Frozen shoulder.....

hummingbyrd · December 2003

Hey rizzo, how long have you had a frozen shoulder? Anybody else have this?
hummer

rizzo15 · December 2003

My frozen shoulder started in August 2003. Sadly, I had a bicycle accident and the biggest point of impact was the shoulder on the same side as the breast cancer. This happened during the second week of my radiation therapy treatments. 50% of the time frozen shoulder starts without a specific injury event...people over 50 (like me) and those with diabetes (also like me) have a slightly greater predisposition towards this condition. Despite going to physical therapy and being prescribed a lot of vikodin, it may take a good 2 years for this to resolve itself. On a pain scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst...I've got to say that this frozen shoulder thing has been about a 7. All the chemo, radiation, surgery, etc., associated with my locally advanced breast cancer has been about a 3. The doctors keep treating the shoulder problem as a completely independent medical event, but then they keep adding that all the breast cancer treatment has certainly has a major impact on my overall health and rate of recovery.

P.S. A couple weeks ago I got a clean 3-month checkup with my chemo therapy oncologist and the surgeon. It turns out that my conscious attempt to watch what I eat is having good results. I stopped taking Zocor for high cholesterol last summer because they thought it had something to do with my losing my sense of taste for 6 weeks. As it turns out, my blood tests over the past 6 months are showing that my cholesterol levels are below low normal without Zocor. So now they are saying that I can stop taking Zocor altogether. I guess sometimes the body can heal itself with a little help.

rizzo15 · December 2003

Hummingbyrd. Update to the frozen shoulder (adhesive encapsulitis) stuff. I was referred to an orthopedic surgeon yesterday. Unlike my family practice and radiation oncologist, he is saying that there is a well-known correlation between breast cancer treatments and frozen shoulder where you lose range in motion in one or both arms, accompanied by excruciating pain. He is saying a significant number of women develop frozen shoulder after breast cancer treatment. Believe me, I have done all the daily arm exercises prescribed by surgeon and my physical therapist...the orthopedic surgeon says frozen shoulder could not have been prevented by exercise. He also says that it is thought that the lymph node and mastectomy surgeries and radiation treatments all cause scar and excess adhesive tissue to build up. We will try 3x per week physical therapy first that involves primarily passive (not active) exercise. If that doesn't work then we move onto cortisone injections, manipulation of shoulder joint under anesthesia, then orthoscopic surgery. Thank God he says that he only uses surgery as a very, very last resort (even though he is a surgeon by trade)!!

Anyhow. As a sidebar, he mentioned that he wished he could prescribe better pain relief than Vikodin, but unfortunately since I must take Coumadin to keep my chemo port open, he can't prescribe more effective and longer-lasting pain relief such as Viox or Celebrex prescriptions. He says those "better" drugs can cause stomach ulcers. If that happens, then in combination with my Coumadin medication, he says he would not be able to stop the bleeding and he can't take that chance. Interesting!!

jake10 · January 2004

I've had problems with my uneffected side. At first I thought it was just painful because I was using it more and favoring the affected side. But it has continued and now I am loosing some strength in the arm as well. When I attempt to raise my arm I get a feeling of something pulling through my underarm. The pain is ussually associated with exertion of the arm rather then any particular range of motion point. Come to think of it mine sounds like whole nother problem. Thanks for letting my work it out though. (LOL) Beth

hummingbyrd · January 2004

rizzo15 said:
Hummingbyrd. Update to the frozen shoulder (adhesive encapsulitis) stuff. I was referred to an orthopedic surgeon yesterday. Unlike my family practice and radiation oncologist, he is saying that there is a well-known correlation between breast cancer treatments and frozen shoulder where you lose range in motion in one or both arms, accompanied by excruciating pain. He is saying a significant number of women develop frozen shoulder after breast cancer treatment. Believe me, I have done all the daily arm exercises prescribed by surgeon and my physical therapist...the orthopedic surgeon says frozen shoulder could not have been prevented by exercise. He also says that it is thought that the lymph node and mastectomy surgeries and radiation treatments all cause scar and excess adhesive tissue to build up. We will try 3x per week physical therapy first that involves primarily passive (not active) exercise. If that doesn't work then we move onto cortisone injections, manipulation of shoulder joint under anesthesia, then orthoscopic surgery. Thank God he says that he only uses surgery as a very, very last resort (even though he is a surgeon by trade)!!

Anyhow. As a sidebar, he mentioned that he wished he could prescribe better pain relief than Vikodin, but unfortunately since I must take Coumadin to keep my chemo port open, he can't prescribe more effective and longer-lasting pain relief such as Viox or Celebrex prescriptions. He says those "better" drugs can cause stomach ulcers. If that happens, then in combination with my Coumadin medication, he says he would not be able to stop the bleeding and he can't take that chance. Interesting!!

