Shoulder Rotator Cuff :: Frozen Shoulder - Constant Pain


Feb 26, 2015

I have a 'Frozen Shoulder'.

This was caused by an inoperative Humerus shoulder fracture because the orthopedic surgeon found an infection in my bone during surgery. ( I fell back on 10/6/14) Doctors were baffled how I ended up with an infection since I had no cuts and was in perfect health before I fell.
Surgeon put a drain in and closed me up. I was in a sling for 2 1/2 months and on IV antibiotics for over a month.

Dec 14 I started Physical Therapy, 3xs a week. Along with exercises at home. I have little ROM. Very stiff. Extreme tightness.

I have constant pain from the back of my shoulder to my elbow, bicep. muscles. The little knots are quite painful. I push, squeeze to ease the pain. Massaging the shoulder / arm eases it just for a bit.

Due to the infection that was found in my bone during surgery, three ortho surgeons said they will not operate on my shoulder.
Intensive therapy is all they said I need.

Ortho surgeon will not prescribe pain medication.

My primary care physician prescribed 10mg oxycodone which I cut in half. I only take a full pill when I have physical therapy. Scared what will happen when I run out of pills. Doubt my Dr will refill the prescription. (sad face)

I have tried Aleve, Excedrin, Advil, which doesn't help the pain. I even mixed them with benadryl to sleep. But that didn't help either.

Do to Medicare amount allotted for physical therapy, I can only go a certain amount of times. Which now, I only have a few more visits to go.
Been going to PT for about 3 months and haven't seen any improvement. This is really horrible!

PT said he will teach me what I can do at home and that I could pay $30 a visit if I wanted to.

But personally, I feel it would be wasting my money since I would be paying him just to rub my arm for 10 minutes since I do the same exercises at home. I bought a door pulley and therabands.

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3) Pain in the back of the shoulder?

4) Pain when laying on the scapula of the affected shoulder?

5) No increase in pain while doing therapy exercises? But, an increase sometimes afterwards?

6) Mostly bad days, but some random low-pain days? And, often no clear reason why I have those low-pain days.

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8) Typically either arm pain or back of the shoulder pain, but typically not both at the same time.

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I have been off work since last September. when one morning I woke up and thought I was going to be paralysed as I was I the most severe pain in my neck, but actually couldn't move. I was given diazepam to relax the muscle spasms. Already on tramadol but also given cocodamol. Saw chiropractor for 6 weeks. Wasn't happy there though. Slowly regained more movement in my neck but the pain was getting worse and my shoulder and arm in excruciating pain. Can't lift arm up or behind my back. Putting certain items of clothing on causes sudden pain that makes me want to scream out and maybe faint sometimes. I hope I don't offend but going to the toilet is a feat. I feel like a fraud to others as you can't see this and it is the most painful thing ever. I have had 5 children and this is worse. I've seen a spine Physio today and being referred for MRI. She seems to think I have now developed frozen shoulder on top of neck problem too. I'm exhausted from it all. Bit nervous. I feel a fraction of the person I was 7 months ago. Thank you for listening to me wittering on about myself.

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Frozen Shoulder :: Again! Pain Will Eventually Subside

I am on my second frozen shoulder, now in my right arm. My left arm still does not have full movement.

My only relief is knowing that the pain will eventually subside.

The sleepless nights, the difficulty dressing, brushing hair, putting on seat belt, reaching for anything are all getting me down.

Every day I am hoping for it to be a little better.

I tried physio and cortisone injections with my first shoulder, but eventually gave up with it as there was no improvement. I have decided to let it run its course this time.

Have been suffering only 5 months so far and I remember the pain lasted for about 18 months before, so have a long way to go yet!

No one seems to sympathise and you look like you are making a fuss about nothing. But it is very painful, sometimes if I catch it funny it is such agony I cannot move for a few seconds while the pain subsides.

Sometimes the pain also travels down my arm and into my hand.

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how do you cope?  One year ago I fell downstairs (vertigo) fractured my neck and had severe pain in upper left arm, felt like a very bad bruise and a swollen but not broken wrist.  Neck healed, pain in my upper arm remained and could move it but not do up bra etc without severe pain.  Had an injection in my shoulder - made it worse. 11 months on I fell down a shorter flight of stairs (return of vertigo!) on to same bad shoulder/arm.  Now frozen and pain from neck to finger tips all the time and even worse at night.  Can't take oral pain relief tablets has anyone tried pain relief patches?  The pain is so bad I can't do anything and I am getting seriously depressed and being driven to despair, its like being in constant childbirth labour!  constantly having to massage my arm including from elbow to wrist and palm of hand into fingers.  Given conflicting advice by every medical person seen so far.    Seems it is likely multiple problems but still no MRI, xray shows no broken bones in shoulder.  Read most of the discussions, not many triggered by injury unless I have missed those.  Any support groups locally in Cornwall where we could at least cry openly!

