Frozen Shoulder

[carlingman]

Few years ago developed sever pain in my shoulder and after months of anti inflammatory tablets and pain killers and physiotherapy etc was finally given a cortisone injection and instant relief.

A few weeks back I had a reoccurrence of severe pain same as the last time so this time went private and got a cortisone injection and again instant relief.

However two weeks later the pain in my shoulder is back again, not as bad as original pain but have a constant aching pain in the shoulder which is now spreading to the upper forearm and after sleeping it on all night is causing me some numbness in the wrist area as well.

I have tried resting it up as much as I can but don’t seem to be getting any relief as I have had this upper arm pain and slight numbness in the morning for at least two weeks.

I initially thought maybe a bit of exercise will work it back into normal shape so spent the best part of 4 hours throwing a strimmer and a mower over the lawns and it did not get give me any pain doing this but a day later it has come back with attitude.

Drs appointment is looming but any advice until then greatly appreciated, pain is not an issue as it is bearable but just want to shake it off as soon as possible as nothing seamed to cause the original flare up as I don’t do any manual lifting etc.

[Druchii]

Chop your arm off?
Nah, seriously, my Uncle has the same thing, he can and does regularly lift heavy loads on it, but he seems to pop his shoulder out alot... Not good. Wait for the doctors and take it easy is my advice.

[carlingman]

Cheers, chopping arm off is becoming an option but have to wait until Monday for Drs appointment.

[Aragorn]

Rammie will probably disagree, but I recently had several sessions with an Osteopath which did a lot of good for my sore shoulder & neck. If you want your insurance to pay for it, the GP will need to refer you to one (BUPA paid for mine ).

[Salu]

First question is how old are you? This gives me some indication of whether the shoulder pain is likely to be degenerative or from an injury. Secondly, how did you "develop" this pain? Sudden onset? Gradually increasing or from an injury etc?

Without a proper history and examination it's hard to comment accurately but my initial feeling is that there is more than one thing going on here. The steroid injection will have likely reduced the acute inflammation in the tendon sheath by now but it would be unlikely to have precipitated a neurological problem ie tingling. You really need an examination to establish what is causing this numbness and until you have had this I wouldn't advise excessive exercise.

How long until you are seen?

[lilacsocks]

Have you ever had a firm diagnosis? The injections cure the symptoms, but what is causing them? If you haven't had an x-ray then I'd push for one when you see the Doc
Good luck and hope it gets better soon!

[Salu]

Originally Posted by lilacsocks

Have you ever had a firm diagnosis? The injections cure the symptoms, but what is causing them? If you haven't had an x-ray then I'd push for one when you see the Doc
Good luck and hope it gets better soon!

Xrays only really show bones and calcium deposits. If he can mow the lawn it's highly unlikely to have fractured it so it will be of limited benefit. Calcium deposits are usually only found >50 or so. But if they were the cause of his pain he would probably not be able to mow the lawn.

Have you been told of the diagnosis? Was it painful arc syndrome?

[Edit] I've just re-read your first post and realised I missed the bit where you mentioned the lack of apparent cause.

[Ramrod]

You need to see someone who can accurately diagnose shoulder problems. Most GPs can't, same goes for many physios, osteos and chiros. If you go private then before you make an appointment make sure that the therapist you are going to see is good with shoulder problems.
In the meantime try not to provoke the pain.......

[Salu]

For a second I thought you were going to say...."Most GPs can't, same goes for many physios, osteos.....but Chiros can! Phone 071 234..."

I see what you are saying about accurate diagnosis and practitioner selection. However in this case the steroid injection brought symptomatic relief suggesting it was accurately placed.

I think he should stay with his current practitioner for the moment. Again, it's tricky over the net to work out what's going on. I'd like to know how long the numbness lasts for example...

[carlingman]

Hi all,

Many thanks for the replies and will address the questions below.

Originally Posted by Aragorn

Rammie will probably disagree, but I recently had several sessions with an Osteopath which did a lot of good for my sore shoulder & neck. If you want your insurance to pay for it, the GP will need to refer you to one (BUPA paid for mine ).

Cheers, first time it happened three years ago I did go the GP route, then tablets then physio then osteo then private (BUPA) and then cortisone and job done.

