Does anyone have shoulder issues? Torn Rotator Cuff/Frozen Shoulder etc

Hi guys

It is well known, that, for some reason, women get more shoulder problems than men - specially around/after the age of 50 ... probably from lifting kids all the time & the laundry, shopping & other stuff ... (tho I never had kids, so can't blame that!)

Over the last 25 years, I've had a procedure done on both my shoulders - the first being manipulation under a block anaesthetic for a severe frozen shoulder, where I couldn't lift my arm above shoulder height & couldn't put it behind my back at all! (It took 6 months of physio/exercises to get it back to normal range of movement.) The 2nd was Acromioplasty, 10 years later - keyhole surgery on the other arm for torn rotator cuff & bicep/frozen shoulder - which took well over a year to get normal range of movement back. At the time, my surgeon said I'd probably be back in 10 years for another procedure .....

Fast forward another 5 years - This time last year I was diagnosed again with torn rotator cuff and frozen shoulder in the original arm (nearly 25 years since the 1st procedure - I was SO lucky it has lasted 'that long' without recurrence!) I tried to get hold of my original surgeon who did both procedures (who was BRILLIANT with shoulders) but sadly, he had retired early last year! :( I put it on the back burner .....

So ... Back to the drawing board ..... At the time, I had a good look at my cupboards to see what may be aggravating the shoulder - and sure enough - a couple of heavy items that I used every day (including my big jar of Vegemite!) - was further away & higher up than they needed to be!

When removing them every morning for breakfast, it put an unusual angle on my left arm, aggravating the shoulder! So ... I rearranged everything in that cupboard, bringing the heavy bits to eye level & immediately to my left, instead of having to reach up & over to get them - so it was MUCH easier to get the heavy bits out - and VOILA! 12 months down the track, I have no pain in the shoulder at all!! YAY! I am hoping it stays this way!

If you are having shoulder issues - check out the placement of stuff in ALL your cupboards (not just the kitchen) and make sure the stuff you use more often, is closer & either at eye level or lower, as picking things up is usually less aggravating to the shoulders than bringing them down from from a distance & higher up!

take care

19 Replies

TanLovering
Member
3 months ago
Oh making the bed is the worst, I thought I could do it and ended up feeling like I'd run a marathon. Wasnt worth it. I've had a frozen shoulder before and I was getting some similar shooting pains over the weekend...I have not seen a physio since all of this happened - will get on to that :)
arpie
Member
3 months ago
With your surgery only being a month ago, @TanLovering, any shoulder difficulty just now may also be a part of your recovery .... If it is Frozen Shoulder, you will surely know about it. Maybe ask to see a Physio - but don't do any heavy weights (at home, that could equate to picking up up kids, dogs & the washing to hang out - or even making the bed!!)

I ended up not being able to wash my hair and even eating & cleaning my teeth was difficult due to my lack of ability to lift my arm anywhere near shoulder height, let alone above.

I had gone along with the GP's recommendations of ultrasound, TENS and even Acupuncture - but all it did was prolong it for months & just made it worse. It is best not to let it go on too long, if it IS frozen shoulder.

take care
TanLovering
Member
3 months ago
Yes! Feels like the start of a frozen shoulder and my joints are all stiff - mainly from my hips down. I was only diagnosed in Nov24, had lump and lymph nodes removed in Dec24 and started zoladex this month to put in into menopause (radiation started next week). Body feels 40 years older than I am at the moment.
cranky_granny
Member
3 months ago
My physio gave me the rubber band to use to free up my shoulder its a lot better than it was. Just been slack lately and have noticed it stiffening up again. Physio said definitely no weight lifting without proper supervision from qualified person. Same with hip and knee issues. Already have damage in the knee so we don’t need to aggravate it.
arpie
Member
4 months ago
Do you have shoulder issues already, @jennyss? Have you been checked out by a specialist?

