Is this Frozen shoulder?

gregb75

Hi all,

I have had problems with my shoulders for last twenty years or so.My current issue is with my left shoulder.I have what I can only describe as a feeling of mild sunburn at the top of my shoulder and if someone accidently barges in to me or I brush against a wall it can feel like I've been shot.I can't lift my arm higher than waist height but,and here's the weird thing,I can pick up a heavy bag from the floor with no problems but anything higher I can't do.My GP referred me to physio but the physio won't refer me to a consultant,as he is adamant it's Frozen Shoulder however I'm not convinced.

chiarieds

 - Try & lift (with a straight arm) your arm away from your body, if you struggle to take it higher than at a right angle to your body, or 

- if you can get your arm to a right angle, then bend at your elbow so that's at a right angle to your upper arm with your palm facing your shoulder, then keeping your upper arm in this position let your forearm drop down, then try lifting your forearm back up. If trying this is also painful, which is rotating your shoulder, then it's likely you do indeed have a frozen shoulder

As a retired physio myself, I would expect another to have already identified your problem, as we do see an awful lot of patients with a frozen shoulder! If you haven't already tried this, I'm hoping you find this gentle exercise helpful:

Stand & put the foot of your unaffected side slightly forwards so you have a comfortable base. Lean forwards, letting your affected arm hang. Now swing your arm backwards & forwards within your pain-free arc. Do this gently for a couple of minutes. Next try moving your hand in a comfortable circle first one way, then the other. Gravity thus helps aid movement, & you can increase the range as you progress, always moving your shoulder within your pain-free arc. Don't push through the pain as this just increases the pain cycle. Try this a little & often throughout your day.

Rosie_Scope

Hi @gregb75, looks like Chiarieds has already offered some advice on your issue, but I just wanted to nip in to say hello and welcome to the community! Sorry to hear you've been having problems with your shoulder, I hope you're able to find some relief soon

mrsBB

Hi Chiarieds 

I was interested in the little exercise you suggested above so I tried it to see if it helps with joint pains as well. Anyway it actually felt quite nice, only slight swinging movements as I am seated. However, what is the deafening crunching sound coming from my shoulder lol both when swinging back and again going  forward ? Thank you.