Health
Related: About this forumSo, evidently, I have frozen shoulder.
i had a badly aimed flu shot in November, and some discomfort although I knew how important it is to keep it moving.
Then, in April, I had a pacemaker implanted and instructions were to keep use of that left arm to a minimum (while also attempting to avoid frozen shoulder)
It's worse. I have to accommodate it constantly with the way I move, to try to avoid pain.
I guess I'll have to go for physical therapy.
Liberty Belle
(9,611 posts)Good luck - I've had the opposite problem for years--a hypermobile shoulder due to nerve damage to a muscle that's left things unstable. When the muscles spasm a massage definitely helps get rid of the pain.
Qutzupalotl
(15,151 posts)Last edited Sat Jul 8, 2023, 06:04 PM - Edit history (1)
when my shoulder was frozen and spasming painfully. I needed a cortisone shot on two occasions as well while I waited to get therapy.
They started out prescribing gentle movements, like just dangling my arm and letting it move in a circle in both directions. Later I moved to a therapy stick to push my hand laterally to the side while keeping my elbow against my body. That really helped, but you have to do the exercises they give you twice a day, three if you can, so I made it part of my lunch break.
I encourage yout to get started right away. It was just the thing for me, and they will customize something for you.
perfessor
(288 posts)It took about six weeks. Insurance covered it. Good luck!
TexasBushwhacker
(20,675 posts)I follow this physical therapist on Facebook. He posts a lot of helpful exercises.
https://www.facebook.com/projectphysicaltherapy?mibextid=ZbWKwL
303squadron
(679 posts)Right arm twice, left arm once. First time I did PT and learned all the exercises that "melted" the frozen shoulder. Second and third times I didn't go to PT but by using the info I'd already learned I was able to unfreeze the shoulders by myself. It's a painful process. First time took about 2 months to get back to normal. The other times I was able to unfreeze my shoulder much sooner because I had learned the technique for one exercise that did the most good. It's painful and goes like this:
Using a rubber stretching cord in both hands behind my waist I'd pin my arm to the small of my back. Then I'd go to a corner wall and using my body weight I'd lean the front of that shoulder into the wall. Hurt like the dickens but it did the trick.
Grasswire2
(13,708 posts)I can't bend my left arm behind my back, currently. Too painful.
Can't put my bathrobe or any sweater or shirt on without carefully managing what goes where, when.
Can't reach for things (like a can of soup) off a shelf.
Can't sleep on that side.
I guess I need some professional guidance. Ugh.
Hermit-The-Prog
(36,590 posts)I have a ball peen hammer, a center punch, a brace and bit, and a leftover tie rod end (Heim joint). Gimme a time and place and we'll get ya fixed up good as new!
A physical therapist warned me not to ignore pain while moving; just keep working it and it will get better. That doesn't mean the same applies to your situation, though.