Cording is resolving...Frozen Shoulder isn't thawing!

voraciousreader

I have a frozen shoulder for months and months.  I also have a small rotator cuff tear.  I had an axillary chord that resolved.  I did several months of PT, had two cortisone shots and oral steroids.  No relief.  I had previous shoulder surgery on the other arm and had a cortisone shot today in that shoulder, because of inflammation. 

I scheduled surgery for the worse shoulder.  I can't stomach the thought of more shoulder surgery.  It took me two years to recover the last time! And now both shoulders are hurting.

Any pearls of wisdom?  In the meantime, the doctor told me to rest both shoulders.  I am so frustrated and ambivalent about doing the surgery.  But I haven't slept through the night in months.  Advice please.

AnneW

You know 100% for certain it's a shoulder problem and not orginating from your cervical spine?

If yes, "frozen shoulders" aka adhesive capsulitis can take 18 months to resolve. I know the pain and limitations are bad, but surgery is no guarantee for relief, and the risk of building up scar tissue is high.

Pain sucks, though. It ruins your quality of life. Sleep deprivation alone ruins that. Add in chronic pain and you are no longer the person you used to be. Are you medicated adequately to relieve the pain and help with the inevitable depression that it causes?

I hope some of our PT gals will come here and offer up a little more advice.

voraciousreader

Thanks Anne!

I'm not sure if all my pain is from the Frozen Shoulder or from the rotator cuff tear.  If I didn't have the rotator cuff tear...I would probably wait out the one to two years.  Because the last surgery took me two years to get back my range of motion.

None of the anti inflammatories worked, at.all.  I've always had a problem with pain medication.  I've had other orthopedic surgeries and it's always been difficult to find a medication that I could tolerate and alleviate the pain.  On Christmas Day, I threw in the toilet the prescription anti-inflammatory pain reliever...because I was so nausiated from finally agreeing to take a FULL pill, I couldn't get off the couch! 

Regarding the pain coming from my spine....That was the FIRST doctor that I went to...before I went to my regular orthopedist.  He ran threw some tests and said, "Go see your orthopedist."

My biggest problem now is that every exercise that I do...seems to aggravate my GOOD shoulder.

I'm not worried about getting depressed.  It's just that I'm soooo frustrated that I don't know what else to do to get BOTH these shoulders to start working properly.

voraciousreader

One more thing I want to add...While doing the PT with the bands, I was told to stretch them until the point BEFORE it hurts.  They also had me do modified schrunches and rotations of my shoulders.  It just seemed that either I was doing too little because of the pain, or too much that caused more pain.  And the one exercise that I absolutely couldn't do because I felt it was making my good shoulder worse...the orthopedist confirmed yesterday...that he thought the location of the inflammation was DEFINITELY being exaserbated by THAT one exercise and he told me NOT to do it.  Yikes!

Erica3681

I'm with Anne in feeling that there are risks of surgery complicating matters. I had frozen shoulder. My PT had told me what Anne said, that it can last up to 18 months (mine did). But my oncologist wanted me to go to an orthopedist to confirm that I did indeed have frozen shoulder. He confirmed the diagnosis, then immediately said that if it bothered me a lot he could do surgery to "release" the capsule. Since I felt that my several breast surgeries plus radiation on that side had probably caused (or at least contributed to) the problem, I wasn't interested.

Can small rotator cuff tears heal on their own? If so, I'd really be inclined to hold off on surgery. Also, with frozen shoulder, PT isn't very helpful until the last stages, when the condition has started to improve. At that point, PT can help insure that you regain your full range of motion. 

Barbara

voraciousreader

Thank you Erica for chiming in.  I'm glad you are feeling better...even though it took 18 months.  I just spoke to my internist, bless him.  He understood my quandrary.  We agreed to keep the surgery date for now...and take it day by day.  I'm hoping that the cortisone shot on the "good" shoulder will start to work...so I can resume some exercises. 

Regarding the small tear, the orthopedist doesn't think that that's what's giving me all of my pain and isn't as concerned about that as he is about the inflammation in the joint.  He wants to clean it out and give me more space as well as release the muscles.  Oy.  So complicated.

