I'm 7.5 mths post op for SLAP III, rotator with anchor, debriedment, impingement, bonespur removal. Was diagnosed with frozen shoulder at about 5.5 months, trama induced from the surgery. I think the previous PT didn't help either, as form was NOT addressed, so all I did was compensate.

At 5+ months post op I started PT, different person this time, he worries about HOW the body is working more then just getting his "numbers ". I think if I had him to start with, things may have turned out different, but wont' get into that. I've been in PT for FS for about 2+ months now, 3x a week. For the first month we made BIG gains, but things seem to have just gotten "so far" and that's it. I can not go without some type of pain pills, I've had about 6 days pain free since surgery, which is rough for a 7.5 month stint. Recently the pain up my neck is bad, and it HAD all but been gone. In the last couple weeks my pain level in my arm/shoulder/clavicle/etc has gone up I don't know if it is because we are having a weather pattern change. (?) My surgeon talks about MUA, which my PT feels is NOT where I am headed, and to just keep on doing what we are doing. For now my PT is just back to stretching, no strength until the pain reduces. I haven't lost much function with the returning pain (maybe 1% loss).

Is it normal to plateau as one goes thru FS? I need to know that things should move on again as we get thru this plateau. I know I FS can go on for months/years, but it was SO disappointing to be moving forward then to just stop, then for the pain to return.

Anyone ever use DMSO?

Thanks for the imput!
Skyla

Skyla, I just left along e-mail that got lost in the ethernet.
I am a practicing PT with lots of experience and suggestions for FS. Please answer a few questions.
Do you have pain at rest? Can you lie on your shoulder at night? Do you have pain below the elbow?
Is the feeling at end of range elastic or abrupt end feel?
How old are you?
Is your range limited in Lateral Rot > Abduction > Medial Rot?
with the greatest limitation in this order?
Where exactly do you live?
This will help determine the stage and what best to do.
Thanks, Sharon

I'll do my best, but am afraid I'll come up short in "knowledge".

Pain all the time, or extreme discomfort (like I said it recently went up-to about a 4, 6 or more without meds, was at a 2, but these are WITH OTC meds). I sleep on that side, BUT have a 4 inch foam mattress, otherwise I could not. I had to have the foam loooong before I ever had any real shoulder issues, so not much new there. Pain in my forearm, and slight in wrist and some on the pinky side of my hand.

End of range; pretty elastic feeling.

I'm a 46 year old female.

Range is minorly limited, it isn't all that far from where I should be, it has come up by about 30 degrees in each direction, behind my back has just started to ever so slightly improve. NEVER been able to reach my bra strap, so don't figure I will make it that far anyway, LOL.

I'm in Boise, Idaho.

Had a very aggressive PT/stretching only session yesterday, and this morning I do feel a wee bit less painful/stiff...hmm??

The PT has gone back to stretches only, until my pain level drops. That is kind of a bummer, as we just started doing some bands/weights/etcs.

I'm just hoping I'm in a temporary plateau. But I sure could do with out the return of the neck pain, which is coming from my shoulder(s), heck all the PAIN in general...sigh. I'm scared that when/if I have to stop PT, if I'm not "better" then the shoulder will retighten. I can't stretch it the same as PT. This whole thing is just kind of scarey, as the clock is ticking.

Thank you for the response!
Sky

Hey Skyla, I'm originally from Nampa, NHS class of 84 & hubby was class of 80!

You have a horse on your picture-do you ride? If so How long after your surgery were you able to feel comfortable being around your horses and how long until you were able/will be able to ride? I have 3 large ponies and compete at combined driving with 1 and starting 2 more to drive, plus my small riding mare that was the cause of my shoulder injury when we. I live in Northern WA now and am running out of dry days to work with them either in the round pen or just basic grooming before mud season starts. I don't feel safe being around them at 11 days PO of course but am curious of when others started to be OK with the unpredictability of equines after surgery.

I'm just wanting to know when it's ok to do more even with one hand tied in front of my back! thanks!! Teri

Hi Teri, small world. LOL Sounds like you have alot of fun with your little ones.

My intial injuries were not from riding. Funny that everyone always assumes the "horse" is the cause! I had an intial injury, let it go, and things just gradually snowballed, until everything just let loose. Lesson learned, do NOT wait to see a doc! Also, do NOT let husband talk you into using a two man, power, post hole driver, I was surprised my arm wasn't completely ripped from my socket!

I am NOT a good one to ask about horse handling, as I was forced into full chores at 12 or 14 days post op, and talk about being nervous. There wasn't anyone to feed or do the chores, so no choice. I was on my horse at 8 weeks. I DID do an endurance ride (50 miles) at 10.5 weeks out, more out of desperation to ride. My horses are VERY space aware, gentle and easy to handle, safe to ride, so I was willing to take that chance. Riding still can hurt, but that is decreasing too.

Even at 7.5 months I am still SCARED to be around other's horses (and I am house sitting 3, rather hard to handle, with LOTS of chorses for a couple weeks). So far I've been jerked/ran into ON my FS side 4 times...oh this is fun.

My horses just naturally avoided my right side, and were even more quiet then normal, God bless their hairy hides.

I am finding moving hay to be somewhat of a large challenge, as I USED to be able stack and handle 95lb bales just fine, now more then about 50lbs and I'm snookered. Grooming them has gradually gotten easier, but for the issue with the FS, which will be time.

I can't wait to go home...

Sky

yeah...well... my injury was horse related but more operator error than her fault. She is pretty green but usually not spooky, just stubborn. I had ridden her at the trail by myself for a short bit a few days before helping pull ribbons from a competitive trail ride the weekend before and she had done fine. Caught up with the ride manager and her green mare and pulled ribbons w/her for a while. Went by myself the next Wed and she spooked and spun, the second time she did it I already had her in a one rein stop and essentially pulled her over. Short ride I have had a pretty good outlook of the situation though as when the ER did a CT to clear me from the backboard they discovered a 2.1cm node at the top of my rt lung that would not have been discovered if the fall hadn't happened. I'm not the religious type but do believe things happen for a reason, I just wish it had been in a less painful and inconvenient way! It's in a place that they can't biopsy but they did do a PET scan that showed it is probably benign so they are just going to watch it for now.

I feel really fortunate my hubby is able to help me with my horses. They listen really well but do get a bug up once in a while. He swears they behave better when I am standing there. I found a hay cart at a yard sale this summer so he can get the hay on and I can take it from there. We still have a few weeks of grass left here but not much longer before I have to start adding hay. I did have to close my sitting business to horses until I'm out of the sling for a week or two and sure I can function OK.

I cant imagine doing a 50 miler at 8 weeks out! When I was a 17 I did a 30 mile Ride & Tie in the Boise on a whim (went to the endurance ride the day before to crew for a friend that did the 50) a week out of a leg cast for a torn ligament. I was much younger and dumber back then. This time I am facing the "getting back in the saddle" syndrome since I haven't been able to ride since the fall in July.

Thanks for letting me know how you were able to get back out with the horses, even if it was out of necessity. Be careful around the ones you are watching and keep working on your FS-take care, Teri