BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?

Subject: BS:HELP: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: Wrinkles
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 04:51 AM

Anyone else out there "recovered" from frozen shoulder (aka: adhesive capsulitus)with any tips or exercises for overcoming the nerve pain caused by prolonged finger stretching?

For those who don't know Frozen Shoulder is a condition suffered by post-menopaual women - the shoulder literaly freezes up and it's very painful. Eventually with physio one can recover most movement (I've got 71% back meself) but it never fully heals (unless you get your shoulder dislocated and popped back in - the NHS will only do this under General Anesthesia for Nurses and Sportswomen, musicians just ain't on the acceptable list).

The main problem afterwards is some repetitive movements cause increasing nerve pain.

In my case, although I'm OK on the mandolin or just struming chords on the guitar, when I play my fave instrument which I aslo play the best - the bouzouki - the repeated finger stretching causes increasing pain and loss of sensation in the left hand and I have to stop playing - after maybe only 2 or three tunes.

Enough time for a floor-spot, but not enough to go gigging again :-(

So if anyone out there knows any way of minimising this pain, enough to let one go gigging again, I'd be really grateful indeed ;-)

Barabara

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 05:29 AM

I had this happen to me a couple of years ago. I did exactly the wrong thing in the beginning by immobilising it and not doing any exercise. When I went to an ostiopath, he said what I needed was exercise, and he showed me one particular one, which has given me back complete movement.

Stand with your back against the wall. Lift your arm until it is at a 90degree angle and then raise your forarm until it is perpendicular to the rest of your body. What it looks like is as if you were like this;

I
I      I
I-----I
I
I

You may not be able to get your forearm to lay flat against the wall, but try to gently get it as close to the wall as you can. Do this repeatedly, and over a period of time, you'll be able to have it lie flat against the wall, and for me, when I got to that point I found I have recovered my mobility completely. This did take a long time, so don't push too hard.

Good luck! If this wasn't clear...pm me, and I'll try to explain it better.

..xx..e

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 05:33 AM

Firstly it's not exclusive to women, my arthritis began with a frozen shoulder.
Secondly, cortisone injections are the only thing that helps the pain.

eric

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: open mike
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 08:09 AM

i have been having spasms in my back by the shoulder blade..
it did feel like it was frozen...and i had to lean over to
pull the knotted up muscle back into shape...then my fingers
and hand started to go numb and esp. the left hand pinkie,
ring finger and middle one...doc judst gave me ibuprofin
3 times a day and muscle relaxant at night. sounds similar.
also soul=nds similar to carpal tunnel or ulnar nerve problem
or pinched nerve...
i thought this thread would be about romantic ways to melt a
cold shoulder!

just shrug it off that should fix it!

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 08:15 AM

I had both shoulders diagnosed (separately - a year or two apart!) as 'frozen'.

The right one was 'released' with a cortisone shot - most of which spurted back out thru the injection hole! - followed by some gentle mobilisation work.

the left one just froze up later, and I had Shiatsu Massage - which took a little longer - but was less stressful.

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 08:24 AM

Only time cured mine. I was also told not to baby them - exercise. I used a towel behind my back - grasp each end and gently tug.

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 08:33 AM

BTW, forgot to mention - could not exercise with mine - any movement of the shoulder joint (when it had reached a certain stage of solidity) would just cause me to black out!

I had this theory that it was just a spasm of the muscles, but the medicos didn't want to believe that - my Masseur did...

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 09:30 AM

Ask your medico, or your physical therapist. Anything else might endanger your health.

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 10:06 AM

I agree with Wilfred. My wife has had limited shoulder range since she was 17, due to surgery, and I've managed to damage (but not tear) the rotor cuffs in both of my shoulders (once getting a case of beer out of a car). We were both given lengths of surgical tubing by doctors specializing in sports medicine. She pulls hers straight out from the body and out to the side, both high, middle and low heights (the tubing is fastened to a door or some other solidly anchored point). I hold one end in my right hand and rotate my left arm to the side while holding the elbow against my side.

We were both told not to go beyond a "stretching" feeling -- and if it hurt to stop right away. We have to do ten reps as often each day as we can.

This doesn't hurt after a while, and your range of motion gradually returns. Massage also helps.

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: GUEST,maryrrf
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 11:40 AM

A lot of times a good massage therapist could help significantly. We had several clients with frozen shoulder - some folks so bad they couldnt' raise their hands to brush their teeth or drink a cup of coffee. Appropriate massage can break up some of the scar tissue and significantly loosen things up so that you can start an excercise/stretching program. Worth a try!

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: MaineDog
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 07:45 PM

My wife developed a frozen shoulder about two years ago. She had to have 9 months of Physical Therapy, and lots of Celebrex and Ibuprofen to control the pain and swelling. The treatment was successful in that she got most of her range of motion back, and normal activities no longer cause pain.