You give me hope that it will resolve without surgery.  Thanks!

kira66715

Voraciousreader,

  When I broke my hand in October, I developed a realtively minor frozen shoulder--no internal rotation, and lots of pain. 

  After I finished OT for the hand, I started PT for the shoulder--with a PT who has some LE training, and I'm finding that for a while, it seemed like no progress, and then suddenly lots of progress--and that's what they told me would happen.

  I have a patient where I work who has a severely frozen shoulder, and we got an ortho opinion, and she's sticking with PT.

   "Cleaning out the joint"--I have to say, there was this amazing article in the NE Journal a couple of years ago where all patients thought they were having arthroscopic surgery to clean out their arthritic knees, all went to sleep and got incisions, and half got the surgery--and there was NO difference--so the surgery was deemed ineffective. 

  Kira

voraciousreader

Kira, I am so happy to hear that you are doing better. Unfortunately, I have made no progress at all with the frozen shoulder and whatever I do to help that shoulder only makes the other one worse. Several months before my BC diagnosis, my good shoulder--- that was the one that I previously had surgery on was giving me problems. I had terrible shoulder blade spasms. I started PT for that arm and started feeling better. Then, after the BC, I got the cording on that arm and then it has been downhill ever since. My BC surgery was last February. So, I am dealing with this involving both shoulders over 15 months already. Fifteen months of interrupted sleep...every single night. All winter I could barely put on a coat... Or even wear it because it hurt my shoulders. I even stopped wearing a bra because that even hurts my shoulder. Spasms, burning and stiffness..24/7. My insurance stopped paying for PT last month. My PT feels bad for me because she knows me well, from all my other surgeries and keeps urging me to get the surgery. She thinks there must be some bone spurs wreaking havoc that the MRI missed. That's what happened the last time. The MRI only is 70% correct.

kira66715

Voraciousreader--with just a bit of adhesive capsulitis, I was so impaired, so I can't even imagine--I had a lot of trouble putting on a coat. Ironically, I told the OT that my shoulder hurt, and it wasn't in her prescription--nor was the tennis elbow she caused by the hand weights--and I saw a PT at their office to try Pilates, and she noted my decreased range of motion, but didn't address it. So, I called my primary, and have been seeing another PT and her great PTA for the last 2 months. For the first 3-4 weeks I didn't think any thing was happening, and now, I can touch behind my back without pain.

The PT does myofascial work on all my tightness due to surgery and rads and the shoulder capsule and the PTA adds the stretches and exercises and TLC.

It is seriously impacting your quality of life. 

Kira

voraciousreader

Kira... I know exactly how you felt... When you starting getting the carpal tunnel! I just think no matter what I do to strengthen and stretch one shoulder...causes inflammation of the other.



I relish the thought of getting my arm and hand behind my back. Wouldn't mind being able to do the little things... Like scratch my back, pull the blankets up on me... And what I miss most... Is carrying a handbag. I leave my bag in the trunk and now carry a small crossbody bag.



So what would you do? Am I missing something???



Thanks for listening. I truly feel your pain as well.

kira66715

Voraciousreader: I don't know what I'd do, I really don't. I know my general instinct is to avoid surgery, but there are some times when you've given the non-surgical approach a good try and you have constant pain, and you have to consider doing something invasive.

I don't think you're missing anything. I think you're in constant pain, and working hard with PT, and not getting much relief.

You're not making this decision quickly or without full understanding of risks and benefits.

Kira

lindylounz

Voraciousreader - so good not to feel alone with my frozen shoulder. I have had mine for just over 2 months now. I also have lymphoedema of my breast, arm and trunk which causes quite a different pain as well as a lot of discomfort. The hard part is the 'waiting' for all things to resolve. I'm not sick but I can't return to work yet, due to the continuous pain and lack of sleep. Was prescribed tramadol to help sleep at night but that caused me to spin out to the point that I couldn't drop off to sleep. So, have come to live with continuous broken nights, lack of movement, pain and discomfort. Also I take Ibuprofen when the pain becomes too bad during the day. Will let you know if there are any positive changes. Linda

voraciousreader

Lindalounz.. Hope you will feeling better soon. I will think of you when I wake up tonight.



