Frozen Shoulder?

[Guardian]

Anyway, I want to thank Laura and Psyche for making this information available. I don't know where else I would have ever found out about this - I doubt that any doctor I would go to would have heard of it.

It's also a lesson to me in how valuable networking can be - information you provide has more influence than you might imagine!

True that!!! I have a friend who's a massage therapist, and after seeing how well the tape works for me, she's learning all about the techniques and using them on other people. No telling how many of her healer friends she'll turn on to the taping methods.

Hey Tendrini...have you gotten to the DMSO thread yet? It's some amazing stuff too.

 

[Gaby]

It's also a lesson to me in how valuable networking can be - information you provide has more influence than you might imagine!

Networking works! I'm happy to hear that your pain went away

 

[Nawd]

How strange. Several years ago, I would get this 'frozen shoulder' pain. It felt as if I had 'popped a socket', so I would try in vain to 'pop it back into place.' Eventually, months later, it eased and finally went away completly, however I had to restrict movement almost entirely on that side (getting help to do delicate tasks like bras lol), and sleep on the opposite shoulder at night, waking myself up just to turn so I wouldn't disturb what I was hoping, was a healing shoulder. I sure wish I had known about the tape!

 

[Gwenllian]

I have ordered the book, as I am beginning to develop a frozen shoulder. I had a psychosomatic fysical therapist look at it. I cannot use my left arm very well anymore. For the time being I have opted for haptonomy and psychosomatic physical therapy and homeopathy, just to see how it goes.
I have been given Ruta C30 and it seems to bring some relief, although my muscles are still protesting.
Old trauma that I couldn't touch beforehand is slowly coming to the surface (it was blocked before by my dealings with my ex, the vampire), but I seem to tense up at the same time? Lots of anxiety, outrage and grief accompany the tensing of the muscles in my arms, back, head and neck, also in my legs which I have never experienced before.

http://haptonomy.org/va/generalPublic/haptonomy.html

edit: spelling

 

[Gwenllian]

I just found a website where the prices of elastic tape are a bit more amenable, OSIT.

http://www.bestelkinesiotape.nl/

They state on their website that their tapes were tested and researched, also by physical therapists and doctors from Germany, Holland, Italy, Belgium, Norway and Denmark.

BTW, the book was an interesting read. I will use some quotes in a thread that I recently started (does pain from childhood get stored in the body, or something similar).

 

[dantem]

Had this 'frozen shoulder' just two weeks ago... it was hurting really bad! Never had anything like that, so it may be my 40's, lol, or gluten contamination, or just some bad and stressful working days in a row.

The very tip of my left shoulder was inflamed like hell, I could barely wear a t-shirt. I was about to order a tape when it started to subside after the 5th day. Going again for NAC + ALA + Vit C in major doses helped a lot it seems. Me thinks also that the diet contributed a lot to extinguish the fire, and an hour more of sleep every night too, thought it was difficult to get asleep when one side/posture was verboten

I've massaged it a lot, then stretching every day in the less painful directions - lifting the arm by the left-side and up was painful at best, impossible I would add.

What a relief after it was gone!!!

 

[Gwenllian]

Had this 'frozen shoulder' just two weeks ago... it was hurting really bad! Never had anything like that, so it may be my 40's, lol, or gluten contamination, or just some bad and stressful working days in a row.

The very tip of my left shoulder was inflamed like hell, I could barely wear a t-shirt. I was about to order a tape when it started to subside after the 5th day. Going again for NAC + ALA + Vit C in major doses helped a lot it seems. Me thinks also that the diet contributed a lot to extinguish the fire, and an hour more of sleep every night too, thought it was difficult to get asleep when one side/posture was verboten

I've massaged it a lot, then stretching every day in the less painful directions - lifting the arm by the left-side and up was painful at best, impossible I would add.

What a relief after it was gone!!!

