Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Frozen Shoulder - Anyone deal with it?

My left shoulder locked up several years ago. The doctor gave me a shot of cortisone, and I did several weeks of physical therapy. It cleared up and never returned. I hope your luck with this is as good as mine.

I had frozen shoulder about 5 years ago. It didn't improve, so I had manipulation under anesthesia from an orthopedist, followed by PT. I was fine after a few months. No problems since, but I keep doing some of the exercises.

Laser therapy seems to work, which appears to have some kind therapeutic effect on cells, reducing inflammation. I first saw it used in a zoo on an animal with shoulder problems.

McBride Orthopedic Hospital, Edmond, OK

Dr. Ben Panter (pro: painter)
Dr. Stephen Isernhagen

Full shoulder replacement.

If you ever damage the cartilage, the joint begins to deteriorate.
It's either cortisone shots ever so often or replace it and forget it.

Had both shoulders diagnosed as frozen shoulder. Couldn't hardly tie on a surgical mask behind my head. PT did some serious stretches which helped but what finally helped were weight exercises (weight machine/pulley type). Two in particular, one was the pecs exercise (sitting) where you bring the weight from your sides to the front, working with light weights at first I set the return to slightly more than 90*, that is the return position was behind me. I kept increasing the weight and the angle behind me til I was really stretching the shoulder to allow greater range of motion.
The other was a sitting exercise where you started about waste level and extended toward the center and about chest high meeting in the center.. When I started I could not return the weights to resting both at the same time, I had to return one than the other, same for picking the weights up. Slowly increased the weight so I was gently stretching the solder to increase range of motion so that I could return the weights simultaneously and pick up the weight simultaneously. Generally went to the gym about 3 times a week and it took about 2 months to return to normal range of motion.

Good luck on your recovery.

Excruciatingly painful. At 78 years old I've suffered from it for many years. What I have found that helps me the most is regular deep tissue massage. But an inexpensive substitute is lying on a shiatsu massage machine (some are not up to the task) in just the right positions, working the various areas which require manipulation. Either treatment is horribly painful, to start but, as it progresses, relief begins to come. Slowly, at first, and then mercifully the pain starts to disappear. If you can afford it, see a deep tissue massage therapist as soon as possible, explaining exactly what you need. Otherwise get the Taiwan-made Shogun machine. PM me for specifics.

While this is not a one-and-done cure, it has helped me continue to be an active boat builder into my late 70's. I hope some of you who suffer will try it and also find some relief.

Adhesive capsulitis. I had a bout with it last year. Hurt like hell.. left arm became near completely worthless.
Saw a couple of docs and a PT who gave me a ton of exercises, which I did. They worked! As mysteriously as it appeared, the frozen shoulder.. melted.

Can someone please explain how you'd tell the difference between frozen shoulder and a torn rotator cuff by how they feel (type of pain/discomfort, lack of mobility)? I've got an issue with one of mine and am wondering which it is. Thanks in advance.

Torn rotator you can't physically move because it's mechanically broken. Frozen shoulder it just hurts so damn bad that you can't move it.

Only an MRI will tell if its. torn. PT could make it worse by tearing more. Just had Rotator Cuff surgery 2/23, still in a sling. Mine was a massive tear from a fall, but repetitive motion can wear it out. Go to a shoulder specialist and get it right the first time.

I had several injections, both shoulders, it did wonders . Have not had any major problems till I had a pneumonia shot hit a nerve this past winter at the VA. I was miserable for over a month, did not have full function . Too many old injuries to the wings to mention but they add up to arthritis for me right now , everywhere. I am going to get an injection as soon as I can get some slack time at work. I will say that my ailments had time to heal when I quit pouring concrete and swinging a hammer!

Had it in my right shoulder. Dr. told me I would have to undergo manipulation under anesthesia but I declined. A year later, I fell 5 feet out of a treestand after a step failed. Ripped my right arm straight up over my head (something I couldn't do for 2 years). Almost passed out from the pain, but it broke it free. Took ibuprofen for a few days and have been fine ever since.

ttt

I had a frozen neck from years of staring at the implement while driving tractors. I tried cortisone a months of physical therapy which didn’t do much. I got desperate and went to a rolfer/deep tissue masseuse ( I didn’t believe in those sorts of alternate therapies). After three visits I was pretty much back to normal. She said she was going to have to hurt me to help me and it did hurt like a sob the first two times.

I had a partial tear in a ligament from throwing a softball at age 50. Thought babying it till it quit hurting would work. Nope, the shoulder froze. The tear was not enough for surgery, but it took two months of PT fo get the range of motion back. The pain was rough and the pain is the last thing to go away. A lady who had the same issue told me the pain was worse than childbirth.

An MRI is probably called for to determine the extent of the damage.

My dick is frozen.....LIMP!!

I broke my shoulder in an auto accident. After 3 months of pt and no relief I went to my chiropractor. He used some sort of cold laser on it. Within 24 hrs I had 95% range of motion back.

I get the COLD Shoulder quite often from my wife, Frigid but never frozen.