Shoulder Problems

danielsumner · #1 07/22/11, 08:10 PM

Well an’ it I in a pickle, I might as well just jump in the barrel and drown. Right shoulder has been bothering me since April when I put plywood down in my Georgia house’s attic. It’s been killing me, I can’t raise my arm above my chest, can’t reach behind me ect. OH the pain, Can’t sleep, it’s just been awful. Broke now from the pain and went to the Orthopedic Dr. today. Did an Ultrasound. Well, I’m in a mess. I have acute Bursitis, a rotator cup tear that he can see on the Ultrasound (I have PICS) and my shoulder is Frozen, not in the first stage where it’s freezing up, but FROZEN. Insurance requires at least 2 weeks of therapy before they will allow a MRI. Starting therapy 3 days a week for four weeks on Monday. Dr. gave me an appointment for two weeks, doesn’t think the therapy will work. Said we will discuss options in a couple of weeks when He can schedule a MRI. Oh yes, he put a couple of cortisone shots in the shoulder today, I think He used a turkey baster, it was awful. Also found out that for some reason, Diabetics get frozen shoulders more often than others. Oh the decisions, do I drown myself in a barrel of Dill pickles or Bread and Butter pickles.

Jokarva · #2 07/22/11, 08:25 PM

LOL! - drown yourself in my friend's Fire and Ice pickles, they're so delicious you'd just eat your way back out of them!

I'm sorry about your shoulder, I've had frozen shoulders on both sides now - what a pain. Shot's didn't do much, PT didn't do much, really only time made any difference. I hope yours is better soon!

Leister Square · #3 07/22/11, 09:33 PM

I got a frozen shoulder and the doctor said I had to get it unfrozen before they could try any surgery (there were "floaties" of bone in the capsule.) So therapy 3 times a week and it got somewhat better. I let it go at that stage for a couple of years, and finally decided that I wanted the movement back (I lost a LOT of movement). At that point, same doctor said he'd do it and it might improve but that I'd developed arthritis in the shoulder from moving it funny for those couple of years. Moral of the story: after the therapy and MRI, go for the surgery if that's what the doc says. I waited and made the problem worse. I got a little movement back, not much, and the pain is somewhat better (I can sleep on it now!) Best of luck.

calliemoonbeam · #4 07/22/11, 10:24 PM

Cortisone shots are fun, aren't they?? lol Worse than a hornet sting!

Your doctor was right about diabetics and frozen joints, especially shoulders. I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but you're going to have to work that shoulder for the rest of your life to prevent another one, and even that may not work. The hardest part is you're probably going to have to start physical therapy immediately after surgery, and it's going to hurt like blue blazes, but if you don't do it and do everything the therapist tells you it will just freeze right up again and develop even more scar tissue than it has now.

My ex had the surgery and then wouldn't do the therapy because "it hurt too much", and he permanently totally lost the use of his arm except for his fingers. I went through the same thing with my ankle. I used to sit on the side of the bed, forcing it through a range of motion with my hands because I couldn't do it enough by itself, the whole while bawling like a baby. My ex asked me why I didn't just quit if it hurt, and I told him I didn't want to walk with a horrible limp for the rest of my life and lose my range of motion. He just didn't get it. I did better than the doctors predicted and regained 90% motion and 80% strength.

But I fell and broke my shoulder three years ago and although I did everything they told me and more, I still only have about 70% range of motion and 50% strength, although the doctor predicted 100% recovery, and I'm not even diabetic! So please do everything they tell you, no matter how much it hurts. Sorry to be such a downer, but sometimes doctors don't stress the consequences enough or patients just don't believe them. Take care and good luck!

ELOCN · #5 07/22/11, 10:24 PM

I've had severe shoulder and arm pain 3 different times, about 9 months apart. Went to the doctor and he gave me Lyrica prescription for pain, and steroids. They call the steroids a "Med-Pac". One prescription has a card and you take 6 pills the first day, 5 pills the second day, 4 pills the third day, 3 pills the fourth day, and 2 pills the fifth day, and just one pill the sixth day. But my pain was still there! So the dr. called in another prescription and I took two of the Med-Pacs at once: in other words 6 pills the first AND second day, 5 pills the 3rd and 4th day, etc. Finally the pain went away. My pain was so bad I was screaming. Praying for your pain to stop.

frogmammy · #6 07/22/11, 10:49 PM

I had frozen shoulder and rotator cuff tear back when I was 40 something and NOT diabetic. Took care of it with physical therapy...and it HURT! BIG TIME! Got my shoulder back after a couple months of therapy, almost 100% Like you, I couldn't lift my arm above my waist, so I was VERY happy with the results from the physical therapy.

Now I'm extra careful when it starts hurting.

Mon

ELOCN · #7 07/22/11, 11:53 PM

Frogmammy, what do you mean you're extra careful when it starts hurting? What do you do or not do?

fellini123 · #8 07/23/11, 01:50 AM

I got a frozen shoulder a few years ago. Due to my heart condition they cannot operate, so physical therapy was the only way to go. I did it for several weeks with no real results. Finally the thereipist said that he had to break it loose.
So....he took a broom and had me lay down and hold it in both hands in front of me. He worked it in front of me higher and higher. It hurt SOOOO bad I was crying, and I dont cry easily. He did it about 3 times with a day apart and lots of ice. It finally broke apart and I could move it!
Now I must say it is fine. He also suggested that if I felt it starting to freeze up again to do standing pushups against a wall, and that would keep it loose.
So far so good!!! But boy did that hurt!!
Alice in Virginia

frogmammy · #9 07/23/11, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ELOCN

Frogmammy, what do you mean you're extra careful when it starts hurting? What do you do or not do?

Basically, I do some of the exercises they had me do in physical therapy...with low weights. Think "lift small can of tuna". Do not sleep on that side, do NOT lift any weight...other than the tuna...and then you work up to a larger can of tuna, and then to pork and beans! Seriously, you start lifting ounces and ever so gradually increase weight.

However, you **MUST** maintain range of motion so shoulder doesn't freeze. Therefore range of motion exercises are a MUST. Plenty of good exercises on the internet...you must start SLOW...and I mean unbearably slow...and work up. And do it slow. Did I say slow?

Recently found out that Arthritis Foundation water exercises are great! Progress is faster BUT it is very easy to try to do too much or too fast, so if you feel twinges, ease off! YMCA offers the classes/exercises and I suspect other places do too.

Mon

Maura · #10 07/23/11, 12:33 PM

Go to a reflexologist. A reflexologist can work on your shoulder via the foot and not have to touch the injured area. I'm not saying don't go back to the doctor, you should. Just call a reflexologist also. You'll feel a lot better. Being a diabetic, you're bound to have foot problems down the road. Reflexology helps with this also.