Frozen Shoulder?

[DJR1]

I am suffering from a frozen shoulder and looking into this I am finding that this is common in post menopausal hypothyroid women. I have not seen this problem mentioned on the forum and I am curious to know if it is a feature. I have Hashimoto ‘s and other autoimmune issues which may be a factor. I am learning this can be a long term problem and can take from 18 months - 5 years to resolve. The pain and limited movement is not good. If you have this and have any advice please let me know.

[Marz]

healthunlocked.com/search/f...

The above link takes you to over 200 posts discussing this problem. I also posted a few days ago about shoulders

So are you being optimally treated for your thyroid and maybe have VitD and B12 checked - if you have done so already then do post your results with ranges.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[DJR1 in reply to Marz]

Goodness I missed your post two days ago. I have just got good TFT results after being under treated by my GP for a number of years. Started NDT 4 months ago and my health has improved.

February 2018

TSH 0.04. T4 14 (10-25) T3 6.1 (4-6.8)

July 2017

My Vit D 70 (50-200)

B12. 350 (140-724)

I have been supplementing with Vit D3 drops 4000 iu daily

And Methyl Folguard drops (Methylfolate and Vit B12) 400 micrograms each daily

And general B complex

I am waiting for more detailed NHS tests from February but after 9 weeks the NHS Consultant has still not done the letter with the results! Still waiting for updated antibodies etc as these have been high. Have also been gluten free for three months.

Interesting to see acupuncture mentioned in s previous post. I am off to see sports physio/ chiropractor tomorrow as the problem is worsening.

[Marz in reply to DJR1]

Hope you find some answers soon - pain is so debilitating. I have joint pains in hips and shoulders and can track the pain/inflammation along the muscles and tendons spreading out from the joints. Gut inflammation can be a source of joint problems so being GF may help.

I recently saw an Orthopaedic guy here in Crete who thrust his head in his hands when I mentioned Hashi's and Crohns 😊

My physio gives me Acupuncture to reduce inflammation. A friend gives me a regular massage and I teach yoga twice a week. It all helps to keep things moving and to maintain good lymphatic drainage for the removal of toxins ...

Forgot to mention - I think you should increase your B12. I inject weekly to help with nerve pain.

[Avidreader in reply to Marz]

I too had pain in left shoulder shortly after starting nature Throid (after 24 years on levothyroxine) now I have a frozen right shoulder ! very painful & now also sweeling on right upper are (can see a ring of purplish bruising about 4 inches diametre! I'm on AIP diet - take vits - having the medichecks bloods done soon- I take 3 grains of Nature Throid- taking higher didn't suit- but I do start to tire about 3.30pm onwards.

[Marz in reply to Avidreader]

How is your VitD - ? Winter is on its way 😊

[Avidreader in reply to Marz]

I don’t see how I can add my photo of bloods here ?

[Avidreader in reply to Marz]

105 by Medichecks Vit D 🤔

My Inflammation markers are high

[Marz in reply to Avidreader]

VitD looks good if the measurement was in pmol/L ...

[Avidreader in reply to Marz]

I travel for work to Africa a lot probably that’s why xx thank you -

[Marz in reply to Avidreader]

I have lived in Crete since 2004 and tested insufficient after a few years. I still supplement to maintain levels.

Probably as we age everything slows !!

[Avidreader in reply to Marz]

I am 60 x

[Marz in reply to Avidreader]

A babe

[Avidreader in reply to Marz]

CRP 8.22

[Marz in reply to Avidreader]

Looks highish - do you have the range as labs do vary ...

[Avidreader in reply to Marz]

I’ve put my bloods up in a new Avid Reader post - please look when you get time ? My shoulders are excruciating 😖 I feel so frustrated to have tasted good health & energy after 24 years on Levothyroxine- yet now so quickly it seems to be fading again on NDT -

[Avidreader in reply to Marz]

😊sorry I keep answering in dribs n drabs - every time I go to look at my blood test it takes me off ! Cant see how to attach a jpg of bloods here - on my phone

[DJR1 in reply to Avidreader]

You need to do a new post to attach a photo.

[Avidreader in reply to DJR1]

Have put my new post up with my photo of bloods - xx

[bantam12]

My shoulder has been frozen for over a year now and I'm pretty sure the other one is going. I'm having treatment but so far nothing has helped, next step is either surgery or live with it.

Have you had a scan and seen an Orthopaedic doc or specialist physio ?

[DJR1 in reply to bantam12]

Oh my goodness! I am sorry to hear that. The pain is debilitating and inconvenient when trying to get clothes on and off etc. I have not seen the GP as he is useless and still annoyed that I got an Endo referral from another hospital consultant after he had refused to refer for 2 yrs. I am only allowed to see the registered GP.

