pillow hugged to the chest supporting the painful shoulder might help.
goldblum said:
Poor girl.
When she was referred to the physio how come she only went three times? Normally with physio referral it's once a week for 6 weeks for shoulders and even then
it may not be enough.No anti inflammatorys prescribed? Should be a drug like Naproxen.Go back to the doctor and get more physio apps and try to get referral to a
shoulder specialist.In the mean time Nurofen at night and when sleeping a pillow hugged to the chest supporting the painful shoulder might help.
Thankyou for the advice goldblumWhen she was referred to the physio how come she only went three times? Normally with physio referral it's once a week for 6 weeks for shoulders and even then
it may not be enough.No anti inflammatorys prescribed? Should be a drug like Naproxen.Go back to the doctor and get more physio apps and try to get referral to a
shoulder specialist.In the mean time Nurofen at night and when sleeping a pillow hugged to the chest supporting the painful shoulder might help.
So far the OH has been given a course of Diclofenac Sodium anti inflammatorys, but they've had no effect.
The referral to the physio only went as far as 3 times, the last one being Friday. He wasn't happy to continue as he thinks there might be a tear and asked my OH to go back to the doctor to be referred to a shoulder specialist, to examine her to see if she needs an MRI of injection.
In the meantime its put up with the pain. Not nice to watch!
I had a frozen shoulder about 3 years ago. I went to my GP who gave me a cortisone injection, which did absolutely nothing.
Luckily I have private health insurance so went and saw a surgeon who gave me a cortisone injection, under an x-ray, which is much more precise than the GP! Which also didn't do anything, so had a MRI scan and was found to have a severe case of Tendonitis.
So had surgery to shave the bone that was rubbing against the tendon and to repair the damage that had been caused.
It was extremely painful for about a week and then slowly got back to normal.
Even now in the gym it sometimes hurts.
Have you been to your GP and asked about an injection?
Luckily I have private health insurance so went and saw a surgeon who gave me a cortisone injection, under an x-ray, which is much more precise than the GP! Which also didn't do anything, so had a MRI scan and was found to have a severe case of Tendonitis.
So had surgery to shave the bone that was rubbing against the tendon and to repair the damage that had been caused.
It was extremely painful for about a week and then slowly got back to normal.
Even now in the gym it sometimes hurts.
Have you been to your GP and asked about an injection?
I'm about 6 months into a frozen shoulder v.painfull. I've been taking co-codamal, it helps me sleep (I've been sobbing with pain too) but can leave you constipated. Physio does not seem to help much but I've had a cortisone injection 10 days ago, the pain is better so far and I've taken a break from the co-codamal.
My wife had a private op (general anaesthetic) a couple of years ago for capsular release seemed to do the trick. No pain and all the movement returned.
I'm trying to resist an op but if things don't improve I will go down this route.
My wife had a private op (general anaesthetic) a couple of years ago for capsular release seemed to do the trick. No pain and all the movement returned.
I'm trying to resist an op but if things don't improve I will go down this route.
If you have private medical cover get a referal go see a specialist soon as possible.
I ignored the pain in my left shoulder for almost a year before inability to get more than 3 hours sleep a night and the constant agony drove me to sort it. My GP was completely rubbish - gave me industrial strength anti-inflams (no effect) and was keen to give me an cortizone injection (refused)... but at least he agreed to refer me to a specialist.
An MRI uncovered a 90% torn tendon (nothing visible on X ray) and I was booked in for surgery a week later.
That was Dec 2nd, and I'm on the long and slow road to recovery - 6 weeks down, 4.5 months to go. Still, better than if I hadn't gone and the tendon had snapped completely.
I ignored the pain in my left shoulder for almost a year before inability to get more than 3 hours sleep a night and the constant agony drove me to sort it. My GP was completely rubbish - gave me industrial strength anti-inflams (no effect) and was keen to give me an cortizone injection (refused)... but at least he agreed to refer me to a specialist.
An MRI uncovered a 90% torn tendon (nothing visible on X ray) and I was booked in for surgery a week later.
That was Dec 2nd, and I'm on the long and slow road to recovery - 6 weeks down, 4.5 months to go. Still, better than if I hadn't gone and the tendon had snapped completely.
I have had a damaged shoulder since falling off my bile two years ago.
I have every sympathy for your wife.
The rotator cuff in your wife's shoulder is very probably damaged. This is a particularly difficult joint to repair because it allows almost every direction of movement. Very flexible allows all the arm movements but in consequence any damage is very difficult to repair.
Your wife needs to become voluble and constructively aggressive with her GP and consultants. Unfortunately the NHS reacts much better to belligerent patients than reasonable and understanding patients.
Could be worth seeing a good consultant and trying ultrasound and proper physio attention. She needs to exercise every day to avoid the muscle deterioration.
I also think Dicofenac Gel is worth a try. I would avoid the Diclofenac tablets as the can be very irritating to the stomach, But if your wife can tolerate the tablets these might work. You can buy these without prescription now I would definitely try the Gel there is no association with gut trouble.