Kira... I still have a few weeks until the surgery... If I feel any thawing, I will put the surgery on hold. Until then, I hope this latest cortisone shot kicks in on my good shoulder, so I could resume some stregthening exercises. The orthopedist told me that as much strengthing of the shoulder blades that I accomplish now, the easier it will make the recovery. I just hate all of this orthopedic surgery. I had pinky surgery and elbow surgery in addition to the other shoulder. I just think the more surgery I have, ultimately the weaker I get.



I wish all my friends well. I know how hard we all work to make ourselves whole again.

Hindsfeet

VR, I'm glad your cording is resolving. How long did that take? My concern is the cording could lead to inactive use of the arm which can cause a frozen shoulder. I know about frozen shoulders. I've had 3 serious frozen shoulders in my right shoulder, and two in the left. The ortho- doc said they last about 2 years. He also said those who have long legements are at higher risk for frozen shoulder.

Definately once frozen shoulder has set in a cortizone shot helps...muchly. I have had to have several cortizone shots for a few frozen shoulders. After the shot it was easier for the massage therapist and or chiropractor to work with the shoulder...healing much faster. Now, when I feel a frozen shoulder coming on I swim, swim and swim. If you can, the back stroke helps. I haven't had a frozen shoulder since the swimming.

Right now, I'm a little concern in that I'm not sure if I can swim. I don't want to aggrevate the cording or webbing running down to my elbow. I don't want to worsen my present situation. My left arm is beginning to have that bone ache that happens before the onset of a frozen shoulder.

Frozen shoulders are no fun. Sorry VR you are having to deal with this as well.

voraciousreader

Lindalounz-  I woke up twice during the night and said a prayer for you!  I prayed you were sleeping well and if you did wake up, I prayed that it wasn't long before you could fall back to sleep!

Kira - I think the resting of the arms AND the cortisone shot in the good arm is making a small difference.  For the first time in months, after waking from sleep, I was able to fall back to sleep with little difficulty.  In the past, my arm would be either so stiff or painful, that I would have to get out of bed, for an hour or two, to stretch it, until the stiffness relaxed some, and the pain disappeared, before I could resume sleep. 

I forgot to mention.  Heat doesn't help me at all.  I ice, ice, ice.  Even at PT, the heat HURT!  Since the ball joint often feels like it's on fire...the heat just exasperated the pain. 

Evebarry -   Perhaps you can tell me more about the tricks that work for you.  I know you mentioned before how you've had frozen shoulders and that swimming has helped you.  When I had my last shoulder surgery, and I mention that it took me TWO years to get back the range of motion...it was when I was swimming in my friend's pool that I noticed I had regained my full motion...after TWO LONG FRUSTRATING YEARS!   I live near the ocean and my husband and sons are all former lifeguards and our lives revolve around swimming...and here I am...THE BEACHED WHALE!

Regarding the cording and asking how long it took to resolve.  Hmmm...My surgery was in February of last year.  I had radiation through May without any problems, at all.  I'd say that I first started feeling problems in THAT shoulder in September.  Keep in mind, the "good" shoulder was hurting since the previous December...before my BC diagnosis.  While showering in October, I felt the cord.  I saw my breast surgeon that month and didn't say anything...so it must not have been so terrible.  By November, I saw my internist because I was in terrible pain and he told me to rest it for a week or two.  Big mistake.  THAT's when the shoulder started getting frozen!  I would say, though, the cord began resolving, with massage, in January and it was gone by February.  So from beginning to end...the cording lasted 5 months.  The massaging was the key to feeling better.  The duration of the worst pain from the cord probably was 6 weeks.  Unfortunately, the cortisone shots and the oral pregnisone were NOT helpful for the cord or the frozen shoulder.  The PT and massaging were the key to getting rid of the cord.  If I were you, I would massage as much as possible.  I know that ache you are talking about.  Under the armpit?  I hope you will have a better UNEVENTFUL recovery this time!

