Hi Sheryl! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

I read where you are suffering from a frozen shoulder. I'm so sorry and I know what you're going thru. I had a frozen left shoulder and eventually a rotator cuff problem a couple years back.

Here's the dealio. I went to a PT and they diagnosed it wrong and did therapy on it [massaged it, etc.] which made my frozen shoulder worse. I was in so much pain I wanted to friggin DIE! No one should do ANYTHING, esp massaging, of a frozen shoulder, not until it is unfrozen.

I took over my own healing from there. I purchased a ice/heat shoulder pad at a pharmacy and iced my shoulder every bloody day and night. It hurt to do so, but it worked. it took a looooong time before I could even start any kind of therapy with it. But, IT DOES GET BETTER. It took approx 8 mos before I could start using my arm in a normal capacity.

The PTs warned me, that for whatever reason, my right shoulder would eventually do the same thing. But it didn't, thank God!

I just wanted to let you know I know how much pain you're in. And it does get better, Hon.

Love,
Jo

p.s. No one seems to know what causes a FS if there hasn't been an injury. But it is a common occurence in females from ages 30 ->. And, it's also common for it to migrate to the alternate shoulder. Some attribute it to hormonal activity.

Not ta scare ya Jo, but I think I might be in love with you! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

NOBODY seems to understand this thing! And here YOU ARE -- UNDERSTANDING!!!! <tears of joy>

Thank you for the advice, and I'm gonna do JUST WHAT YOU SUGGESTED because -- ta da -- the Rehab place DID massage and made it MUCH WORSE. They thought I had a torn rotator cuff, but the ultrasound came back that no, I didn't. But it is frozen. SO FRUSTRATING.

You have given me hope, my friend.

THANK YOU!!!!

<and ignore that remark about being in love with you -- get that look out of your eye, Jo. JO!!!!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> >

<small>[ March 18, 2004, 05:51 PM: Message edited by: new_beginning ]</small>

hey you two... you make me smile <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

Cali

Hey Cali! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

I go through spurts of lurking/posting, and this has been one of my marathon posting months. It's funny because I normally don't see many people I know anymore -- so I'm always THRILLED when some familiar face drops by to say hello.

This post has given me more hope for my dumb shoulder than anything else, I'll tell ya. It's been a really difficult time -- had a car accident, and although the original injury happened before that (I tripped on my daughter's back pack full of college books, and <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> tried to catch myself <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> ), the accident made things SO MUCH WORSE. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" /> It wasn't frozen yet... that came later... sheesh, such an ordeal. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" />

Anywho, it just warms my heart to see you both.

Get a hot tub... see if healthcare will pay...

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Hey K!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

I haven't seen you around at ALL. I thought you were perpetually out in the back 40 tractoring something!!

That hot tub sure sounds nice... alas, healthcare will not pay... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" /> ... the closest I can get will have to be Mr. Bubble and putting my cat in the tub with me. <that just sounds wrong!>

Hi Sheryl,

It's still a bit too muddy for any serious tractoring. I haven't been around much in these parts---I've been very busy with work, kids, and critters, and I don't have the time to get sucked back in here.

Mr. Bubble sounds like a great idea. I don't know about throwing a cat into the tub, tho... sounds really dangerous.

And although I know nothing about frozen shoulders, I'd have you check into electrical stimulators as well as ultrasound therapy for it. I don't know if either is effective, but they used such things for my back when it was acting up. If hot packs are effective, I wouldn't be surprised if one of those therapies would help.

Take good care, Sheryl. And stop throwing that hard slider---depend on your off speed stuff more. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by K:
And although I know nothing about frozen shoulders, I'd have you check into electrical stimulators as well as ultrasound therapy for it. I don't know if either is effective, but they used such things for my back when it was acting up. If hot packs are effective, I wouldn't be surprised if one of those therapies would help.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Hi K and Sheryl,

The above is precisely what the PT did to me that made my frozen shoulder WORSE.

I'm not a doctor or a PT, but I do know that once they realized I had a frozen shoulder, they stopped all PT and deferred me back to my GP.

