Frozen shoulder

Hello Fellow Forum Members,
I am new on this forum.
I have been suffering from frozen shoulder, first diagnosed as calcific tendinitis, for about three and a half months though the pain started slowly before that time.

I am/was and avid swimmer...swimming for exercise. And I should add I am a 61 year old grandmother of three grandsons.

I first went to my family doctor who gave me pain pills which did nothing. I then went to an orthopedist who sent me for an ultrasound.
They diagnosed the calcific tendinitis, put me on anti inflammatory med and physical,therapy.
I only took the pills for a short time as it conflicts with aspirin that I need to take for another problem.

I have had 5 sessions of PT, I do home exercises and pool exercises, was told not to swim laps, and it is not helping.
Any ideas for those who may be suffering?

I have made a couple paragraphs in your post to make it easier to make it easier to read. Some of our members have tracking problems when reading. Thanks.

Post Edited By Moderator (straydog) : 3/30/2016 3:05:41 PM (GMT-6)

Thanks for the reply and suggestions.

Originally, the ortho told me he felt my pain was from swimming...the repetitive motion. After the ultrasound, I was diagnosed with calcific tendinitis and then the ortho told me that the calcifications were just from aging and can cause a lot of pain. He then sent me for PT.

The PT said it is a clear case of frozen shoulder. And she told me to not swim laps but gave me water exercises to do instead.

As for the anti inflammatory meds, my family doc told me not to use those for more than a few days because it conflicts with the aspirin I need to take.

I had 5 PT sessions and am scheduled for 3 more before the therapist will decide what I should do next. She is indeed trying to break up the adhesions.

She suggested adding acupuncture to ease the pain. At this point I have no time for adding more appts but I do plan to do this when she releases me from her therapy...if she does.

I will look into a shoulder specialist as I was not that happy with my ortho anyway and did not plan to return to him.

Was wondering, if any members come to this thread, if they found swimming laps to be helpful. I miss swimming. I am going to discuss this with my PT again when I see her next.

And...is it normal to have so much pain after a treatment? I couldn't sleep last night. Had treatment yesterday.

I was wondering if this was from swimming perhaps over use. I do know about the calcifications though. Usually if the therapist is good & knows what they are doing they can help with frozen shoulder. But, its not going to happen in 8 treatments. It takes a lot more than that. Some have success with it & some don't, everyone is different.

I was surprised somewhat by her telling you no swimming if the problems wasn't caused by swimming. I would have thought even having it modified may help. Yes, the pain will be worse after PT. This is why people are put to sleep when they do an MUA for frozen shoulder.

I did acupuncture for neck problems & did great. Others have come along here & it hasn't worked. So again, any treatment you try for this is all trial & error. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Quite honestly no one can tell you how long this will go on. This is all going to depend on well you respond to treatment. If the ortho indicated swimming is not what you need to be doing right now I would listen to him. You may not be real happy over not getting to swim, but is it worth chancing doing more harm to that shoulder? More damage to it is only going to lengthen the recovery time, are you really willing to take that risk, I wouldn't. Did you ask the dr why it wouldn't probably be a good idea to swim?

A lot of us are big into hydrotherapy but only if the dr approves it. Maybe you need to go ahead & check into seeing a shoulder specialist & get his opinion on swimming. And if you didn't ask the ortho about the swimming call & see if you can get an answer. Knowing how most drs feel about water therapy there has to be a reason he doesn't want you doing it right now.

Straydog.... The ortho and the PT said no swimming because of the repetitive motion. When I turned a sad face, he said that if I swim, to be gentle and aware of my arm. I do have exercises in the water where the affected side does not do anything but I can swim and use my good arm and kick with my legs to get s bit of exercise tho lap swimming like that is really hard. But I stay in the shallow end so I can just stand up quickly and avoid using the affected arm. I plan to discuss this again with her as far as laps before I actually go back to laps.

As for what I do in between therapy sessions...I do land exercises that my PT gave me to do. She has not recommended icing or heat tho I do take a hot shoulder sometimes before I do my stretches.

I don't carry bags on that shoulder.
It is my left side and though I am right handed for many things, I use my left arm for a lot of things I noticed such as reaching for things on shelves.... Etc. and carrying my pool bag has always been on my left shoulder so I need to remember not to and then it falls, all my other stuff falls...LOL..because I am not used to using my right arm for those things.

I was not told about swinging my arm, etc...
I have read so many different suggestions online it is mind boggling. So many opinions on the subject. The swim experts say not to rest the arm; the doctors say to rest it. A yoga teacher who is a friend of mine gave me an exercise that cured her frozen shoulder and her husband's and it is basically what my PT said to do only in the water and on my back...so I do that....

Sorry for your problem. Have you tried a cortisone shot? This helped me when I had an unstable ankle and it was so painful. I did lose range of motion in my ankle permanently but it is no longer painful. I don't know why they don't call it frozen ankle and I could hardly walk.

All this was from lots of lousy doctors not doing their job until I met a hands on manipulative physical therapist. Now I have some range of motion back. Still had the pain but drove a long way to see pain management and they helped.

Unfortunately, you have to trek all over the place to get help.

Sorry you are having this ordeal and I know mine was pretty bad too.

If being in the water and swimming brings you contentment and joy, then go to the pool.

You can go to the pool and engage in walking in the shallow end of the pool. Walking in the shallow end and moving your arms/shoulders as you walk - pendulum motion of the shoulder, wide circumference circular motion.

You can also try a simple breast stroke for short distance swimming and low repetition movements of the shoulder. Note the words: short distance swimming and low repetition of the shoulder. Try 25 meters of swimming the breast stroke. See how the shoulder feels. Reassess.

The breast stroke avoids over the head motion of the shoulder joint. The breast stroke offers lower stress to the shoulder, as the arc of motion is in a horizontal plane and supported by the buoyancy of the water.

Listen to your body. If the breast stroke increases your shoulder pain, ease back or stop.

In standing, doing simple and gentle pendulum movement of the shoulder (circular motion of the shoulder with the arm dangling downward) is generally advised to individuals with adhesive capsulitis.

Key is to avoid harsh movement, ballistic or jerky movement. Such movement can cause micro tears in muscle and ligament - causing more scar tissue formation and limited range of motion.

I am a licensed physical therapist by profession.

Start with small increments of time if you decide to go to the pool. Easy, gentle movement of the shoulder (ex. NO crawl stroke). See how your shoulder responds. Reassess.

A good physical therapist is constantly evaluating as he/she is treating. Evaluating to see how a patient is responding to a particular treatment or exercise. Evaluating and reassessing. Modifying and adapting a treatment or exercise as indicated. It is the wise physical therapist for evaluates as he/she treated. These same principles can be applied by you, the patient, as well in your own day-to-day decisions of what movements to try to incorporate for your shoulder.

Pendulum movements. Slow and gentle movement within an arc of motion that you can tolerate. Avoid repetitive movement and movement that is harsh and jerky in quality.
- Karen -