Thanks everyone!  You're all in my thoughts and prayers!

Hindsfeet

VR....in regard to pain symdromes (frozen shoulder included), I was told not to use ice...worst thing. I had cortizone shots that didn't work, but others that worked like magic. I had one frozen shoulder, where I went in twice a week for adjustments and massage. I wasn't getting better. I was in extreme pain. I went in for a cortizone shot that worked like magic. With a little therapy, and swimming, within a few months, the frozen shoulder was almost gone.

My doctor said frozen shoulders take time to resolve. Exercise, swimming especially, gives back that range of motion. Exercise is a must for frozen shoulders. I also learned that some people are more prone to frozen shoulders...or frozen joints.

I also learned that not all doc's or otho- know exactly where to give the cortizone shot. Make sure you have a doc with experience, and know what they are doing.

VR...thanks for the info regarding the cording. The first thing I did when waking up this morning was massage under the arm pit then the cords running toward the elbow. Did you swim right away with the cords? I'm thinking about going to the pool tomorrow. With the cords, you go easy...with frozen shoulders, you need to build up your muscle tone to prevent it, and to get back your range of motion. I feel the symptons of a possible frozen shoulder, but don't want to do anything that would cause me to be at a greater risk for LE.

I also wonder if there is a link between those who are at a higher risk for frozen shoulder, could also be higher risk for LE? 

voraciousreader

Evie - You raise important questions.  First off, the cortisone shot that I had this week, was on my "good" shoulder.  I had an MRI earlier in the week and with that information, the orthopedist used a sonogram to find the EXACT location that was causing my pain.  It really was funny at first, because we were looking at the MRI and all the areas that lit up and we were trying to figure out which location was causing my pain.  When we finally figured out which area, he switched to the sonogram and then gave me the shot.  I have to say, I'm really feeling a lot better today in that shoulder, FINALLY. He also told me that the areas in that shoulder where I'm having the present problem are NOT the same areas where he previously did the surgery.  Regarding the other cortisone shots that I had in the frozen shoulder arm, he really dug right into where I was feeling the most pain.  The shots did NOTHING to easy my pain, AT ALL!  I think what I learned so far from all of these "issues" is that it is VERY DIFFICULT to figure out how much stretching and strengthening you should do, because doing one thing, or the LACK of doing one thing, can cause ANOTHER problem.    I also think you have to listen to your body.  I know, for sure, heat hurt my shoulders even more.  But when they put ice on my shoulder, the PT was able to manipulate my shoulder more.  I also know that icing for long periods is the ONLY thing that took away the spasms and the burning.  I just think you have to listen to your body.  If you think you can get in the pool, then by all means, give it a try.  You're right about the back stroke.  It felt so good to do it.  The crawl....forget about it!!!  Side stroke is okay....but it doesn't do much in the way of strengthening. 

I think you can't go wrong with massaging the cord and the armpit.  I really think that is the key to resolving it.

Feel better and enjoy your dip! 

faithandfifty

VR. I feel your pain. Quite literally.

As I finally completed PT for my first frozen shoulder, my PT told me he thought it was the most painful to recover from.

That was 3.5 years ago. I have 100% of that one/left side back again.

Then 13 months ago I had my BILAT surgery, developed cellulitis, yada yada and my right arm developed initial LE and the right shoulder froze somewhere in that quagmire.

I had months and months and months of PT for that shoulder.

It's better.

At this point what's LE, what's left-over frozen shoulder?

New normal yada yada.

Stinks. Big time stinks.

I am sleeping better now and have much more range-of-motion..... compativitely speaking. Less pain, more flexibility.

I seriously did get some 'peace' from praying for other BCO sisters during that wakeful stage.

Just wanted you to know that I am sending you encouragement -- for the decision making and the whole journey.

xx00xx00xx00xx

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

OmaRoo

The day before my mastectomy the surgeon sent me to an OT to learn how to measure my arm (to watch for lymphedema) and exercises to help prevent it.  The OT was suprised to find out I couldn't do all the exercises because of my OTHER shoulder!  She just told me that I could come back sometime after my mastectomy and we could work on both sides.