That's when I went home and iced the crap out of it for a loooong time, which DID make it better and finally a candidate to then start PT again.

Jo

<small>[ March 19, 2004, 12:33 PM: Message edited by: Resilient ]</small>

Actually, that's true for me too, Jo.

We had our accident in September - hit from behind while at a stop light.

Went to rehab for my neck - whiplash. Then my shoulder, which was already sore from "whatever" happened in the summer, got worse. When my neck was better, they began focusing on my shoulder. I had electrodes on my arm and shoulder, heat, massage therapy and exercise therapy. It all felt better at first... but quickly deteriorated. I was sent away after two months and told that if it wasn't better within another two months to get an ultrasound, which I did.

My doctor then sent me back for Physiotherapy. I haven't gone yet. I'm nervous, because I will tell you that it hurt sooooo bad that I couldn't sleep through the night, no matter which pain killers I was taking. And the pain killers weren't that helpful anyway, and were dangerous and addictive... so I stopped those.

Now I am here. Waiting for the illusive "thawing" to take place... hasn't begun yet. But the pain is better... and I have learned strategies to not 'jar' my arm (which used to send me right into the fetal position - that kind of pain is indescribable!).

Anyway, just waiting... and frustrated.

Now where's my cat? I think she heard me and my H laughing about putting her in the tub with me... and no, I'd never do that. She's so spoiled rotten and loved... well, that's another topic altogether.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Written by Sheryl:
My doctor then sent me back for Physiotherapy. I haven't gone yet. I'm nervous, because I will tell you that it hurt sooooo bad that I couldn't sleep through the night, no matter which pain killers I was taking. And the pain killers weren't that helpful anyway, and were dangerous and addictive... so I stopped those.

Now I am here. Waiting for the illusive "thawing" to take place... hasn't begun yet. But the pain is better...and I have learned strategies to not 'jar' my arm (which used to send me right into the fetal position - that kind of pain is indescribable!).
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Sheryl honey,

All of the bolded above is identical to what I went thru, to the letter. Just know that once I stayed on a regemented icing schedule (which also was extremely uncomfortable), I slowly began to heal. I MADE myself do the icing religiously. As sleep deprived as I was, I could tell it was very slowly getting better.

I really do feel for you, hon. It was horrific and I was so worried it would never get better. But IT DID. And I now have full range of motion.

Love,
Jo

<small>[ March 19, 2004, 01:38 PM: Message edited by: Resilient ]</small>

Oh, I'm gonna do it Jo!!!!! I'm listening...

Thank you again for your caring and understanding... it means the world that someone truly understands!

(((((Jo)))))

Sheryl:

If ultrasound, heat, and e-stim doesn't help---the indication is an inflammatory response (probably right around the nerves) that's causing the problem. That's corroborated by having ice treatments be effective.

I would suggest that you discuss with your doc trying a medrol (steroid) pack---it's a decreasing dose of steroids from 7 pills/day down to 1, over the course of a week or so. That should cut down on your inflammatory response (not the ones you type here... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" /> ) That (and ice) might get you over the hump. If it works for a bit but doesn't stick, then I'd look into an injection of steroids.

Remember, I'm not an MD in real life. I just play one on the internet... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by K:
<strong> Remember, I'm not an MD in real life. I just play one on the internet... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Are you sure? Sounds pretty MD'ish to me... Hmmmmm.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

Thanks for caring enough to come back and offer support and advice - both of you!

I'll let you know how it goes...

HUGS!!

I'm not a MD either, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express recently.

As a recipient of many cold shoulders, I had to read several posts deep in this thread to realize you guys were talking about a medical condition as opposed to a REALLY bad attitude.

Hmmmm - Starve a cold, feed a fever, ice a frozen shoulder. Sorta trips off the tongue, eh?

Instead of a cat in the tub with Mr. Bubble - or was that the butler in the library with a lead pipe? - Monica in the study with a blue dress? - I think I can scare up a small outboard motor to donate to the cause.

WAT