Post Manipulation Pain

Hi! I have had FS manipulation by a great orthopedic surgeon. I was put to sleep, my shouler was manipulated and I also received steroid injections. I didn't even have to go to Physical Therapy. I had a great outcome and continue to be doing well. Don't worry or maybe for your peace of mind get a second opinion. I'd like to know what you end uo doing. Take care. Liz

I had shoulder surgery in Feb 2004. I fell on the shoulder 3 weeks after surgery. I have been going to PT for all this time (not consistently though because its quite painful). The doc says its time to do manipulation. An anesthesiologist will inject me, I have to get in a car and be driven to his office where he will do the mainpulation. Has anyone had this experience? Please send your advice.

Thanks for your reply, it helps to hear other people's timeline for healing. I guess the doctor(s) don't have enough "time" to discuss the range of possibilities. I pretty much had the impression that surgery would take care of everything within a few weeks. Wrong! How is your PT, is it very painful? A lot of people seem to be warning not to go to aggressively or you could reinjure it, my doc told them to be aggressive. I don't mind some pain and being pushed beyond my limits, but the other day it was so bad that I cried for a long time after. I have cancelled subsequent appointments unitl I figure out the next best approach, which may be a new ortho and therapist. In the meantime I am stretching and my husband is massaging it which seems to help.

Thanks for your reply. I'm inspired to switch doctors. How long has it taken you and where are you in the healing process? Does your physical therapy hurt to the point of nausea? Should it? Thanks. Janet.

P.S. I am doing the exercises. Janet.

My MUA (and an arthroscopy for an impingement, an accident that happened in 2002) was this past April. For me, too reaching behind my back was the first thing that was hard back in '02 right after the accident (it was a workers comp case so they were trying to tell me that nothing was really wrong with me & I was really fine). Now it's looking like reaching behind my back is one of the last things I'll get back. It's certainly one of the most painful. Lifting my arm to the side is also difficult. ROM-wise, I can lift it to the front higher than to the side and behind me is worst of all. When I lift both arms to the side, they have me do it in a mirror in physical therapy, and as soon as my FS shoulder starts to rise higher than the non-FS shoulder, I lower the arms and lift again. I do this over and over. Guess this is a pretty standard exercise. It hurts during and then later I really feel it. The goal is to stop having that FS shoulder go up higher than the non-FS shoulder. It's all foreign territory for me. They say it's because I was 'guarding' the hurt shoulder for so long, for going two years without treatment, since the original injury and subsequen frozen shoulder got so severe. Don't you know it -- not long ago I was in an airport and something I wore (probably my shoes) made the sensors go off and they told me to put my arms out and I had to try and explain why I couldn't, explaining adhesive capsulitis 101 to the people there! Now I always remember to wear sneakers. :-) Sophie (in the same boat)

Hi - I thought I would add to the post mua thread. It's been almost 2 montshs since I had MUA ( I think FS started some time in Jan '04). The pain at night gradually subsided and now it mstly doesn't bother me at night - I still have a lot of stretching to do -especially rotating out and behind the back, but very gradually ROM is better, and daytime pain is bearable - but it still hurts to use the mouse but not as much. So overall I think MUA helped, but I might not have said that a month ago.. Susan F.

The last manipulation was 6 weeks ago. Lynn

Hi: Doc has presecribed 5mg oxycotin and 5 mg. hydrocodone. At least I get some sleep that way -and I can work while using them (p.t.office job- glad I don't work 8 hr days!). I've used so much ice I'm going to wear out the ice maker! My husband can get the ice pack in his sleep now! Nothing worked to do the p.t. this time - I just couldn't make any progress or tolerate the backward movement. I just have no strength in the right shoulder and can't get it all of the way behind my back. Upward movement is good. The dr. said the adhestions on this shoulder were so bad he almost broke my arm ...glad he didn't but wonder if I should have waited this time - but 2.5 years is al lot of pain! :You're brave. Sorry you 've had it 2x also! Lynn