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Frozen Shoulder :: Pain Management - Morphine, Naproxen And Paracetamol

In 2007 I had true frozen shoulder in my left (non-dominant shoulder). After freezing and while waiting for arthroscopic release I spent five months on dihydrocodeine and tramadol and didn't sleep. Nosleep. None. I don't really remember much about 2007, I was 42. I continued working, but like a zombie.

I had the arthroscopic release and was off all pain meds within 2 days – was magic.

Surgery performed by Mr Cameron Hatrick in Sussex on the NHS.

However I had severe muscle wastage and was very unfit, so months and months of physio followed before I regained full movement and fitness.

Exercises I found particularly useful was being able to windmill my arm – simulating swimming movements in addition to the other recommended exercises.

In October 2014 I suspected the onset of frozen shoulder in my right arm. I completed as many of the exercises I did post op last time, as possible and went to gp and physiotherapist.

I maintained mobility much longer but had pain when sleeping and lying down, so disrupted sleep.

In late January I lost all mobility within 2 weeks, much more rapidly than last time, but I assumed it was because I had been keeping the strength and mobility exercises up. Up till this point I was coping with just paracetamol.

I was referred to Mr Hatrick again. In the meantime, while waiting, I was back on the dihydrocodeine, then back on the tramadol too. I also used heat patches – the kind that last 12 hours and you wear on clothing, not skin. Still managing sleep in 2 and 3 hour spells to add up to 6-8 hours a night.

However I felt my whole health was deteriorating with the use of the dihydrocodeine and tramadol, as they made me an idiot and I was in a new job and trying to impress. (Well at least look professional).

When they recruited me in February I explained about my condition and that I was waiting for keyhole surgery and would expect to be back at work in a few days. The new job was great because I could go by train as I had given up driving as could open and close the driver's door or use reverse gear.

Before seeing the consultant, I returned to my GP and he wrote a letter to point out how this was adversely affecting my mental health, recommending the procedure be done quickly. I saw Mr Hatrick on March 30th and had the op on April 1st in Brighton.

However, this time the discharge included notes and graphic images and explained the complications encountered. I did not only have arthroscopic release and manipulation under anaesthetic. As I had inflammation ++, impingement ++ and a thickened bursa, I was given a nerve block and had bone shaved.

I went home, tried the dihydrocodeine and tramadol and suffered. Went to the gp twice, spoke to the gp twice, saw the nurse to have my stitches removed and returned to the hospital for examination by a duty registrar. I saw the physiotherapist for an assessment who looked at my discharge notes and said I had had two real extremes of experiences of easy and complicated. I then had a follow up with Mr Hatrick on day 17, who said in 14 years he had never recommended a steroid injection any sooner than 4-6 months post op as there was a risk of infection. However, he recommended it as urgent and on day 20 I had a steroid injection under x-ray.

Now it is day 22 and I am still suffering and am still off work.

Since day 5 I have been on Morphine, Naproxen and Paracetamol. Since day 17 I have also been on Gabapentin. This cocktail will sometimes mean I get 3 or 4 hours sleep. I certainly have better mobility since the release, but pain is still awful, despite the meds and plenty of ice.

Given up taking one day at a time, I now take every 4-6 hours at a time.

No idea when I will be able to return to work.

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Frozen Shoulder :: Pain Pattern - Left Sided Chest Pain?

i've just been diagnosed with FS. severe shoulder/neck (left side and back of neck) pain with very little arm/shoulder movement range.

however, can anyone say, if it's 'normal' for FS to cause left-sided chest . chest pain that radiates to shoulder blade, down (L) arm, elbow, wrist, palm of hand, up the left side of neck, ear & face culminating in a hemi -cranial headache?

whilst i know the scapula, elbow,wrist & palm are pretty classic of FS, however, i'm worried re the chest pain/left sided neck, ear pain & headache. it fluctuates throughout the day and is worst in the pm & at night. i did have an ambulatory ECG some 9 ago. it was considered within the normal limits. that was before to-days diagnosis. my GP made a v. quick diagnosis based on 3 arm movements this evening and wasn't interested in the chest pain aspect.

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