Tramadol is the best painkiller I know short of morphine patches but is obviously prescription only. Very effective and available in slow release form that will get your wife through the night.
The more concerted complaints and fuss your wife makes the more attention she will get. I do not like this feature of the NHS but it is a fact. If you suffer in silence the NHS professionals will let you. Make a fuss: get attention. Sad fact but true.
I was in so much pain two years ago I literally could not sleep for more than an hour at a time. I woke up every night every hour with agonising stiffness in the shoulder. Obviously I could not function like that so I followed the advice above. I made an effective presentation with determinationto the NHS and it paid dividends.
Umpteen X rays and MRI scans later seeing two consultants I got considerable attention and all the above treatments. My condition was considered inoperable because my other conditions, heart etc, made the anesthetist feel faint at the prospect.
But regular physiotherapy and ultrasound gradually helped, Diclofenac gel and Tramadol every night helped and over the period of a year, with continuing physio things did improve and the pain subsided.
I still do not have full use of the shoulder but it is very much better and I ditched the Tramadol about nine months ago.
Do not despair, do not let your wife despair.
Thus will improve. But effective presentation is essential.
But sadly, effective presentation and determination on the face of the not very attentive NHS will definitely pay dividends.
I have every sympathy for your wife.
The rotator cuff in your wife's shoulder is very probably damaged. This is a particularly difficult joint to repair because it allows almost every direction of movement. Very flexible allows all the arm movements but in consequence any damage is very difficult to repair.
Your wife needs to become voluble and constructively aggressive with her GP and consultants. Unfortunately the NHS reacts much better to belligerent patients than reasonable and understanding patients.
Could be worth seeing a good consultant and trying ultrasound and proper physio attention. She needs to exercise every day to avoid the muscle deterioration.
I also think Dicofenac Gel is worth a try. I would avoid the Diclofenac tablets as the can be very irritating to the stomach, But if your wife can tolerate the tablets these might work. You can buy these without prescription now I would definitely try the Gel there is no association with gut trouble.
Tramadol is the best painkiller I know short of morphine patches but is obviously prescription only. Very effective and available in slow release form that will get your wife through the night.
The more concerted complaints and fuss your wife makes the more attention she will get. I do not like this feature of the NHS but it is a fact. If you suffer in silence the NHS professionals will let you. Make a fuss: get attention. Sad fact but true.
I was in so much pain two years ago I literally could not sleep for more than an hour at a time. I woke up every night every hour with agonising stiffness in the shoulder. Obviously I could not function like that so I followed the advice above. I made an effective presentation with determinationto the NHS and it paid dividends.
Umpteen X rays and MRI scans later seeing two consultants I got considerable attention and all the above treatments. My condition was considered inoperable because my other conditions, heart etc, made the anesthetist feel faint at the prospect.
But regular physiotherapy and ultrasound gradually helped, Diclofenac gel and Tramadol every night helped and over the period of a year, with continuing physio things did improve and the pain subsided.
I still do not have full use of the shoulder but it is very much better and I ditched the Tramadol about nine months ago.
Do not despair, do not let your wife despair.
Thus will improve. But effective presentation is essential.
But sadly, effective presentation and determination on the face of the not very attentive NHS will definitely pay dividends.
I've had repeated shoulder dislocations for thirty years. I had a Putti plat operation twenty years ago, now my instability has returned. Over the past two months, I have effectively become disabled, unable to move my right arm even a few inches away from my side. It keeps me awake at night, causes anything from mild discomfort to agonising pain, makes things like drsssing and shaving major tasks. In short I have a mess for a right shoulder.
The joint as Steffan says is essentially the loosest in the body - no joint has a greater range of motion than your shoulder. The term rotator cuff tear is a catch all for a range of injuries that can take place in the joint.
If it's a new injury, get on the private healthcare, but if it's pre-existing and so on the NHS, make a fuss, do not be fobbed off with cortisone which will only mask the symptoms and may lead to more damage.
Get referred to an orthopaedic consultant, demand an mri scan and if necessary, arthroscopy. It can be fixed, but surgery should be a last resort. Also, very, very important, any damaged tissue in the joint will be inflamed, adding to the pain, so get on NSAID's asap, even if it's just Ibuprofen.
The joint as Steffan says is essentially the loosest in the body - no joint has a greater range of motion than your shoulder. The term rotator cuff tear is a catch all for a range of injuries that can take place in the joint.
If it's a new injury, get on the private healthcare, but if it's pre-existing and so on the NHS, make a fuss, do not be fobbed off with cortisone which will only mask the symptoms and may lead to more damage.
Get referred to an orthopaedic consultant, demand an mri scan and if necessary, arthroscopy. It can be fixed, but surgery should be a last resort. Also, very, very important, any damaged tissue in the joint will be inflamed, adding to the pain, so get on NSAID's asap, even if it's just Ibuprofen.
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