Sure enough, that's what I ended up doing.  She has been massaging the cording & all around the scar.... given me stretches for the surgical side.  And for the other side where I have had problems for months I started out doing range of motion exercises, but it was making it worse.... so she told me to stop range of motion exer's and gave me ISOMETRIC exercises instead.  Oh my goodness, what a difference!!!!  I can do these new exercises without hurting.  It is helping me to regain strength a little at a time.

 On the surgical side, it DOES still hurt, but it's only been 5 weeks since the mastectomy.  So, I figure I've got a ways to go. On that side I do my stretches twice a day, as faithfully as I can.

 I am glad to hear about the swimming backstroke and how it has helped.  I'll try that when I reactivate gym membership in another month or so.

 SLEEPING has been a huge problem.  I'm a side sleeper.  Can't sleep on surgical side and it hurts on the other "nonsurgical, but-BAD" shoulder.  And I don't sleep well on my back at all.  Doctor did not want to refill lortab after a month.  I told her I was only taking 1 pill at night.  BUT, guess she has to be careful.

 What I have done instead.... and is actually working better anyway.... is taking a muscle relaxer before I go to bed.  It has helped a lot more than I exepected it to.  I take a very low dose.

 Keeping my eyes open for any other suggestions.  Ya'll have some great ideas.

voraciousreader

faithfulfifty and OmaRoo!  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!  I feel so much better knowing I'm not the only one in this conundrum!  Boy, how misery loves company!  I will keep both of you along with the other gals in my thoughts and prayers tonight!  Somehow, last night, when I was thinking of Linda...it didn't feel so lonely.

Faithfulfifty...I feel your pain, yadda, yadda, yadda!  Did I tell you, I ALSO once had cellulitus?  It was the craziest thing.  One night, many years ago, I woke up with this burning pain on my wrist.  By morning, there was a swath of red on my skin.  It was Christmas Morning.  I called my internist and he immediately called me back and prescribed an antibiotic.  Told me to come in the following day.  Sure enough, it was cellulitus.  Fast forward to last year.  My friend was complaining of a bug bite on her foot.  I told her to come over so I could look at it.  Cellulitus, I told her!  She flew to the same internist who confirmed it!  She was in terrible shape.  I went back to the doctor with her the following day because he thought she needed to be hospitalized and have IV antibiotics! The worst!

OmaRoo -  Isometric exercises.  I will MOST DEFINITELY follow up on that suggestion!

I can't thank you sisters enough.  I wish you both well. 

VR

faithandfifty

VR. I didn't mean to be so choppy.

We are driving cross country. I'm on laptop in car & internet is sketchie at best.

I do mean to convey that you are not alone. It is a quagmire & slippery slope all rolled into one.

The very best one line of 'help' I read in a Buddhist monk's writing, she said to 'intone' as in repeat the words:

"Other people feel this."

The isolation, the depression, the lonliness of being on such a small island where nobody gets it, is immediately dispelled.

Other people feel this: medical frustration, lonliness, challenges at making decisions. I am not all that special at all..... in fact I am connected to the great mass of humanity. Other people feel pain. Literally, physically, metaphorically. This paragraph my interpretation years later. But the one sentence has stayed with me.

Truly when I was at my 'worst' with wrestling w the sleep issue, I'd just say that over & over to myself. Then I'd think of specific stories here at BCO and lift up those folks, send them some love, tuck in their covers, sit and read w them -- across the miles. I felt in very great company, not the least bit isolated/odd/special/lonely.

In any case. The FS is such a HUGE impact on going about your day, but you are not alone.

Being proactive in following exercises, while very painful, gave me power to 'help' rehabilitate myself. Wishing you all the best.

xx00xx00xx00xx

faithandfifty

VR. In my story, I pinpoint all of my LE involvement to that bout w cellulitis and it's aftermath. the FS emerged weeks into the efforts to resolve that piece of the puzzle.... by then the LE was also apparent. Chicken & egg..... not that it matters in retrospect.

"Other people feel this."

