My first frozen shoulder was actually diagnosed by a physical therapist and that is what prompted me to see a shoulder specialist. I always wonder what would have happened if I had had shoulder surgery. Glad I didn’t because I hear shoulder surgery doesn’t always have good results and is always a tough recovery.
From what I can tell frozen shoulder is more than a T1 problem. I have had it and I am T2. I had surgery on my right shoulder last year with frozen shoulder being part of the reason for the surgery. I don’t think my doctor would have operated just for FS but since there were other serious problems to be dealt with he cut the adhesion’s of my frozen shoulder while he was in there.
I found a great physical therapy clinic nearby (great word of mouth and strong Yelp rankings) and went to my first session today. I think because my case is mild, I can work through this. At least, that’s what I hope. My PT measured my range of motion, talked me through what’s been going on, gave me a deep tissue massage, and then put me through the paces with a couple of exercises. Since I’ve worked out in the past, I took right to it. At the end she measured my range of motion again and, OMG, it had improved! The pain had also subsided a bit.
She said that she sees more women than men with this. I’m thinking maybe it’s also connected to our hormones? I mean it’s that time in my life where things are changing up a bit. My immune system has gone into overdrive before with my pancreas and with my thyroid. I’m not really surprised that it’s now targeted something else. That’s just my theory as it’s hitting women in their 40s and all sorts of stuff is happening with us in our 40s.
This is a great discussion BTW. Keep it going. I’m learning a lot.
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Regina, you’re definitely right that a lot of this stuff hits women in their 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. I think hormones definitely have a role. Women also tend to have more autoimmune stuff. I’ve had Type 1 for 40 years. Almost all of my medical issues are tied into autoimmunity and inflammation.
Hope your PT can prevent from shoulder problems from progressing. Frozen shoulder as I experienced it could not have been prevented by PT and that is why I talk about it as a “disease” process. My second FS happened while I was in great shape and actively working out. I could feel it happening, I did my shoulder exercises religiously and it still progressed. I have been lucky that only my first FS was excruciatingly painful. The other two saw a definite limitation in range of motion but not the kind of pain where I couldn’t sleep. All three of mine took one to two years to completely resolve.
My guess is that maybe there is a range in how FS affects each of us with some people having a minor case versus more major for others.
Keep in touch with how you are doing.
During my second session, I got to wander into their gym area to do some pulley exercises. Like my first session, my range of motion increased as I went, so moving this shoulder has to happen. She also got an ice pack on me. I was a little anxious because it’s cold, but it was perfect.
I did the same thing before I went to sleep and during the evening when I woke up. I slept a lot sounder last night, so a little bit of exercise before I go to bed along with Ibuprofen and an ice pack is on the menu now. I hope this course of treatment heals me because I really don’t want steroid injections or surgery.
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Right shoulder 1st - several weeks of PT. Left shoulder a couple years later - steroid shot. Lost some range of motion in both, worst being not able to throw baseball overhand to son without extreme pain. 12 and 14 years later started to wake up with both partially frozen shoulders until I painfully stretch thru them. Last 2 or 3 mornings have not been bad. It’s just hard to accept that good exercise requires pushing to and slightly beyond the pain part.
After I had gotten over the worst of the inflammatory phases, the pulley exercises were great. Yes they left me sore but it was a “good” kind of sore!
In addition to just the joint, I also had a lot of tendonitis. Being able to use the pulley machine to move my arm beyond where I could lift it under its own power was huge in feeling like I was making real progress.
I put a pulley on the basement ceiling and rigged up a rope and some bars so I could do the pulley stuff at home too.
My PT suggested I buy one of the pulley exercisers too. The ones I’m looking at would just go over a door. I’ll probably get one in the next week or so.
Sometimes I try something I’ve not been able to do for the last few weeks just to see, and so far, so good. Some were harder, and maybe a little pain but not that sharp pain I was having before. I still need a lot of work to get my range of motion back to as much as it was. I’m shooting for 100%, but I’ll be happy to not have pain and get most of it back.
Two rounds of this? Wow. I’m hoping I have just this one, and it’s over! I have heard you can get it in the other shoulder. I read something that said it was rare to get it twice. (Doesn’t mean what I read was true though.)
I hope you get better soon!
I don’t have any evidence to cite, but I heard it is very likely you’ll get it eventually in the other shoulder if you’ve had it in one 
Yeah. I’ve read a few stories and know someone who had it in both shoulders. Not looking forward to it, but will know should it kick up in my left shoulder too.
Update: Physical therapy seems to be working so far.
I’ve been going twice a week since mid-September on most weeks. It looks like I’m through the sharp pain part of this condition. My range of motion is increasing. My therapist is pushing me harder during the sessions: she massages my shoulder and then takes through movements and now she’s pushing it much harder.
