Frozen Shoulder 6 Months after CRT-D Implant

yep

by ROBO Pop - 2019-12-09 15:37:40

Frozen shoulder isn't an instantaneous thing, it develops over time and as you've learned it can be quite painful and limits your range of motion in the affected arm.

Like you mine slowly developed over a 6 month period after surgery.

My Orthopeadic specialist wanted to do surgery but fortunately I found some great Physical therapists who taught me exercises and in a few months I regained full motion and no pain or knives.

Do your homework and get a second opinion before jumping into drastic treatment.

Thanks Robo

by BarbD - 2019-12-09 16:14:48

Did you get a cortisone shot or just do physical therapy?   The orthopedic doc really recommends both the cortisone and hydrodilation treatment - he said it should help with the pain and speed up recovery - but I'm a little hesitant to do that without just trying physical therapy first.  He said they rarely do surgery for a frozen shoulder. 

Thanks ar-vin

by BarbD - 2019-12-09 16:59:22

What a nightmare to have your other shoulder freeze!    I forgot to ask - did you have any tingling in your hand/fingers with your frozen shoulder?  I'm also getting some tingling in my hand and fingers (especially my pinkie) off and on, especially in the morning. 

Try myofascial release

by Gotrhythm - 2019-12-09 17:26:14

Pacemaker recipients wind up with frozen shoulder all too often.It makes me furious at the cardiologist because it's 100% preventable! 

Far from being told not to move my arm, I was given exercises to begin on day 3 to maintain flexibility in the shoulder. By doing the exercises, I could not-do the things you're not supposed to do, and also avoid frozen shoulder.

The trouble most likely isn't in the shoulder joint itself, which means the cortizone shot is worthless. The trouble is tightening (shortening) of the fascia accross the shoulder, in the arm and even down the ribcage under the arm. It happens when you restrict the movement of any joint. The longer you don't move the worse the tightening.

PT from a good physical therapist can help. Unfortunately, I have never found one of the good ones.

What can fix it (and in less than 2 years) is myofascial release work (a specialized form of massage)--sometimes called deep tissue massage.

Thanks Gotrhythm

by BarbD - 2019-12-09 18:10:46

I will look into myofascial release.  Is there a certain type of practitioner I should look for?  I'm afraid to go to a random massage parlor and have them do more damage than good. I've only had a couple of massages in my life and the therapists didn't seem very knowledgable and barely spoke English so I couldn't communicate with them.

I'm a bit worried about the tingling in my fingers - makes me think it could be a pinched nerve too??  I'm not sure if a frozen shoulder causes tingling as well.

frozen shoulder

by new to pace.... - 2019-12-09 21:58:28

you might look for someone who does accupuncture.  they know how to release the fasica 

Massage

by RedRocksGirl - 2019-12-10 01:09:29

I've been going to a massage therapist since I was about 4 weeks out of having my ICD placed  last January that specializes in peri-operative massage. It's been an incredible help with my shoulder!  Here's a little quote from thier website that explains it:

"We’ve developed a client-centered pre- and post surgical massage treatment to alleviate pain and expedite healing. We call it Peri-operative Therapy. Gentle manual techniques assist in our clients’ surgical rehabilitation process and have proven instrumental to accelerate recovery, soften scar tissue, and reduce swelling and bruising.

Undergoing any surgical procedure means inducing physical trauma. Our specialized and integrated manual post surgical massage techniques utilizes a light, pain-free touch for clients with high post-operative sensitivity."

I'm in Colorado. You might see if you can find a practice that offers this type of massage in your area. They have helped me immensely with my left shoulder and the pec muscles on the left side where my ICD is put in. Their website is soulsticewellness.com , maybe they know of a practice where you are that offers the same services. Personaly, I would hesitate to go to a random massage therapist for it. I feel good knowing that he works with lots of doctors and has experince with other pacemaker patients.

Best of luck to you!  :)

BarbD Myofascial release

by Gotrhythm - 2019-12-10 13:51:21

You are right. Myofascial release is not the "massage parlor where they don't speak English" kind of massage. I doubt if massage done by a competent, licensed massage therapist would do any harm, but it probably wouldn't help much either.

Fortunately, finding someone who is skilled in myofascial release isn't hard. It's not all that new or uncommon. 30 years ago it was sometimes called Rolfing, but that's a brand name. Today, it's a technique known to many therapists and it's just called myofascial release.

All the suggestions for finding a therapist would be worth a try. I see that you are in Mass.--there should be something within driving distance.

If I were you, I'd just start by looking online. Type in myofascial release and see what you get.

Frozen shoulder

by AgentX86 - 2019-12-11 08:41:04

Are you on any "new" drugs (within six months of your frozen shoulder)? I'd been taking Lisinopril for about that long. I stopped it and my shoulder was back to normal within a week or two. It's now on my list of "allergies". They won't prescribe ace inhibitors because of this side effect.

AgentX86

by BarbD - 2019-12-11 10:08:03

The only change in medication was that I switched from lisinopril to entresto about a month before the implant.

Frozen Shoulder Relieved

by Tobieone - 2019-12-24 17:05:07

I was actually on this post to look for A-fib issues and found the posts on Frozen Shoulder.  I had pain in my shoulder starting about 6 months after my surgery (i've had my PM for 3 years now).  I couldn't raise my left arm halfway up, it was so bad.  I went to a specialist and he confirmed FS.  We tried the cortizone shot although he warned me it would most likely not work (a total waste of time).  Then he sent me to a therapist that works with heat and massage along with excercises.  Twice a week for about 3-4 months.  That was a year ago and I now have full range of my shoulder.  The only time I have pain is when I sleep on that side longer than usual.   Totally worth seeing a therapist.