Frozen Shoulder - Busitis

[tgow]

Thank you all for your positive caring thoughts... I know I have to persevere and this is just not an overnight quick-fix but a time-fix.  And pain tolerance is just a different kind from the constant one and feels at that moment so severe.

Everyday except Friday (Fri is weekend here in the Middle East, by the way I am in Doha, Qatar) and yes, every day for an hour and a half of physio.  I've done a lot of extra reading on follow ups on "difficulty behind the back movement" and following on from frozen shoulder after surgery.  I found a good link to read:-
www.rbbh.nhs.uk-download-orthopaedics-Manipulation_under_anaethstetic.pdf  Hope the link works.

Will keep my chin up best can, thanks again, your thoughts are well received!!

[sudsi]

ive just been surfing and came across this site, wow am i amazed and delighted to find others with the same symptoms!!  i feel so much like a winge, all i do is complain about the pain, cant get any sleep and if i do i wake up in so much pain, its excruitating. been to the specialist yesterday and he is going to op waiting for a phone call with date, thank goodness ive got med ins dont think i could wait for ages to get it fixed. 
my arm is like a friend its always by my side dont have much movement with it, the pain is into my back and chest area, does anyone else have such
radiating pain!!
sorry to be such a winge  the constant pain is getting me down! 

[tgow]

To Sudsi

You are not alone!!  There is a lot out there that understand and who are so kind and supportive - its the perfect medicine!!!

That is excellent your op is a phonecall away, I hope that it will be soon.  Don't worry about the operation, that infact is the easy part - nothing to be scared of.  For me I was upset for the few hours leading up to the operation - just a mental thing of nervousness.  Once under, thats it, next thing you know you are in the recovery room.  One days rest and you are up and ready to do physio, but for me, this is painful doing certain exercises and my biggest and hardest problem is I cant put my arm behind my back without excruciating pain.  So I have now a new Physiotherapist who is intensifying the exercises and is tearful and painful but is, each day a small amount better to move.  Remembering of course, each person's case is different.

Gail and Ms Bee, has been tough second week, with tears.  Am a little afraid as the Doctor is still insisting that the arm should be behind the back by the end of this week, and my Physiotherapist said - it will take time...  however, yesterday, added another problem... the ice pack in which the therapist placed on the upper arm, after 20 minutes - she took it off and the fluid underneath the skin had frozen, so within seconds of thawing I was in agony and one Doctor said it was frost bite and one said I was allergic to ice!!!!!  Ohhhh could I get anything else.... so my arm has this huge red swollen patch and is burning - on fire...
Just had to add that one, so watch those ice packs, make sure it doesn't touch the skin and there is a cloth between, not like what they did to me, I reckon it is frost bite... sigh 

Hope you ALL are doing well - take care

[sudsi]

many thanks for your reply, i to cannot put my arm backwards getting dressed/undressed is a major problem, and one movement the wrong way is soooooooooooooooooo painful.
i cant wait for the op, my doc reckons i could be back at work in 7 weeks, what do you think.

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[tgow]

My Doc has given me two weeks after the operation before returning to work, so perhaps this Sunday.  I have been off in total 9 weeks now.  A decision will be made tomorrow, how to progress going forward seeing I can't get anywhere near putting my arm behind the back and I know in myself I'm not 100% fit but I am on an expat contract here in the Middle East so I need to get back to work.

Take care and keep us all posted... any questions just ask

[sudsi]

thats the letter in with my op date the 4th dec, it feels like ages away, were there any painkillers that worked for u, as i cant get relief from any!!

[tgow]

Nothing worked for me... hence the lack of sleep even still now

[MsBee]

Teresa....so sorry to hear what they did with the ice!  You definitely did not need any more problems.....

Sudsi..you asked if 7 weeks back to work sounded correct.....the orthopedic specialist who examined me (but is not the one doing the surgery) said that it depends on the type of work that people do....if someone is doing something like office work and not any heavy lifting, they can go back a lot sooner...a job with some lifting/pulling etc will require more time off....he told me about 6 weeks after surgery....but I am sure it can vary, depending on what the surgeon finds when he gets in there and how someone's recovery is going.

Wish you both good luck and hope that your recovery will be quick!  Take care....

[tgow]

Hello... I hope everyone is doing well.  Well my update since the last time I wrote (a few weeks after the operation) and its now gone 7 weeks since the op and I feel awful. 

I have been doing PT 6 days a week and 2 and a half hrs of exercises and 40 minutes of currents.  Its really getting my down as the swelling is still there in the shoulder and arm and the pain in the armpit and upper part of the arm and shoulder blade at the back and top of the shoulder.  The pain the elbow is still there and I can't seem to straighten my arm out without the elbow in pain and the wrist has been on tender hooks as well.  I am trying hard doing the exercises and when the therapist works on my arm its awful and hurts like anything and always brings out the tears its so painful.  I cannot get the arm upright in the air and CANNOT get the arm behind the back at all.  Doc reckons I am slowly improving but boy it is hard to keep on going, as I go to physio in the morning and after to work, which is tough going but a must as I can't afford to be unpaid especially living as an expat.  Also everyone talks about me going back to New Zealand, but who would employ me, how could I travel and while covered under health insurance it would be stupid to leave at this point until completely fit and well.

So, after having the operation, I am still so far away from being better and each day having to deal with this now aching pain and also dealing with little or no sleep since early Sep so yes, I am pretty tired.

I hope you all are well and would love to hear how you all are doing. 

Teresa

[MsBee]

Teresa,

I am so sorry to hear about the continued pain/swelling/lack of sleep...What a tough situation with your work! I understand the need to stay where you have insurance and the unlikelihood of finding employment back home in your condition. I hope your work is light and that you have good coworkers to help you! Are you in constant pain at work?