As I kinda recall her teaching on the issue...... she went on to say that since I'm feeling "this" (whatever that might be) I can hope that others feel less of it..... as in, since I'm already doing the 'sleepless' thing, I can wish that Linda, faithie, and others sleep well tonight, as I've got the sleepless issue covered on their behalf. .

I'm not summerizing this well at all. LOL. It made so much sense to me at the time though.

Her name is Pema Chodrin. (I think.... not enough sleep on this wild first phase of a 37 phase adventure. More LOL) I know the first name was Pema, spelling of last name somewhat suspect.

"Other people feel this."

Wishing you well as the sun comes up across the mountains of Tennessee.

Lifting up others is what truly restored my sleep. I honestly believe that holding up others in my restlessness, gave value to my being awake and eventually restored me to a good sleep health.

That and a prescription of ambien.

LOL

Whatever it takes, dearie. Whatever it takes.

xx00xx00xx00xx

voraciousreader

faithandfifty...Thanks so much for all of your pearls.  I could make a beautiful necklace with them!

voraciousreader

Just went shopping for bras today. Found several with comfort straps.  Hopefully they will work.  I also looked into isometric exercises.  Those are the ones that strengthen the shoulder blades.  I was doing them and I think they were helping, but they too were hurting my good shoulder and the doctor told me last week to stop doing them.  At first he told me to do them, so after the surgery, I will already have some strength.  But when he saw where I was doing damage to my good shoulder, he told me to stop. 

Last night was a better night, so I think the cortisone shot is helping my good shoulder.  Keeping my sisters in my thoughts when I wake up at night has me feeling better as well.  I'm going to speak to the doctor again this week about resuming some kind of exercises.  I'm still holding out hope that I can avoid surgery.  If I can't, at least I know I will have tried EVERYTHING!

voraciousreader

So here I am, once again it's 3 am and I can't sleep because of the stiffness and shoulder pain.  Most nights, when I'm awaken by the pain, I lay in bed for hours trying to fall back to sleep.  I try not to get up because I'm so physically exhausted from the pain.  But usually, lying in bed makes it worse. 

I'm still two weeks away from the inevitable surgery.  The cortisone shot in my good shoulder brought down about 50% of the pain in the good arm.  I had an MRI of the good shoulder and with a sonogram the doctor was able to figure out where to inject the cortisone.  I asked if I could have another shot in the good shoulder before the surgery and he said, "No."  I just worry how the good arm is going to hold up after I have the surgery on the bad arm.  I don't want to overuse it.

I've been reading as much as possible about frozen shoulder surgery and I'm not too encouraged by what I read.  There is much controversy about how successful the surgery is.  But since I am considered a conservative treatment failure, and I've been in terrible pain for much longer than 6 months, I am a candidate for surgery because they believe that even if the shoulder does thaw, unless they do the surgery, they doubt I will otherwise regain my full range of motion.  I also have a small tear and probably one bone spur that's not in the best of locations in my shoulder joint.

The only good news is that where I'm having the problem in the good shoulder, is not the same area where I had the shoulder surgery the last time.

I feel like my orthopedist is my car mechanic.  He's treating me for wear and tear like my mechanic treats my car.  I feel like I need a tune up and transmission every couple of years on my arms.  Did I tell you folks about my bone graft on my pinky?  And my ulner nerve entrapment surgery?  I think my car is in much better shape and more reliable.

Anonymous

voracious,

according to my naturopath, frozen shoulder is a sign of liver dysfunction (specially if the pain is on the right hand side). he asked me to improve my diet by removing grains and having amounts of good fat. he also asked me to drink at least 4Liters of filtered water (ensure no flouride and chlorine). and eating 1 green apple in the morning upon waking up and 1 green apple at about 6pm. he also recommended a few excercise which I think you are already doing now. in addition to seeing a PT, consider seeing a hepathologist or a gall bladder specialist as well. refer here and  here to rule out anything more serious. if it is not, then its just probably nerve/muscle related and not a symptom of other dysfunction.

all the best to you and hope you get some relief soon. the most important thing now is that you find relief.. praying for you.

mrsnjband

I woke up early today.  Went to sleep really early because I was soooooooooooo tired.  Is there a law that say you can't sleep more than 7 hours?  At least I got that much sleep.  Used to only get 4=5 hours.