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: JennieG
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 07:51 PM

Sounds as though that is my problem. A couple of years ago my right elbow was injured. I had physio treatment for quite a while, but every movement still hurt, so I had a cortisone injection and had to keep the elbow immobilised in a sling for 3-4 weeks. Fixed the elbow, but since then I have had a shoulder problem! Chiropractic treatment helps a bit and I plan to try Ellenpoly's exercise, I have also pm'd her.

Ain't getting older a bugger??!!!! The brain is still only 25 but the body....alas.....!

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: van lingle
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 08:27 PM

Hey Wrinkles, I had adhesions after rotator cuff surgery and got a general and was fully ranged and had intensive PT and my shoulder is back almost 100%. If you can somehow manage it that may be the best way to go.
Also you might find the shorter scale of an octave mandolin a little easier on you than the bouzouki.
What kind of bouzouki do you play? I'm thinking about having one made. Best of luck, vl

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 04:21 AM

MaineDog, celebrex has now been found to substantialy increase the risk of heart disease and strokes if taken for long periods, it's a short term only drug now.

eric

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: open mike
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 07:20 AM

celebrex and aleve (naproxen sodium) are about to be taken off the market along with Vioxx..my mom took vioxx for a long time i think and died from blood clot in the lungs--also had congestive heart failure..wonder if i should join the group action suit??..i took vioxx a while back for my knee.
i was given flexaril for my spasming shoulder--

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 08:29 AM

A chiropractor fastened on a sort of suction/vibration machine and that fixed my frozen shoulder over about 4/5 visits. After the visits it looked like my shoulder had been attacked by an alien octopus, but I got full movement back for just over a hundred of our English pounds.

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 10:05 AM

Some physiotherapists treat frozen shoulder with a mix of exercises and short sessions with an ultra sound massage machine. Others use exercises only. If you are conscientious with the exercise routines, both work. I read somewhere that if you don't treat it at all and put up with the pain and stiffness, it goes away by itself after a year or so. If so, it is probably because your work or life-style forces you to keep the limb moving. Beware quacks though when seeking treatment. I know somebody in Switzerland who got frozen shoulder in the wake of arm surgery after falling off a ladder. The recommended treatment was more expensive than the original arm operations, and involved full body scans.   My advice is stick to the exercises. Given time, they work.

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 02:29 PM

This appeared in another thread.

Hi
I just found your posting from 2005 re frozen shoulders, am keen to find out more, do you know the name of the machine or the practitione? I am in Australia bt would love to find out what it was that they used. - not sure how to use these forums either? Hope you can fill me in.
Cheers Jo

Yes I believe that it was an ultrasound machine (sometimes called a Tens machine, I think. This where I went click here

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 02:37 PM

Point of pedatia:

Subject: RE: BS: Frozen Shoulder fixes?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 04:39 PM

Exercise and careful stretching can help. However, there may be many other contributing factors which are causing these kind of problems in flexibility, sore joints, etc.

For instance...

I was suffering for several months from rotator cuff problems in both shoulders, continual pain, lack of movement range...I tried various forms of physical therapy. They helped a little, but the problem remained.

I was also suffering from insomnia, lack of energy, depression, tense muscles, and was gaining weight around the waist area.

I then went to a Naturopath and had my entire system checked out in the most thorough and well-conducted physical I've ever seen in my life...altogether it took two 2 hours sessions over 2 days.


Conclusions:

1. My liver was stressed out. (this causes symptoms of pain in the right shoulder in particular, as well as numeruous other symptoms...look it up in a standard medical book if you don't believe me).

2. My eliminative system was not working well...and that's why the liver was getting stressed out.

3. I wasn't getting enough Magnesium or B vitamins in my diet.

4. My system was overly acidic...mainly due to bad dietary habits and lack of exercise.

5. And there were some other nutritional supplements I seeemed to be lacking.

Okay, fine, that all made sense. So here's the remedy:

1. I got 6 colonics over a period of 3 weeks to clear out the eliminative system. Results? Marvelous!

2. I started taking vitamin B supplements, digestive enzymes, magnesium citramate tablets, fish oil tablets, and a couple of other supplements 3 times a day. Results? No more insomnia! No more tense muscles! Lots more energy and clearer looking skin tone.

3. I started doing 100 situps a day and pedaling 10 kms a day on the exercise bike. Still am doing so.

4. I pretty much eliminated caffeine drinks, sugary stuff, white flour products and stuff like that from my diet, and started eating a LOT more raw vegetables with my meals.

Now what has all this accomplished? (And at a quite modest cost.) I have lost 2 or 3 inches off my waist and my old trousers fit me again!   My muscles are relaxed at night. My shoulders are back to normal. I look better. I feel better.

No drugs. No surgery. No painkillers.

Think about it.