The range of movement is more important than building strength alone. Sadly, Just doing weight lifting, it is possible to cause tears at the shoulder joint, which is one of the most common shoulder injuries :(

Using a 'bungee' cord type of exercise might be more gentle than lifting weights, I think & would still achieve stretching exercises and strength ... Get checked out by someone who is qualified in 'minimal damage exercise' - not someone who just tells you to do weights & pump hard! ;)

Stick with your gut feelings re the recuperating, @Lesley777 You've seen how 'less' aggressive exercise has helped you in the past .... i only went to the Physio when I 'plateau'd out' and wanted to push thru to the next level.

take care & all the best.
Lesley777
Member
4 months ago
I’ve done weight training for years and believe in the benefits, however, knowing now about RFS I think perhaps I should have stuck to yoga and pilates.
Lesley777
Member
4 months ago

jennyss said:

I have read all your shoulder experiences and comments with interest, as I have recently been including more strength based exercises in my 'routine', including lifting 2kg weights above my head. Maybe I should avoid this and include other exercises instead.
Lesley777
Member
4 months ago
Thanks again Arpie for that additional info. It is interesting what your surgeon said about physio because the guy that did my right shoulder didn’t believe in physio either and I recovered very quickly, diligently doing the exercises he provided. Unfortunately he retired so I’m with someone else who has sent me to a physio, with very slow progress.
jennyss
Member
4 months ago
I have read all your shoulder experiences and comments with interest, as I have recently been including more strength based exercises in my 'routine', including lifting 2kg weights above my head. Maybe I should avoid this and include other exercises instead.
arpie
Member
4 months ago
Trust me @Lesley777 - don't rush it!! You can 'undo' the good & make it harder to get a good recovery. I was diligent with my exercising & didn't over do it - and had (what my surgeon said) was a top 2% result. (ie 98% DIDN'T necessarily have a good. Some didn't do the exercises at all - and had restricted arm movement as a result. Others did too much, too early, resulting in damaging the 'repair'!

My surgeon preferred me NOT to use a physio at all - but to do the exercise routine that he had provided me, at the rate suggested, at home.

Getting full shoulder movement & rotation is the aim of the game.

Common Setbacks During Shoulder Surgery Rehabilitation
Here’s a closer look at three of the most common reasons that people suffer a setback during their recovery after shoulder surgery, and how to avoid these problems.
Too Much, Too Soon – One of the biggest pitfalls to a successful rehabilitation after shoulder surgery is trying to do too much, too soon after your surgery. In many instances, recovery from shoulder surgery is measured in months, not days, so you need to be patient with your rehabilitation and not try to rush back to overly physical activities too soon. The easiest way to do this is to stay within the recommendations and restrictions put forth by your doctor and physical therapists. They know how to help your body adjust to the trauma of surgery and protect structures as they heal. If you believe you’re ready for certain activities that aren’t yet cleared by your care team, run it by them first, otherwise you may damage your surgically-repaired shoulder while it’s in a vulnerable state.
Not Taking PT Seriously – Physical therapy will be the technique that really helps you drive home recovery, and it helps to ward off setbacks, like range of motion limitations or the onset of scar tissue. Most people are willing to participate in physical therapy when they are with the PT in the clinic, but if you’re not doing your home-based exercises, it’s easy to suffer a setback or have a delayed or incomplete recovery. Make sure you are doing your exercises, even when nobody is watching, because that can be the difference in making a full recovery or having lingering shoulder discomfort.
Improper Wound Care – An infection can also jeopardize the integrity of your surgically addressed shoulder, or it can lead to the need for another operation. You need to be mindful about how you clean the incision site and wash the area. Your doctor will give your specific instructions about how to clean your incision site. Typically this includes keeping the incision site dry, not directly scrubbing the area when showering, and not soaking the area in a bath until the wound has closed, but again, your shoulder surgeon will provide you with instructions specific to your procedure. Take wound care seriously, because an infection can have major consequences for your shoulder and your whole body.
If you can keep these three tips in mind, and you can greatly reduce your risk of a setback following a shoulder surgery.