Pain kicks up now mostly when I push my shoulder, and I’m pushing my shoulder because I’m getting stronger again. I can lean on it now and wasn’t able to do that at the start of all of this.
I have to work on my ability to reach and move my arm backwards. My therapist is concerned that if we don’t get more movement my sports medicine doctor might suggest manipulation under anesthesia for me. That hurts a lot in the recovery phase I’ve heard, so time to get back to the gym. As that was the plan back in September anyway, I’ve no problems with that.
I’m just scared my progress might stall and then treatment might become more invasive. I hope not though.
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I had it too on both shoulders. Physical Therapy helped. Yes, diabetics are more prone to connective tissue disorders, but I don’t think that it causes it. I think that it makes us more susceptible to it. I have frozen shoulders, tendonitis, synovitis, contractures (hand and feet), and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Hope you get well. Marie
Thanks, Marie. I don’t think anyone said diabetes causes it, but that it’s yet one more thing that we’re at risk for as we have this long-term chronic condition.
I’m getting better. I still have some range of motion issues though.
In fact, the onus is on me to motivate and get back to the gym. It will be a pain in the butt, but I’m ready and my shoulder is strong enough now. I won’t be able to do a lot of weight bearing exercises on my right shoulder, so I’ll avoid yoga. But I’m not getting the pain spikes I had initially, so I can move pretty freely again. PT has improved my shoulder, so I need to do the same with the rest of my body with physical activity. I’m thinking now is the time to start pilates and take some swim classes. I think at my age the only aerobics class that won’t throw me in to turmoil is spin, and I’ve been doing those on and off for a long time.
The bad news is my employer decided to change our health insurance, and I found out yesterday my PT office doesn’t work with Cigna (my current plan through the end of the day is with Aetna). There is a work around with their out of network coverage, but it’s limited. I’m trying to figure out how I can keep my current treatment team in place. They say they’ll work with me, but if it ends up being too complex, I might have to go to a new PT clinic. I’m not happy about that at all. There is always something. Always. :(frowning:
@Regina - Sometimes insurance plans provide for out-of-network coverage for treatment plans in progress. Maybe the new plan could cover you for a few months with the current PT provider. Just a thought.
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Thanks, Terry4.
That’s what I said, even if it was in a convoluted way: “There is a work around with their out of network coverage, but it’s limited.”
I called yesterday to find out Cigna will allow out of network coverage with a $400 deductible and then 60/40 coverage. My PT clinic also said they’ll try to work with me. I think it will be fine, but I’m just annoyed that my system of having a session and then doing my $20 copay is over.
Overall, I’m happy with the security that we now have with the Affordable Care Act because we’re not excluded because we have a preexisting condition, but I hate transitioning from plan to plan. I just had no choice as the insurance is through my job.
I hear you. With health care we often feel like pawns on a chessboard. The ACA is a start but we’d all be much better off with a single payer system and insurance companies totally out of the equation.
More importantly, I hope that your current health challenge can be resolved and you can look forward to a healthier 2016.
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I’m definitely looking forward to this shoulder continuing to get better and getting back to the gym.
Happy New Year to you too!
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It’s been well over two years for me. I developed frozen shoulder as a side effect from heart surgery. I do stretching and movement exercises on my own everyday and these have helped me to get to a certain point of range of motion, but I’ve been stuck where I am for over a year.
I haven’t asked my doctor for help because I have so many other issues I see so many doctors for already…and I’m afraid I’ll need surgery.
But I am getting to the point of total frustration and annoyance at not even being able to easily put my hair up in a pony tail. I am probably going to ask my new primary this month to help me out.
Also, I’m sure the longer I keep putting it off, the more difficult it may be to fix.
Go to your primary care. What they did in my case was refer me to a sport medicine specialist. He then made sure it was frozen shoulder vs. being something else and threw me into physical therapy. It’s really worked wonders.
At my PT clinic, I go in and she measures my range of motion and then we try to press it a little further. She massages my shoulder and manipulates it. It always gets a little bit of extra range just by doing that. Then she puts me through some exercises and adds on more as I go.
Example: lat pulls and a bow and arrow pull. Both hurt like hell when I started and now I can do them on my own at the gym. (Just went back today after months off and managed.) I also now have a foam roller and a pulley system that I put over my door, so I can do exercises at home. I’m not as good at the home exercise part of it as I should be though. I should be more consistent.
Anyway, it was PAINFUL when I first went in for treatment to lean on my shoulder in any way. Now I can roll over on it in my sleep and it’s A-okay. Get treated. It does help.
Also, I have heard the longer you put it off the worse it can get, so go now.
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