I hear you all about your frozen shoulder pain.  My left shoulder froze when I fell on the ice, it took months to resovle.  I didn't even think about PT at  that time (pre-bc)

Then I got bc, 6 months chemo, BMX, & 6 weeks of radiation.  The scar boost left me with on open wound.  Protecting that gave me a frozen shoulder.  I had a cortizone shot & lot of PT that did help.  At that time I couldn't stand the ice. 

That was also pre-lymphedema.  Sometimes I wonder is the weight lifting he had me do caused the LE.  No way to know for sure what brough the LE on.  Went to an LE therapist and learned manual lymphe drainage.  She gave me more exercises to help stretch the shoulder. 

Now after having a couple rounds of cellulitus, I really like using ice on the trunctal area & sometime my arm.  It seems to help swelling & pain.  It seems to work for me anyway. 

Sending love & prayers to all. NJ

Hindsfeet

I fell asleep early last night, so I'm up early. My arm is bothering me as well...symptons of frozen shoulder. I've had several frozen shoulder so I know the beginnings of one. I think I'm ready to get back into the pool. Back strokes has stopped the frozen shoulders in the past from happening.

Because of a pain syndrome (rsd), I've been told never to use ice. Ice can cause pain, and you don't want pain getting into your central nervous system. Once the frozen shoulder sets in...it takes a long time to resolve it. Surgery is the worse thing for it...causing more pain, trauma and scar tissue. The best thing is PATIENCE, gentle stretching, massage, cortizone shots and swimming. Pain meds help when the pain is severe. I take pain meds only when I can't stand it anymore.

The physical therapist (oncologist) I have is wonderful. She was very aggressive on the cording this last time...much better. She said the burning I have down my arm is due to the cording. She also worked around the breast area reducing the swelling...teaching me also lymph node drainage. It's helping. She said right now no weights, or aggressive work or exercise. I also learned that it's rarer for thin people to get arm lymphedema... not sure.

voraciousreader

Sisters...Thanks for all of your tips and encouragement.  It's 10 months of pain and NO progress whatsoever on my range of motion.  Furthermore, when the orthopedist looked at the MRI of the good shoulder and saw where the latest problem was developing, he told me not to do most of my exercises.  I'm now only doing the exercises that I can do, in a warm shower.

Evie, I really have to look into this business of ice...the doctor, the PT, and the PA... ALL told me that if the heat wasn't helping to use the ice.  That seems to be the only thing that takes away some of the pain.

I'm happy to hear though, Evie, that your cording has responded to therapy.  My cording is resolved.  I'm just not convinced that this time, in this shoulder that all my pain is being caused by the frozen shoulder and not the tear. 

I'm off to my morning walk in a few.  Usually that makes it feel better.  I think the gentle swing of the arm during the walk brings the blood and oxygen to the shoulder joint and helps aleviate the pain.

Everyone is welcome to give me tips....

I hope everyone feels well...you're all special and in my thoughts and prayers.

voraciousreader

I forgot to mention..THE GOOD ARM WAS HURTING BEFORE I HAD MY BREAST SURGERY LAST FEBRUARY.  So, I've been dealing with this pain for more than a year!

sisterinspirit

voraciousreader,

Just wanted to chime in here to let you know I am thinking of you and hope that you are able to find some solution to the amount of pain you are having.  Your comment about lying in bed with pain not being able to sleep and being physically exhausted from the pain really struck a chord with me.  During my "bad back days" before surgery, I went through the same thing for many, many, months, not realizing the terrible toll chronic pain was taking on me.  I am sure the chronic pain led to the fibromyalgia.  I hope that your doctors and PTs are working on ways to help get your pain under control so you can be more comfortable.  Surgery was ultimately the answer for me, but I also walked, exercised when I was able, used meditation tapes, used low dose anti-depression meds which helped sleep issues, and hot and cold packs as tolerated.  You deserve to feel better and have a better quality of life.