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Frozen shoulder symptoms AND Are you drinking enough water daily??

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Posted 2/27/2013 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,
I hope this brief email hopes another person suffering from frozen shoulder.
I have had the symptoms now for 8 months. It took me about 3.5 months before I went to a shoulder specialist to get the diagnosis. After the Dr. asked me 5 questions and tested my arm strength he said that I merely had frozen shoulder. I was so relieved thinking I had a more complicated problem. The only source of the problem that I could think of was that 4 months earlier I had slipped on a hillside and went down on my backside and used my arms to catch my fall. I don't remember my shoulder hurting at that moment so like many I wasn't positive of the root cause of my pain.

I did not go to expensive physical therapy and just googled information on the web about stretching a frozen shoulder. Once I knew my arm wasn't going to fall off or tear off I was able to increase my range of motion 50% in less than a week by breaking the arm loose from the socket (it was frozen) with basic stretching. I did not take any shots either.
The biggest new piece of information that I would like to contribute is: After searching online for many days and hours it wasn't until a week ago that I finally read an article from a doctor that said 90% of his patients with a frozen shoulder issues also had confirmed habits of not drinking enough water each day. BINGO. That was me. I would have 3 cups of coffee in the am, some pop/juice or other throughout the day. Minimal water. In all the hundreds of posts I read I had not seen this possible connection between not drinking enough water and my frozen, achy shoulder. Granted I am in the thawing process but when I started drinking more water throughout the day even the remaining symptoms eased very nicely. I am no doctor but you might consider this lack of water possibility. I was so impressed by my improvement that I fully intended to post this information. I appreciate all the articles others took the time to write trying to help me and lessen my symptoms. Hope this helps others.
Posted 2/27/2013 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
Certainly drinking more water could not hurt, as the fluid that naturally exists in the joint has to be replaced somehow, and sometimes the tissues surrounding the joint could use some rehydrating, but the need to dramatically increase your water intake seems dubious. A couple more glasses, sure.

Google, just like any site (including this one) can give some helpful hints that may work for some people. But check with your doctor, especially when trying to regain range of motion in a ball and socket joint. There may be positions he/she may not what you to reach for until healing has developed further. I speak as a former physical therapy assistant here. Sometimes, there are certain moves that you should not do until more healing has taken place.

One particular example is the cross body pass. That's like putting on a seatbelt with one hand. After a shoulder reconstruction or certain traumas, that move may be contraindicated by your surgeon or physical therapist.

Just some friendly advice to check with a doctor or a PT to see if any specific movements are off limits before proceeding. Once you are in the clear, upper body specific Tai Chi is great for controlled range of motion. No forcing, zero impact. It will gradually get there.
Posted 2/27/2013 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for making your into post here at the forum. Welcome aboard!
Posted 2/28/2013 9:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome Yourkey to the forum.

I can't say whether drinking more water helps that or not but can't see any reason it would hurt. Far too many times we don't have an adequate water intake. Our body's need water to heal and regenerate new cells and many of us are on opiates and other meds that deplete our fluids.

It's possible you were having some form of lactic acid or calcium build-up going on and the increase in water aided in diluting and flushing of the joint.


Welcome and thank you for sharing its what makes this forum great.

Vickie
Posted 2/28/2013 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum!

Both my shoulders froze up quite suddenly many years ago. I could barely get my hands up to my mouth.

I started dog paddling in the pool at least once a day, reached a little farther each day. By the end of the summer I was swimming normally all strokes (never do butterfly), no pain, complete range of motion.

I don't know what caused the freezing and it never came back.
Posted 3/7/2015 10:47 AM (GMT 0)
I would like to add that I am currently recovering from a frozen shoulder and there appears to be a direct correlation between the amount of pure water I drink and my recovery rate. Yes I am doing stretching exercises regularly (as advised by my physio, who is amazed at my recovery rate) but I totally agree with the initial poster that there is a correlation. My target is 2 litres of water a day (that's 3.5 pints).
Posting this similarly in the hopes that it will help others with frozen shoulder, one of the most painful things I've had to deal with.
Posted 3/7/2015 12:15 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for your post. I have other shoulder issues but totally agree with water intake. I find that if I am feeling fatigue, drinking a bottle of water helps. I too am a coffeeholic, 3 cups in the morning and possibly more throughout the day, then on to juice, rarely soda. Bottom line, I live in a state of almost constant dehydration! What got my attention was non stop irritation of the urethral sphincter. It wasn't 'overactive bladder', but overactive sphincter. Solution, 5 bottles of water in one day! Guess what? EVERYTHING felt better! Now I try to make sure I get 2-3 bottles of water in a day. Thanks again!
Posted 3/7/2015 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
I used trigger point therapy too fix my frozen shoulder. I have total and complete movement now. I bought The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook on Amazon and it really is good. I use it for other pain that I get from fibromyalgia, too. This book has diagrams to show where to look for the trigger points causing the area of pain you are feeling. Much is referred pain. Amazon also let's you read a little of the book to see if you are interested in purchasing it.

Sherrine
Posted 3/7/2015 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Hils & welcome to the chronic pain forum. Please note that you have posted on an older thread & the original poster has not been back to Healing Well since the above date.

We do ask all new members to make a separate intro post so that all members will see it & be able to say hello & welcome aboard. By posting on this older thread not many people will see your post.

I will lock this thread so that others will not post on it as we like to keep the older threads off of the main page. Thanks.
Posted 3/9/2015 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
I have had both shoulders freeze up at separate times over the last 6 years. I can't say that lack of water had anything to do with it as I drink so at least 80 ozs a day. No reason was ever given as a definitive cause but I had to go to physical therapy for both and was able to get full range of motion back in one arm and about 80% in the other. I caught the second one sooner because I realized what was happening and got myself right into physical therapy. Boy it is painful!!
Posted 3/9/2015 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
This older thread keeps popping up. I am going to go ahead & lock it at this time.
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