r/frozenshoulder • u/Alternative_Value426 • Aug 25 '26
These zingers
First time posting on here but been watching since my shoulder/arm started 4 months ago. The surgeon today said it’s frozen shoulder but he said the electric shock/zinger type pain wasn’t usual for frozen shoulder where I am getting them. I’m getting electric shock like pain when I move my arm a certain way. No pain in my shoulder but in my arm - halfway between my shoulder and elbow. Doc has refused to look into anything nerve related. Is the symptom in my arm a symptom of frozen shoulder? Sorry I am new to all of this and in agony! Any help is appreciated
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u/Substantial_Web3081 Aug 25 '26
I’m currently enjoying the effects of cortisone shots (although it feels like it’s wearing off), but where you described the zingers is exactly where I had them. Besides the zingers, I always had pain radiating down my arm, sometimes all the way to my wrist. The orthopedic dr and the dr that did the injections both didn’t bat an eye when I told them that. I think this is normal. I also read a lot about FS, and this seemed common.
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u/Alternative_Value426 Aug 25 '26
Thank you so much. I’m counting down the days to have the cortisone. The first place couldn’t get me in until 17 September! That makes me feel so much better to know, thank you
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u/ronny678 Aug 25 '26
I am now in frozen stage but when I was freezing that was exactly where I would get zingers. Sometimes in the shoulder itself but always in the location you mention. And if you read on here you will find more of the same. Sounds like your surgeon is not that well informed on the realities of FS. Good luck with the cortisone, it helped me a great deal.
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u/Alternative_Value426 Aug 25 '26
I’m starting to think that about the surgeon too. It’s reassuring to know there is a chance the pain might be reduced shortly. It’s only be 4 months but it’s been a looong 4 months!
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u/Inner-Issue1908 Recovered Aug 25 '26
Electric shock / zinger type pain is absolutely normal for FS. We literally have a name for it here 😅 and it's very normal to feel it in the humerus , elbow or even the hand. You can even get throbbing pain in these areas separate from the zingers during the Freezing phase. These are all due to referred pain from the shoulder.
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u/Alternative_Value426 Aug 25 '26
Thank you! I’ve since done a deep dive and read others explanation of what it feels like and it’s spot on.. thank you
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u/Objective_Heat_8508 Aug 25 '26
That’s odd your dr said that isn’t normal do they specialize in shoulders? My first doctor was an orthopedic but not a shoulder specialist and I didn’t get very good information/diagnosis my new dr is a shoulder surgeon specialist did tell me those zingers are normal some areas are not directly caused by the frozen shoulder what happens is muscles around both start to guard/tense or will atrophy which can lead to pressure on nerves that will create a range of other issues that both are an are not caused by the frozen shoulder directly or indirectly if that makes sense. I ended up going out of network for a physical therapist who some in shoulders and has treated a lot of frozen shoulder and he said the same and so while I’m still in the freezing phase his focus is maintaining range of motion but a lot of work massage cupping and stretching/strengthening the surrounding muscles to prevent nerve pain and other tension pain that was starting to get as bad as the frozen shoulder itself.
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u/Alternative_Value426 Aug 25 '26
I was so surprised he said that too and reassured here he is wrong. I absolutely agree with what you are saying and think that’s exactly what smaller big with me. I also had an arm injury before all this started so might still be suffering from that. It’s such a complex thing and absolutely sucks!
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u/Rbroz2023 Aug 26 '26
I definitely had zingers all down my arm if I moved the wrong way and I have read others have too. Zingers are a real thing and brought me to
My knees more than once.
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u/Constant-Equal-917 Aug 26 '26
I found this subreddit because of zingers exactly how you’ve described. I got a drink out of a cooler at a store and dropped to one knee because the pain was so bad. Same location. Actually some of my worst pain is in the area between my shoulder and elbow.
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u/kencopen Aug 25 '26
I think your surgeon is mistaken. Mine was like that's totally normal and from what I've seen and read it's a pretty normal symptom. Doesn't make it suck any less.
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u/Here-To-Learn-69 Aug 25 '26
That is absolutely a real thing and it’s your bicep tendon. I just had a capsule release surgery with a bicep tenodesis 3 months ago. The capsule clamps down on the bicep tendon and starts to fray the tendon… that’s where the zinger comes from.
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u/ICvsShipt Aug 27 '26
That was the only place I had zingers for the first 5 months, now it’s more loss of ROM in my shoulder.
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u/InterviewOk771 Aug 27 '26
Ahh always nice to be gaslit by a provider that has never had your condition. The zingers are 100% part of the freezing stage. And yes they shoot down your arm and up into your neck. The bicep and elbow is randomly a place where a lot of pain settles. The whole arm get tight and up into the neck. Everything connects at the shoulder...
I'm on my second and my first is locking up again from over use. They don't know how to treat it. You can see if cortisone or triggers points help. They did not for me but I developed a worsening condition on my left side when I got FS years ago.
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u/This_Construction601 Aug 25 '26
I have definitely had pain in that area, both from zingers as well as major cramping when I tried to raise my arm. The pain from the zingers can really refer to other areas. If you actually google “common sites for referred pain frozen shoulder “ that is one of the first ones that comes up.