Thanks for the update. Range of motion is SLOWLY increasing, pain not quite as bad, but on occassion I've got the market cornered on the excruciating pain statement!
I think mine is a result of radiation. As for exercise what's helped me the most is this passive range of motion. Bend over at hips, let arm hang down (straight if possible THAT was the first milestone) now swing arm like a pendulum...front to back 10 x's, side to side 10 x's, then in circle (wax on/wax off...sue now/sue later) LOL.
Seems my arm broke during radiation as evidenced by Dec 1st x-ray, kept complaining to doc of pain, finally went to ER 12-20-03 where fracture was diagnosed. Went back to see rad onc 12-22, he pulls up x-ray and says, "Oh yeah, here it is, you can see fracture on Dec 1st films."
Thanks doc! I've been doing range of motion and light (1#) weights for 3 weeks TRYING to work through this 'frozen shoulder'. H*ll it's broke, no wonder I have excruciating pain!
Ahhh, thanks for letting me vent ladies.
Gotta Praise the Lord for all this though, cause on x-ray, the tumor is gone!
God bless! hummb

hummingbyrd · January 2004

jake10 said:
I've had problems with my uneffected side. At first I thought it was just painful because I was using it more and favoring the affected side. But it has continued and now I am loosing some strength in the arm as well. When I attempt to raise my arm I get a feeling of something pulling through my underarm. The pain is ussually associated with exertion of the arm rather then any particular range of motion point. Come to think of it mine sounds like whole nother problem. Thanks for letting my work it out though. (LOL) Beth

Now that you've 'worked' it through, be sure and see your doc about it.
(((HUGS))) hummer

topcatmarie · January 2004

rizzo15 said:
Hummingbyrd. Update to the frozen shoulder (adhesive encapsulitis) stuff. I was referred to an orthopedic surgeon yesterday. Unlike my family practice and radiation oncologist, he is saying that there is a well-known correlation between breast cancer treatments and frozen shoulder where you lose range in motion in one or both arms, accompanied by excruciating pain. He is saying a significant number of women develop frozen shoulder after breast cancer treatment. Believe me, I have done all the daily arm exercises prescribed by surgeon and my physical therapist...the orthopedic surgeon says frozen shoulder could not have been prevented by exercise. He also says that it is thought that the lymph node and mastectomy surgeries and radiation treatments all cause scar and excess adhesive tissue to build up. We will try 3x per week physical therapy first that involves primarily passive (not active) exercise. If that doesn't work then we move onto cortisone injections, manipulation of shoulder joint under anesthesia, then orthoscopic surgery. Thank God he says that he only uses surgery as a very, very last resort (even though he is a surgeon by trade)!!

Anyhow. As a sidebar, he mentioned that he wished he could prescribe better pain relief than Vikodin, but unfortunately since I must take Coumadin to keep my chemo port open, he can't prescribe more effective and longer-lasting pain relief such as Viox or Celebrex prescriptions. He says those "better" drugs can cause stomach ulcers. If that happens, then in combination with my Coumadin medication, he says he would not be able to stop the bleeding and he can't take that chance. Interesting!!

Hi Rizzo15,
I'm new to this site. I had a double masectomy with reconstruction in February 2003. I was doing the excercises to increase range of motion, but I wasn't able to raise my arms very high. My reconstructive doctor referred my to a registered medical massage therapist who works with breast cancer patients. After just one session I was amazed at my increased range of motion and decrease in pain. I've contined the sessions once a week for seven months. Now I do every other week. The doctor and massage therapist explained it helps keep scar tissue from building up, keeps the lymph flowing, helps blood circulation and range of motion. All I know is it worked for me. If you are interested, please be sure to get a registered medical massage therapist, which is different from just a registered massage therapist. I'm praying for you.
topcatmarie

bimbo7729 · April 2017

frozen shoulder

I have a frozen shoulder that the therapist failed to treat with manual therapy, then they dismissed me with a sheet of paper and stated do these at home and the chemo caused it. I had a double mastectomy and went to medical school and I am certain the scar tissue from the mastectomy and a previous frozen shoulder were the cause. The therapist also refused to perform scar massage. I needed to be able to drive to Nashville for an oncology apt and could not. Finally the massage person found a chiropractor to help with my frozen shoulder. It is sad that all want to pass the buck. Do they think that cancers causes one to be stupid. I think it is the other way around!

Rague · April 2017

Very old Thread

This is a VERY old thread that had not been posted on until your post,for over 13 yrs. None of those who had posted on,it back then have been to the Site since 2008.

Rague · April 2017

OOPS!

OOPS - Dreaded double post!

Apaugh · April 2017

well here it is and it is still relevent

I have a bad shoulder too. I thought they may have dropped me in surgery and just did not want to admit it. It hurts and locks up and aches. I just keep working it. I am dealing with so much right now I just dont mention it to the doc. I dont know if I can take anymore right now. Thanks for opening this one back up.

disneyfan2008 · April 2017

I had frozen shoulder years

I had frozen shoulder years ago, for about 18mths with therapy and Manipulation-but from being rear eneded and shoulder suegery. NOT from anything meidcal.

Denise

CornellDeville · January 21

Interesting info. My wife had a mastectomy on the right side 4 years ago. She has a new tumor near the collarbone (on the right side) and her shoulder pain is usually a 10 out of 10. Plus she has developed lymphedema in her right arm recently. The dr said the lymphedema is due to the cancer tumor pressing on the lymph vessels. Range of motion is limited.

Frozen shoulder.....

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