livingnlearning Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 I think I have one frozen shoulder and one that was injured this fall. I have very limited mobility on my shoulders, hurts to wash my hair and putting my hair in a pony tail hurts too much to do. cant' reach above my head, can't reach to the front. difficult to get dressed, ect. I've had it looked at by the urgent care doctor and he gave me some exercises to do but could do nothing else. I do the exercises, it's been nearly a year on my frozen shoulder and it's improved some but not tons, maybe 20%. My hurt shoulder has been bad since about October... Frozen shoulder came on gradually, the hurt shoulder was an injury. gads, my luck. Both present like a torn rotator cuff. DH switched jobs and we won't have health insurance for a few more months and of course I'm leery of having it as a pre-existing condition...but man I really would like the use of my arms back! We really don't have a lot of money for out of pocket expenses right now; I'm getting by ok but of course it could be better. Does anyone have any ideas for me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zookeeper Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 If you could have a massage, that might help some. Then once you can get some relief, start lifting weights! Start small (1 pound if you have to) and work up to about 5 pounds. I've had a bulging cervical disc for a while and have tried so many things. Useless and expensive physical therapy did nothing. I finally found a chiropractor who said I needed to start lifting weights. I can't tell you the difference! I don't have any neck pain at all anymore. I discovered I really LIKE lifting weights! It's been kinda fun seeing my muscles come back to where they're supposed to be. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennsmile Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Find a doctor willing to work a cash discount for you. Explain the situation and see what he/she can do? Maybe a chiropractor to make sure the bones are all aligned properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennsmile Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 If you could have a massage, that might help some. Then once you can get some relief, start lifting weights! Start small (1 pound if you have to) and work up to about 5 pounds. I've had a bulging cervical disc for a while and have tried so many things. Useless and expensive physical therapy did nothing. I finally found a chiropractor who said I needed to start lifting weights. I can't tell you the difference! I don't have any neck pain at all anymore. I discovered I really LIKE lifting weights! It's been kinda fun seeing my muscles come back to where they're supposed to be. :lol: I know when I was in college and lifting weights my back felt awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Short term, I know of a couple of people whose frozen shoulders have been relieved by acupuncture. Long term, I posted several months ago about the rules that apply to pre-existing condition exclusions in group health plans. I am on my phone now, or I would link it, but you can find it easily. I am an employee benefits attorney in my spare time, and the information in that post is still accurate. Much of what people believe about PECEs is incorrect, as the rules have changed a good bit in the last few years. Terri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingnlearning Posted January 3, 2012 Author Share Posted January 3, 2012 thanks-I'll read up on the PECE! I will try adding some weights in my easy movement range and maybe that will help. I am absolutely unable to move my arms in some positions, it doesn't just hurt incredibly bad, it just doesn't GO there... ouch. I was lifting a lot last year and I wonder if I didn't aggrevate something then. I've wondered about accupunture and/or chiro... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negin Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Sorry that you're hurting. :grouphug: Acupuncture is fabulous. :) You can google specific shoulder exercises. EAT MORE Foods Rich in Omega-3s A good fish oil – such as Carlson’s - Take 1000 mg of fish oil Walnuts Chia Seeds Fatty Fish like salmon, tuna, sardines Foods rich in magnesium Almonds Avocado Barley Beans Brazil nuts Brown rice Buckwheat Dark Chocolate Dates Figs Garlic Greens (including Collard Greens and Dandelion Greens) Kelp Molasses Millet Parsley Pecans Rye Sea vegetables (seaweed and kelp – but make sure they come from non-polluted waters and are high-quality) Shrimp Walnuts Whole Grains Wheat bran Wheat germ Eat cherries as often as possible. Consuming 20 a day (about 2000 mg of cherry fruit extract) has been proven to provide more pain relief than aspirin and other painkillers. SUPPLEMENTS Make sure to get a good, high-quality fish oil – such as Carlsons’s. You want to avoid fish oil that may come from polluted sources or that may be high in mercury. Other good brands are Nordic Naturals, Enzymatic Therapy, and Metagenics. Fish Oil is good for your heart partially because it decreases blood clotting and reduces blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, high triglycerides, or other signs of heart disease, 3-5 grams may be helpful. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re taking medications to make sure there are no negative interactions. Fish oils thin the blood just like aspirin, gingko biloba, and garlic. You don’t want to thin your blood so much that it causes bleeding. For all others, 1 gram (1,000 mg) is fine. Stop taking fish oil and any EPA supplements 2 weeks before surgery – as well as possibly avoiding a fish dinner the night before any surgery. Do not take fish oils if you are on any blood thinner. Magnesium Magnesium is a key mineral that many are deficient in. Anything that is tight, irritable, crampy, and stiff -- whether it is a body part or an even a mood -- is a sign of magnesium deficiency. For most people on a healthy diet, 400 mg of Magnesium daily should be sufficient. But for those who have symptoms of deficiency (and most of us are deficient), I would recommend more, but probably no more than 1200 mg. Add in more magnesium gradually. Your body knows how much it can handle according to how much your bowels can tolerate. The stools should feel soft, but not excessively loose. Take in divided doses and with meals to ensure optimal absorption – preferably more at night I have read that it’s preferable to not take magnesium at the same time as calcium. Others say that it’s fine. This is where I am confused. I think the former makes more sense. The most absorbable forms are: Magnesium Citrate Magnesium Glycinate Magnesium Taurate Magnesium Aspartate Magnesium Malate Magnesium Succinate Magnesium Fumirate Avoid: Magnesium Oxide Magnesium Carbonate Magnesium Gluconate Magnesium Sulfate These are not absorbed well and are the cheapest forms Side effects from too much magnesium include diarrhea, which can be avoided if you switch to Magnesium Glycinate. People with kidney disease or severe heart disease should take magnesium only under a doctor's supervision. Boswellia – 300-750 mg 3 times daily with food. Look for a formula standardized to 60 percent boswellic acids. Boswellia has been clinically proven to have strong anti-inflammatory effects. It’s known to reduce congestion and heat in the joints. WHAT TO DO EPSOM SALTS BATH Taking a bath or a foot soak with Epsom salts is one of the best ways to increase the body’s absorption of magnesium. Epsom Salts are Magnesium Sulfate and are easily absorbed by the body. Take a hot bath with up to 2 cups of Epsom salts and 1 cup baking soda (optional) to help draw toxins out of the body. Try to do this once a week, but for no more than 20 minutes. A foot soak can also be very beneficial. Epsom salts are so helpful in bringing relief to: • Arthritis pain, stiffness, soreness, and tightness of joints • Muscle aches, pains and tenderness • Painful bruises, sprains and strains • Pain from over exertion as a result of exercise • Insomnia and Sleep Problems • Stress • Insect Bites and Splinters Tiger Balm is fabulous Shoulder Stretches Get a chair w/good back support. Get up every half hour for 15 seconds. Quick blast of hot, then cold water. First run hot water over your shoulders for 20 seconds, then switch to cold for 10 seconds. Alternate 3 times, always ending with cold. Deep breathing can normalize respiration and ease muscle aches instantly. Place one hand on your belly, below the center of your rib cage, and inhale fully. Hold for a beat, then exhale slowly. You should feel your abdomen move inward, then outward, with each breath. Repeat for 5 minutes, once daily or whenever stress mounts. If you are unsure of the cause of your shoulder pain, or if you do not know the specific treatment recommendations for your condition, you should seek medical attention. Treatment of these conditions must be directed at the specific cause of your problem. Some signs that you should be seen by a doctor include: o Inability to carry objects or use the arm o Injury that causes deformity of the joint o Shoulder pain that occurs at night or while resting o Shoulder pain that persists beyond a few days o Inability to raise the arm o Swelling or significant bruising around the joint or arm o Signs of an infection, including fever, redness, warmth o Any other unusual symptoms Get enough sleep. Your body needs a full night of quality sleep to fight pain. Sniffing lavender oil before sleep can help you. CHIROPRACTIC/MASSAGE – both help immensely with pain Be aware that you should wait for any inflammation to subside before starting either. EXERCISE – Begin with a daily 10-minute walk, take up a gentle yoga class, or try the slow movement of Tai Chi. Water aerobics and swimming help also. Acupuncture helps with all sorts of pain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 i am a community acupuncturist and we offer low cost care for all sorts of ailments, including frozen shoulder. I would try and find a community acupuncturist in your area. They charge sliding scale $15-40 a treatment, and most of my patients pay $25. The best place to find somewhere near you is here https:https://www.pocacoop.com/clinics PM me for more information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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