I can feel the taut tendons/muscles all around the shoulder and upper left arm. I am sure it is frozen shoulder and not calcification. The physio has done a lot in shoulder dysfunction so I see her tomorrow. I have seen a number of good reports about acupuncture. May try this. I do worry it may go to the other shoulder as I have muscle pains there occasionally. I can’t cope with two!

[bantam12 in reply to DJR1]

I've had acupuncture, 3 steroid injections, massage, manipulation, ultrasound treatment, nothing has helped.

You do need a proper assessment and diagnosis because the problem may not be frozen shoulder, symptoms of impingement, tendon tears, arthritis can all be very similar.

[DJR1 in reply to bantam12]

Oh dear that sounds awful I have been told they do resolve on their own eventually. I hope it sorts itself out.

[bantam12 in reply to DJR1]

No guarantee it will get better on its own and many people are left with reduced range of movement, 5-10 years with symptoms is not uncommon.

[DJR1 in reply to bantam12]

Update: shoulder is as good as new after cortisone injection and great physiotherapy. Think I had a few issues with tendon tears etc. Recommend getting a good physio assessment, scans and injection and see how it goes

[bantam12 in reply to DJR1]

That's good news, you are lucky it worked.

I've had scans, x-rays, 3 injections, physio, manipulation and just about everything else, all done by an Orthopaedic specialist physio, my only option left is surgery but I'm putting that off for now.

I hope you continue to be pain free.

[Avidreader in reply to DJR1]

mine has gone to both

[Avidreader in reply to DJR1]

I completely agree the pain is awful - I’ve had 2 broken legs & have a metal knee from riding accident so I have a high pain threshold & this makes me cry out - shoulder clicks and I have a round corals if dark bruising in upper right arm -

[spongecat]

Frozen shoulder (aka adhesive capsulitis).....horrible.

Was part of my pre-hypothyroid diagnosis "welcome pack"

All I did was reach forward to turn on a bath tap and I was practically floored by a pain that felt like a red hot needle shoved into my shoulder joint. Couldn't wash my hair or put on deodorant with my left arm (I'm left handed too!), open cupboards and get out stuff....loads of things. It was so sore and really got me down. Couldn't raise my arm anywhere near parallel.

Saw my nice GP who sent me to the in-house physio who gave me these exercises.......

sports-health.com/treatment...

Yes, some people have the intra-articular injections and my GP started looking a little keen because it's one of his specialities and I told him "No, not at the moment thanks. I'll wait it out".

There is also manipulation under general anaesthetic. You soon see why a GA is given if you see any YouTube videos of this...it's absolutely brutal!

Some people have tried acupuncture but I have no experience of that. Or you just ride the wretched thing out. For me it took around 8-9 months. Very slowly my range of movement improved and then one day it was gone......poof!..............and the other shoulder kicked off, lol! By this time, a few weeks later I had other things going on such as gout in my toes and it was then that it was discovered that I had high TSH. Once I was started on levo the second frozen shoulder never really motored up to maximum and just fizzled out in a matter of weeks. Good riddance foul beastie!

You have my sympathy it's ghastly. Fortunately sympathetic hubby took over all the stuff like changing the bed linen and other household stuff, bless him whilst I perservered with the exercises, they do help and lots of comforting hot water bottles cool/warm pads.

[Tatty10]

Hi I totally sympathise with you just after having my thyroidectomy I started with an ache in my upper left arm and then after a couple of weeks terrible pain in my shoulder diagnosed with frozen shoulder the pain almost unbearable I had cortisone injections and tried to do exercises after almost 2 years the pain subsided and I am now ok I did ask my gp if there was any connection with thyroid problems and frozen shoulder and he said absolutely not. Then again I don't have much faith in my doctor as I was told the mole I had was nothing to worry about and 6 months later has now been removed and diagnosed as a malignant melanoma

[DJR1 in reply to Tatty10]

So many people on here with shoulder problems and literature coming up with links to thyroid issues. I hope you remain well and have a better GP now

[Avidreader]

Me too 😝my left shoulder got worse after starting NDT a Nature Throid ( about 3 months in ) now my right shoulder is excruciating- ( 1 year now ) & neck very stiff - left shoulder not so bad but still bit painful - odd as my leg weakness improved soo much after changing from Levothyroxine to Nature Throid ( but the arm weakness stayed the same ) the pain is affecting my sleep badly - I take Magnesium & also a Magnesium topical rub - and CBD oil with turmeric ( that helps but I have to take again about 3am ) first dose at bedtime - it’s made me a bit down TBH as I was doing so well - 😩 intake 3 grains of NDT - physio / massage no help - ouch 😝