That is good to know, dantem. :)

Maybe I will try NAC and ALA, too. ATM, I am taking MSM and vit. C, but maybe I will have to increase the dose. I used DMSO and am now using the medical tape, however little relief. I also used comfrey and a homeopathic remedy called rhus toxicodendron C30. The pain and stiffness persists. Although I do try to stretch my arms and do other exercises and you are right it can be pretty impossible.

 

[dantem]

That is good to know, dantem. :)

Maybe I will try NAC and ALA, too. ATM, I am taking MSM and vit. C, but maybe I will have to increase the dose. I used DMSO and am now using the medical tape, however little relief. I also used comfrey and a homeopathic remedy called rhus toxicodendron C30. The pain and stiffness persists. Although I do try to stretch my arms and do other exercises and you are right it can be pretty impossible.

You're welcome, Mariama :)
Fast recovery to you!!

 

[Gwenllian]

Yesterday I visited my physical therapist who told me of the importance to keep using the frozen shoulder. Not that I should push it. So I have started doing some exercises. Also, I am going to use the medical tape again.
I do not sleep so well now, because my shoulder and arm are bothering me quite a bit. During the day there are hardly any problems.
The good news is that the shoulder capsule (?) is not stuck together (don't know how to put this). So after one treatment I could use my shoulder and arm so much better.
I do think that the medical tape must have helped. Also, the fact that I kept using my arm, although not enough.

 

[Bernhard]

Some good suggestions on this thread, especially the medical taping, which I'm also just getting into (thanks to Laura).

What I wanted to add is how massage, especially deep bodywork can help relief and heal a frozen shoulder. As a massage therapist I know some great techniques that I have used on some clients who suffered from frozen shoulder.

Just a couple of weeks ago I worked on a women who hardly could move her arm and was in much pain. The whole session I worked on her upper body with focus on the rotator cuff of the frozen shoulder. After the session she was able to move the arm full range without pain and the frozen shoulder hasn't come back since. Not all cases can be healed in one session. Sometimes it takes 2 or more sessions and sometimes it doesn't go back to full function but there as has been definitely improvement in range of motions and less pain. However, most people I worked on who suffered from frozen shoulder were healed completely over a range of sessions.

The rotator cuff consists of the Supraspinatus muscle, Infraspinatus muscle, Teres minor muscle and Subscapularis muscle.
These are the muscles I focus on if someone is suffering from frozen shoulder. I especially found that working on the Infraspinatus and Subscapularis helps to get the arm/shoulder moving again. However, all muscles of the rotator cuff should be worked on, going cross-fiber and along the fiber of each muscle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotator_cuff

This is deep work and can be "painful" at first, resulting in "tingling" down the arm because of the nerves being pinched and it can shoot up to the spine/head. This is normal and if done correctly doesn't injure the tissue/muscle.
Here's a video of my teacher I studied with where he demonstrates two strokes addressing the Infraspinatus:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11hNtXl5kdc&feature=relmfu

Doing this work should only be done by a professional bodyworker and I don't recommend someone to do it who is not trained in deep bodywork. Meaning, don't show this video to a friend and then let him/her work on you. Anatomical knowledge and bodywork experience is a must, for it requires much sensitivity to work on this area with all the little muscles and tendons.

Maybe anyone who is suffering from frozen shoulder can look for a massage therapist in their area who can do this work. It's VERY beneficial and should be sought out before considering doing surgery. Some cases are very severe, so surgery is the only way out so to speak, but it should be the last option, for most cases can be treated without cutting the shoulder open.

I think combining deep massage and followed up with medical taping can even increase the healing process. I'm getting into medical taping right now and will also incorporate it into my work and educate my clients about it.

The LAST thing you want to do with "frozen shoulder" is exercise!

I agree and very important! I've noticed that some people and clients I worked on were so eager to heal their frozen shoulder that they think they must "do" something about it like stretching or any other form of physical exercise to "force" the shoulder to move again. That just makes things worse. The body knows how to heal itself if given the right treatment, like massage and taping. Doing less is more applies to the situation, even after a massage session.