Your post is very timely, again.... just like your first post! I just had my surgery yesterday. They used a "block" for my whole shoulder and arm. It did not wear off until around 8:00pm. They had warned me to begin taking my pain medication before it wore off, which I did. Slept OK in a recliner last night, but I was awakened 4 hours later when the medicine wore off.

I have to tell you about the bra situation!  They told me not to even wear one when I came in for surgery, because I would not be leaving in one.....BUT they put a WONDERFUL tube top on me before the surgery! It is VERY stretchy...so much so that they had me step into it and pull it up to my waist/stomach. (so no trying to maneuver my bad arm)  After the surgery, they just pulled it up over my chest....it gives a little "lift" and coverage and is completely comfortable! If you can find something like that...it's the way to go! 

 They gave me 1 exercise to do at home...the "pendulum"...3X per day....I have done it once already... my shoulder was painful afterwards. I am not looking forward to doing it two more times today...but I know I must.  One other thing they gave me is great.....it is a wrap that goes completely around my chest and encloses my entire right shoulder and down the right arm to the elbow.  It has chambers that can be filled with ice cold water.  We drain it and refill it after the water has become warm.  And I do still have all the bandages on, so it is not touching bare skin....I remembered what they did to you.  And then of course I have the sling.  I've got 2 therapy sessions next week and a follow up with the doctor.

I am so sorry that you still feel so bad...I hope that with the continued therapy, you will be much better and soon! I hope you are able to keep good thoughts and not let yourself get down....I know I had about a week before the surgery where I really felt bad....unfortunately, it's easy to feel "low". Write anytime....if you need a "pick me up" or just someone to listen! Hopefully, we will all be back to normal very soon!

sudsi....how are you doing?

take care everyone!

[tgow]

It is talking with others who understand this all.  Thanks for everyones kindness and constant support and drive...

I had to laugh Ms Bee about the gown episode...  I remember when I arrived for the op everything came off and you had to put on this gown, but haha couldnt get my bad arm in and without any help whatsover.  Was comical if someone was watching... and going from the room to the operating table - my gown was undone at the back so hello everyone out there...  as it wasnt the most elegant way of transferring to the op bed trolley and trying to hold the gown together to ahem not expose, which failed

Well, it sounds so much better care you are givenMs Bee... by the sounds you are doing well keep up the good work, thanks for sending positive vibes Ms Bee and you too Gail thanks heaps, got it and will reply to you.  Ms Bee I hope you dont get swollen or get that pain in the armpit, its awful.  I put ice under there to relieve some of the ache... anyone got suggestions?

Sudsi how are you, I/we hope you are okay.

MsBee take care and

[tgow]

Forgot to mention.  Several friends here in Qatar highly recommend a homeopathic tablets and gels etc.  It is called Arnica.  My friend went to UK just recently and brough some back and it is winging its way to me hopefully soon.  You can buy it I know of in the UK, but online you can purchase it also so google Arnica to find out more or read about it.  Its to do with swelling, muscle pain, bones etc.  Its meant to be really good, will let you know how it goes with me.  Was worth a try at least... see how it goes.

Teresa

[mady]

Ms Bee and Tgow:
Hope you are both feeling better today.
Tgow: It seems that they are giving to you a lot of rehabilitation. I would tell your doctor about the pain and the lack of sleep.You need to sleep,that only may be causing depression on you,besides you other condition.There are meds that can put you to sleep and take over any pain,just complain and tell him/her that you can bear the pain. You will feel with better attitude when you will be able to sleep.
Hope MsBee continues her recover.
Please ,keep us posted

[MsBee]

Teresa,

How are you doing today, lady?  Well, I hope! It is so hard to believe that you have been going through this for so long....7 almost 8 weeks after surgery!  Then again, you might be just educating me as to what will come!  I appreciate the advice about swelling/pain in the armpit...it's not happened yet and I hope it won't, but I do appreciate all of the info!

I went to my first physical therapy session...it was actually pretty nice....she only manipulated it to the point of discomfort and no more.  She warmed up my shoulder for 10 minutes before she began moving it.  It made me wonder if there are any differences in how you have been treated since the operation... I hope they are doing everything they can to help you...I know you were very impressed at the beginning with their care and I hope that is still the case.

I know that we have different problems in the shoulder, so it would make sense that the treatment would be different....I did not have a rod put into my shoulder....they filed down the bone spurs, repaired a rotator cuff tear and also filed down my clavicle. There was some other "cleaning up" done according to the therapist, but I will find out more when I see the Dr. post-op.

Just want to see how similar or different our therapies have been:

Like I said above, on the 1st session they warmed the shoulder 10 mins, did the therapy & showed me 2 exercises to do...then they placed an ice pack on the shoulder.

The therapist told me that they really could not start any harder therapy for 6 weeks until the shoulder has healed.....she is only having me come in once a week for therapy until then.  They have me in a sling and I have to wear it for the 6 weeks....only time I can take it off is to bathe or do the exercises. She told me to do the same procedure before/after exercising.....heat up the shoulder, do the exercises, and then cool the shoulder.  I am also supposed to ice down the shoulder every 2 hours for 20 minutes.  She said that it is not "written in stone", for example I do not have to leave a party after 2 hours just so I can go home & ice down my shoulder...but she wants me to keep to the schedule as much as possible.  She told me that I just have to realize that I can not go 5 - 6 hours without icing it down and not have pain.

Anyway....even though we have different issues, I am interested in what they are having you do .....Continue to keep your chin up....

take care...