"Frozen Shoulder" Anyone?

[IROC]

OK, so I'm trying to do the "self-diagnose via the internet" thing and seem to believe I may be experiencing what is known as a frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder).

50 years old, no other health issues other than osteoarthritis in my knees. I've worked out with weights forever, but got into this habit a couple of years ago of doing pushups. The Law of Diminishing returns took over and soon I was doing sets of 40-50 pushups at a time. This was great until my shoulders (both of them) started hurting. I backed off on the pushups and after a few weeks my right shoulder was pain-free.

My left shoulder, however, has transitioned into this very painful condition. I thought it would go away (most things do, it seems) but months later and I'm still in pain. I can't seem to lift my arm up very high (without some serious pain) and other movements are very painful - like holding my arm straight out to my side and then trying to move it back. Things like tucking in shirts (where I have to move my hand behind my back) is very painful. Laying on my left side is also painful.

I've read online that there isn't much that can be done and that it can last a long time. This sucks.

Anyone else experience this or something like it?

[Jim Richards]

That description makes me think of my left shoulder, where calcium built up into a spur that would dig into my rotator cuff. I had my shoulder scoped and all has been well since.

[pavulon]

Sounds suspicious enough to be seen by an orthopod. I'm seeing a shoulder MRI in your near future. Sorry.

[Craig T]

IROC, I'm sorry. Yes, I have had "Frozen Shoulder" twice.

My history regarding weight training and physical fitness is very similar to yours. I have shoulder A/C subluxation and some arthritis there, but still do chest and shoulder workouts. I just don't go overhead or any straight bar bench pressing.

I am 54 now. The first episode was at 51 and lasted about six weeks. For the first three weeks I could not lift my arm whatsoever. It was truly "frozen". I went to an orthopedic/sports medicine practice here in Westlake Village. He made the diagnosis and recommended a sling, ice, and rest. After 4 weeks with zero improvement, he did give me a shot of cortisone into the affected area, but it still took another two weeks to go away.

Last year around this time took out some concrete posts with a sledge hammer. A few hours later the frozen shoulder was back. Thankfully, it only lasted about two weeks, and did go away with ice and rest.

I am VERY careful now with shoulder work, and only exercise the shoulders with cables in lighter weights-high repetition.

[flipper35]

Subluxation or impingement wouldn't need an MRI. I would see a dr either way. My subluxed shoulder was much easier to fix than the impingement.

[wayner]

Physio fixed mine

[Craig T]

"Frozen Shoulder" is very different than shoulder subluxation, impingement, or rotator cuff issues. It's caused by adhesive capsulitis and can take up to three years to go away.

Physical therapy to keep range of motion and the muscles around the shoulder strong can help prevent it from coming back. I do the PT work every third day. I don't want it again.

IROC, I would certainly go see the ortho soon. True Frozen Shoulder is rare and you might have another repairable problem you don't want to get worse.

[MFAFF]

See the doc.
I have it right now.. right shoulder.. limited movement and lots of pain.
There are a couple of tests that can help..

1) Can you bring the affected arm (and hand) behind your back.. and touch between your shoulder blades (the bra test..) It should be easy and pain free.. if not then something is limiting movement. Adhesive encapsulates is idiopathic (no obvious cause) although can be related to injury/ over use.
2) The x-ray or ultra sound should show a 'clean shoulder'.. i no torn rotator cuff etc, no damage. yet it hurts like hell and you cannot move it.

I have had two hyrodilations ( injections .. 10cc..of long term painkillers and weak steroids) in mine since last August.. Getting much better and movement is far far easier. Another few months should see me clear of it.

There is a simple surgical procedure that clears it faster.. however not keen on inessential knife work...


I found the best physio for me was breast stroke..... an hour or so every day....



Swimming guys.. .swimming....

[jhynesrockmtn]

I was recently diagnosed with impingement in my left shoulder, start PT on Friday. No MRI needed. Some similar symptoms to those you describe. He saw some abnormalities on Xray and symptoms/physical exam confirmed. I have had on/off shoulder issues since a bad bike crash in 2004. On going maintenance :-) I put off going to the doctor, now glad I did and have a path to feeling better.

[GH85Carrera]

My wife had had both shoulders freeze up. She tried the PT and it never really did much. Surgery fixed it with a long follow up of PT.

See a MD and get it checked out with a MRI or CT scan.

[Z-man]

I've had frozen shoulder before - likely due to too many bad dives playing volleyball.

Physical therapy helps release the tendons/ligaments and returns mobility to the shoulder. Physical therapy is painful - can make a grown man cry. And it may not produce results immediately. But it is worth going through.

Good luck,
-Z

[Paul_Heery]

Been there, done that three times. Yes, I have had adhesive capsulitis three times. Twice in my left shoulder, once in my right. Each time has required manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) for treatment. This was followed with extremely painful physical therapy sessions.

[sammyg2]

Doan know about no frozen shoulder, but have I ever mentioned that I really like lidocaine and cortisone injections?

[IROC]

Thanks for all the replies! It sounds like I need to have it checked out.

1) Can you bring the affected arm (and hand) behind your back.. and touch between your shoulder blades (the bra test..) It should be easy and pain free.. if not then something is limiting movement.

Nope. Can't do it. The best I can do without bringing tears to my eyes is take my thumb and touch my spine right above my waistline. My right arm (the good one) can reach up my back pain free.

[GeorgeK]

1- no treatment can be started without a precise diagnostic. Risk of making it worse.

2- No precise diagnostic can be reached without Imaging. LOTS of overlap of symptoms from different lesions.

3- Shoulder pain lasts looooooonnnnngggg. With no obligatory relation to the severity of the injury.


So, get an ortho opinion, who will most likely suggest an MRI or arthro-MRI.

[john70t]

There are different levels of injury:
1). Bone and connections.
Surgery, hydration, and/or glucoseamine-chondrotin treatment to elevate synovial lubrication levels.
Modifying activity and proper sleep is essential.

2). Ligaments and connective tissue.
Ralphing can break up deep tissue bindings, but it is extremely painful and great damage could result from inexperienced application.

3). Tendons and muscles sticking.
Fibrous connections are made to protect an area.
Long-term, they create scar tissue and whole-body imbalance with other problems.
Sweedish or the lighter massages can get to these.

4). Skin sticking to muscle.
Again the fiberous problem impeding movement.
You should be able to roll the skin everywhere on the body.

5). Blood flow and pinched nerves.
These cause all of the above.
Acupuncture can help restore long-term, along with diet and exercise.
Chiropractic therapy temporarily aligns bones, but doesn't prevent them falling out of place again.
Mental stress and outlook leads to a hunched back and all the above symptoms.

Other major factors should not be ignored.
Western medicine is great for fixing what is completely broken, but not prevention.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by IROC

Thanks for all the replies! It sounds like I need to have it checked out.



Nope. Can't do it. The best I can do without bringing tears to my eyes is take my thumb and touch my spine right above my waistline. My right arm (the good one) can reach up my back pain free.

Same here, but I have impingement, not frozen shoulder. A year ago I couldn't throw a ball from 2nd base to first base without significant pain.

[flatbutt]

Man we are all just falling apart!

[sugarwood]

Note to self, stick to 30 pushups.

[targa911S]

Be aware that my wife was first diagnosed with frozen shoulder and after more testing it turned out to be temporal arteritis.