Fwiw, I also started a thread about Massage and Bodywork, describing different modalities and so forth: http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,29359.0.html

 

[Gwenllian]

Some good suggestions on this thread, especially the medical taping, which I'm also just getting into (thanks to Laura).

What I wanted to add is how massage, especially deep bodywork can help relief and heal a frozen shoulder. As a massage therapist I know some great techniques that I have used on some clients who suffered from frozen shoulder.

Just a couple of weeks ago I worked on a women who hardly could move her arm and was in much pain. The whole session I worked on her upper body with focus on the rotator cuff of the frozen shoulder. After the session she was able to move the arm full range without pain and the frozen shoulder hasn't come back since. Not all cases can be healed in one session. Sometimes it takes 2 or more sessions and sometimes it doesn't go back to full function but there as has been definitely improvement in range of motions and less pain. However, most people I worked on who suffered from frozen shoulder were healed completely over a range of sessions.

The rotator cuff consists of the Supraspinatus muscle, Infraspinatus muscle, Teres minor muscle and Subscapularis muscle.
These are the muscles I focus on if someone is suffering from frozen shoulder. I especially found that working on the Infraspinatus and Subscapularis helps to get the arm/shoulder moving again. However, all muscles of the rotator cuff should be worked on, going cross-fiber and along the fiber of each muscle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotator_cuff

This is deep work and can be "painful" at first, resulting in "tingling" down the arm because of the nerves being pinched and it can shoot up to the spine/head. This is normal and if done correctly doesn't injure the tissue/muscle.
Here's a video of my teacher I studied with where he demonstrates two strokes addressing the Infraspinatus:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11hNtXl5kdc&feature=relmfu

Doing this work should only be done by a professional bodyworker and I don't recommend someone to do it who is not trained in deep bodywork. Meaning, don't show this video to a friend and then let him/her work on you. Anatomical knowledge and bodywork experience is a must, for it requires much sensitivity to work on this area with all the little muscles and tendons.

Maybe anyone who is suffering from frozen shoulder can look for a massage therapist in their area who can do this work. It's VERY beneficial and should be sought out before considering doing surgery. Some cases are very severe, so surgery is the only way out so to speak, but it should be the last option, for most cases can be treated without cutting the shoulder open.

I think combining deep massage and followed up with medical taping can even increase the healing process. I'm getting into medical taping right now and will also incorporate it into my work and educate my clients about it.

The LAST thing you want to do with "frozen shoulder" is exercise!

I agree and very important! I've noticed that some people and clients I worked on were so eager to heal their frozen shoulder that they think they must "do" something about it like stretching or any other form of physical exercise to "force" the shoulder to move again. That just makes things worse. The body knows how to heal itself if given the right treatment, like massage and taping. Doing less is more applies to the situation, even after a massage session.

Fwiw, I also started a thread about Massage and Bodywork, describing different modalities and so forth: http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,29359.0.html

Thank you very much for this information, Spiral Out.

Does that mean I shouldn't use my arm and shoulder? My physical therapist told me to do exercises and I did them once and then stopped. But I do use my arm and shoulder, because I was told that if I don't the problems will get worse. I also involve my left arm and shoulder when I am doing yoga exercises before EE, but carefully.
Bit by bit it is getting better, but very slowly. The pain is less severe, which is great. I can stretch more, but I still can't move my arm in a certain direction or with great difficulty.
I can't tell exactly what helps or not. ATM I am using medical tape again, just to give my body some support.

 

[Bernhard]

Does that mean I shouldn't use my arm and shoulder? My physical therapist told me to do exercises and I did them once and then stopped. But I do use my arm and shoulder, because I was told that if I don't the problems will get worse. I also involve my left arm and shoulder when I am doing yoga exercises before EE, but carefully.
Bit by bit it is getting better, but very slowly. The pain is less severe, which is great. I can stretch more, but I still can't move my arm in a certain direction or with great difficulty.
I can't tell exactly what helps or not. ATM I am using medical tape again, just to give my body some support.