Originally Posted by Salu

First question is how old are you? This gives me some indication of whether the shoulder pain is likely to be degenerative or from an injury. Secondly, how did you "develop" this pain? Sudden onset? Gradually increasing or from an injury etc?

Without a proper history and examination it's hard to comment accurately but my initial feeling is that there is more than one thing going on here. The steroid injection will have likely reduced the acute inflammation in the tendon sheath by now but it would be unlikely to have precipitated a neurological problem ie tingling. You really need an examination to establish what is causing this numbness and until you have had this I wouldn't advise excessive exercise.

How long until you are seen?

36 this year, this time the pain started by waking up one morning nearly 4 weeks ago with stiffness and pain in the neck and shoulder and then unbearable pain in the shoulder and went private back to BUPA thinking bypassing the GP would give me an instant relief cortisone injection which worked the last time.

After an examination then some anti inflammatory tablets then another cortisone injection and instant relief again but it has in the last fortnight reoccurred.

The numbness is more of stiffness in the lower wrist area which happens after nights sleep etc.

I am now steering clear of the excessive exercise until I am seen by the GP which will now be next Thursday.

Originally Posted by lilacsocks

Have you ever had a firm diagnosis? The injections cure the symptoms, but what is causing them? If you haven't had an x-ray then I'd push for one when you see the Doc
Good luck and hope it gets better soon!

Thanks I need some good luck but not had an X Ray this time around but last time nothing unusual showed up so they told me.

Originally Posted by Ramrod

You need to see someone who can accurately diagnose shoulder problems. Most GPs can't, same goes for many physios, osteos and chiros. If you go private then before you make an appointment make sure that the therapist you are going to see is good with shoulder problems.
In the meantime try not to provoke the pain.......

Thanks, that’s why me Drs appointment is so far away as the Senior Practice partner is approaching retirement and only works two days a week and is an orthopaedic specialist for the last thirty years and knows my full case history.

I have had three operations under his guidance in my younger days on my hips and have had them pinned etc and been warned due to the family history will at some point in later life be prone to rheumatoid arthritis.

Originally Posted by Salu

For a second I thought you were going to say...."Most GPs can't, same goes for many physios, osteos.....but Chiros can! Phone 071 234..."

I see what you are saying about accurate diagnosis and practitioner selection. However in this case the steroid injection brought symptomatic relief suggesting it was accurately placed.

I think he should stay with his current practitioner for the moment. Again, it's tricky over the net to work out what's going on. I'd like to know how long the numbness lasts for example...

Most of this answered above but the numbness is more of an ache/stiffness.

I have noticed today though when sitting the dull ache and pain is more in the upper arm muscle region but if I tilt my neck back the pain becomes more sever in the shoulder area.

Will let you know how it goes and when I get to see the quack.

Thanks again all.

[Salu]

Originally Posted by carlingman

Thanks, that’s why me Drs appointment is so far away as the Senior Practice partner is approaching retirement and only works two days a week and is an orthopaedic specialist for the last thirty years and knows my full case history.

I have had three operations under his guidance in my younger days on my hips and have had them pinned etc and been warned due to the family history will at some point in later life be prone to rheumatoid arthritis.

This illustrates why taking a full history is so important. It seems you may have some form of predisposition to inflammation/soft tissue conditions and this would influence the management of your shoulder depending on what it is.

Let us know how you get on at the Drs....

[carlingman]

Originally Posted by Salu

This illustrates why taking a full history is so important. It seems you may have some form of predisposition to inflammation/soft tissue conditions and this would influence the management of your shoulder depending on what it is.

Let us know how you get on at the Drs....

Update - went to quacks on Thursday and had thorough examination plus sent for x ray.

Results phoned back to me tonight and he can find no abnormalities with the x ray and suspects it may have been reoccurence of frozen shoulder.

As it is now all the numbness has gone completely and I only get the odd upper arm twinge when extending the arm fully like reaching out for something or when i put my arm behind my back.

Got some anti inflammatorys in case and been told to return asap if it starts again.

Thanks all for the advice.

[fatmat8]

probably caused by T.M.B.

Originally Posted by fatmat8

probably caused by T.M.B.

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[nffc]

Originally Posted by Stuartbe

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**tumbleweed floats aimlessly past**