Over the last few months, my left shoulder has been bothering me. I had been sleeping on it to face Cora in the right, but a few months ago, that became impossible. Recently, lifting my are high enough to put on deodorant was starting to become an issue, so I asked my doctor, and he said, "adhesive capsulitis" a.k.a. "frozen shoulder".
I went to an ortho, and he confirmed it. (FYI – Not my x-ray.)
For those of you too lazy to click the link, the deal is that the tissue in the socket of the shoulder is thick and tight and scarred, and it makes it difficult to move the shoulder and damn painful, too.
When I went in, I had MAYBE about 40% range of motion (ROM) before pain started, and then maybe another 10% of painful ROM before the joint just wouldn't go any further. It made tasks like, shutting the driver's side door, or putting on a coat challenging.
The ortho gave me some anti-inflammatories and some exercises to do, and I go back in 6 weeks. I've been pretty good about doing the exercises in the week since seeing him, and it's getting better. I would say that now, I have 60% ROM, with another 20% painful ROM. I can reach almost as high up the wall with the left arm as I can with the right arm. Only about 1 inch less.
But it hurts… A LOT… to do that. (Not as bad as that Chinese shopkeeper, but I'm not risking it!)
Right now, I really need to work on flexing it backwards, like when someone takes your arm behind your back and tries to touch your hand to your should blade. I have two volunteers for that here, but the doctor said I shouldn't force it.
I think I over did it this weekend, so I took today off from the P.T., but tomorrow morning, it's back at it.
So, if you hear a sonic-boom-esque cracking sound, followed by what sounds like a young girl's scream, you'll know that I've finally loosened up my shoulder, and am probably curled up on the ground, whimpering, rolling around in a pool of various bodily goos and humours.
I'll keep all-y'all updated and such, but I think it's going to be just fine. Heck, the webs even say that it usually resolves itself over the course of a couple of … YEARS!
(Back to the exercises!)
9 comments:
*sniff*
That sounds miserable! No doubt if you shoulder does loosen up, I'll hear it from here! Yikes!
I got the frozen shoulder after my wreck February 2011. Still some crepidus, but almost have full range back. Lovely. Feel better, man.
Bummer. Now you can't do walking sideways helicopter punches.
Hmm, I've had problems with my right shoulder for...forever. After many, many years of crutch and w/c use this sounds familiar. Care to send me a copy of those exercises? lol!
I had rotator cuff surgery after a tear in there, but have never heard of frozen shoulder. I wish you well, and no surgery!
Hey buddy me and the lads are playing rugby tonight, you about?
Seriously, this all sounds rather gruelling. I hope you mend quickly and that Cora is taking care of you...
Oh, years? Too bad. Hope it wouldn't get that long anyways. Could you easily bend your body or not? And yeah, maybe doing some exercises would pretty help.
Ouch.... I hope it resolves faster than a couple of YEARS!! Glad you are at least getting some range-of-motion back.
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