Using your arm is fine. I didn't mean to imply that you shouldn't move/use you arm at all, just within limits. The thing with exercises is that it can be sometimes for better or worse depending on each specific case (how severe the frozen shoulder is) and what kind of exercise is being done. It's hard for me to give you advice in that matter without having seen your arm/shoulder and worked on it a bit (so I can feel where the issue is, what muscles are affected in particular, etc. ).

I don't agree with what some of the physical therapists are doing out there as I've seen with my clients. For that reason I rather suggested no exercise than the "wrong exercise" or "too much", however using your arm in your every day life is fine as long as it it not forced and involves pain. It certainly shouldn't be still like if you had a broken arm. Movement is important. If you have good body awareness and do your yoga then you can gently "play" with it a bit, but never try to "force" it. Out of my experience most people tend to do too much, but again, each situation is specific and it seems you are careful about it. As you said, bit by bit, with patience. Is there a possibility for you to look for a massage therapist who could work on your shoulder a bit? Seems to me the next step if you don't feel any improvement.

 

[Gwenllian]

Does that mean I shouldn't use my arm and shoulder? My physical therapist told me to do exercises and I did them once and then stopped. But I do use my arm and shoulder, because I was told that if I don't the problems will get worse. I also involve my left arm and shoulder when I am doing yoga exercises before EE, but carefully.
Bit by bit it is getting better, but very slowly. The pain is less severe, which is great. I can stretch more, but I still can't move my arm in a certain direction or with great difficulty.
I can't tell exactly what helps or not. ATM I am using medical tape again, just to give my body some support.

Using your arm is fine. I didn't mean to imply that you shouldn't move/use you arm at all, just within limits. The thing with exercises is that it can be sometimes for better or worse depending on each specific case (how severe the frozen shoulder is) and what kind of exercise is being done. It's hard for me to give you advice in that matter without having seen your arm/shoulder and worked on it a bit (so I can feel where the issue is, what muscles are affected in particular, etc. ).

I don't agree with what some of the physical therapists are doing out there as I've seen with my clients. For that reason I rather suggested no exercise than the "wrong exercise" or "too much", however using your arm in your every day life is fine as long as it it not forced and involves pain. It certainly shouldn't be still like if you had a broken arm. Movement is important. If you have good body awareness and do your yoga then you can gently "play" with it a bit, but never try to "force" it. Out of my experience most people tend to do too much, but again, each situation is specific and it seems you are careful about it. As you said, bit by bit, with patience. Is there a possibility for you to look for a massage therapist who could work on your shoulder a bit? Seems to me the next step if you don't feel any improvement.

Thank you so much, Spiral Out. :)

My shoulder is improving bit by bit, albeit slowly. I think I will call the physical therapist and cancel my next appointment. She is a bit too keen when it comes to exercise. And I will call a massage therapist. What you propose definitely sounds better. My shoulder is liking it. ;)

 

[gottathink]

I am a massage therapist also and agree 100% with Spiral Out. Movement within pain limits should be encouraged , movement that creates pain generally to be avoided but not always. May I also suggest the importance of releasing the pectoralis major and minor and serratus anterior, latissimus Dorsi, rhomboids and levator scapula, trapezius, subclavicular. All muscles attaching to the shoulder. I say this because sometimes if your rotator cuff still won't ease off the alignment is being thrown out by other muscles. If still not 100% improved then further work through the arms, hips and legs may be needed as tension in the body can be anchored else where. Hope this is also helpful, main point is a skilled massage therapist in most cases of Frozen Shoulder ought to be able to help.

 

[knowledge_of_self]

How weird! I also had Frozen Shoulder about a month ago! It came out of nowhere suddenly and I could barely lift my arm it hurt so bad. I lessened the pain with arnica oil/DMSO and different herbal balms and neema helped wonders by massaging them in for me. I wish I had known about this thread then, but I didn't even know what to look for because I didn't know it was called "Frozen Shoulder". I just googled "sholder pain" and nothing came up except using home herbal remedies like arnica and go get x-rayed general advice. lol. Well it's all better now, thank god!