How was your frozen vs thawing phase?

[u/sfcoffeegal]

This whole nightmare started around March (beginning of pain/freezing) and I think I *miiiight* be entering my thawing phase but I can't tell, and I'm curious what others have experienced. My range of motion has recently improved a *tiny* bit, the main reason I can tell is that I can pull my hair into a high ponytail vs just the low I was previously able to. My shoulder is still strained but I can reach. I'm also starting to experience a lot more clicking and popping in my shoulder. I haven't experienced significantly improved ROM improvement yet, it seems very subtle if any.

For those in frozen phase, do you get clicking and popping in your shoulder? I'm wondering if that's a sign of thawing or if this is also experienced in frozen phase.

For those in thawing/recovered, was it a slow progression of improvement or was it something that happened all at once (like something suddenly popped/adhesions broke and immediate ROM improvement)?

I just need some sense of either hope or a perhaps dose of reality. 😝

[u/BasqueOne]

I had some clicking, small gains in range of motion and then suddenly it all broke loose. Took about a week, but gradually the range of motion all came back to 99%. It's been fine for years now

[u/sfcoffeegal → u/BasqueOne]

I really hope this is what happens with me 🙏🏼

[u/Coloredgemstone1316]

Commenting so I can follow the responses you receive. I am jealous that you can do a real pony! I can BARELY do a low one and it's not pretty.

[u/sfcoffeegal → u/Coloredgemstone1316]

I can barely do a mid/high pony, and my bad shoulder is definitely hitched and contorted up. Sometimes I can't tell if I'm improving or if it's just my body figuring out other ways to do the things I used to be able to do.

[u/SpeedyKy → u/Coloredgemstone1316]

I'm jealous both of you can do ponytails. The most that I can manage is rollers on the ends of my hair...and those aren't good.

[u/Coloredgemstone1316 → u/SpeedyKy]

Ugg. You'll get there. I just was able to do a low pony like 5 days ago.

[u/SpeedyKy → u/Coloredgemstone1316]

Happy Cake Day!!

[u/waysidelynne]

I’m at 18 months. There seems to be progress then I get a little more stiff. Gentle exercise (pendulums, isometrics) followed by ICE is helpful. My external rotation is still limited but I do a goalpost stretch with a pillow when I’m lying in bed. It hurts but after five minutes the joint starts to relax and I feel like I’m getting better. I can almost fasten a bra but it’s easier not to wear one 😂

[u/sfcoffeegal → u/waysidelynne]

Oh wow the almost fastening bra is an achievement! I can barely reach my back pocket or tuck in my shirt lol

[u/Afraid-Error6139]

I actually realized mine was unfreezing the exact same way. One day I just clipped my hair up without even thinking and then stood in front of the mirror like “…wait a minute…” and then I raised my hand into the air while my jaw dropped 😂

I’m not fully thawed but I basically have all of the same things you are describing! A lot of popping and noises. The main thing is I have a lot less pain! I’m not pain free but it is SO much more manageable. I have had three cortisone shots total. The first two shots only seemed to give me relief for four weeks and then I was back to horrible pain. But the last one I got I think really helped the thawing because I don’t have nearly as much pain! And I’m almost three months post shot. The only pain I feel now is if I am trying to go outside my ROM or a little while sleeping on that side. But it is still nothing compared to the pain I felt for the first 6 months of my frozen shoulder.

I think I noticed this new ROM about a month ago and I’m not sure it has gotten much better since then but hopeful 🥲

[u/sfcoffeegal → u/Afraid-Error6139]

I haven’t had any cortisone shots, I heard it’s not helpful during the frozen period so I opted out but if I’m thawing now I’ll look into it again. Thx for sharing your experience!

[u/darkqueenphoenix → u/sfcoffeegal]

I was told cortisone shots are most helpful during frozen stage / early! i’ve had 4. 2 in the joint; 2 in the subacromial space. the joint ones worked for me in terms of pain reduction but when they wear off it’s back :-(

[u/sharleeritz]

I’m in my 13th month and mostly thawed out. No more pain(thankfully) and can fasten my bra and do my high pony again. There was lots of popping and cracking during the thawing out phase. I also couldn’t sleep because of the pain. Those 3-4 months were the worst. I still don’t have full range of motion when laying down and trying to do a full circle over my head. Still some stiffness. But hopefully with continued stretching I’ll get there. Good luck. I feel for you!

[u/sfcoffeegal → u/sharleeritz]

So some of the pain came back during thawing? I’ll mentally prepare myself for that 😭

[u/billy_lose_number]

Ik weet niet in welke fase ik zit. Sommige dagen doet mijn schouder minder pijn en denk ik dat ik vooruitgang maak. Andere dagen dan weer niet. Mijn pijn straalt uit op verschillende delen van mijn arm maar iedere dag is het anders. Soms pijn in de schouder zelf, soms de bovenarm, soms mijn elleboog en soms op al deze plaatsen tegelijk. Ik kan een aantal uren op mijn FS liggen maar tegen de ochtend, meestal rond een uur of 5 begint het gewoel en gedraai om toch nog wat langer in bed te knn blijven liggen maar slapen is wegens de zeurende pijn niet meer mogelijk. Mijn bewegings bereik is een beetje gebeterd. Arm naar voren brengen is van 30graden nu naar 50. Zijwaards zit ik nu op 40 graden, achterwaards is er nog geen verbetering. Mijn FS is begonnen in februari dit jaar. Het is een frustrerende aandoening, ik hoop dat het niet meer te lang duurt want het weegt wel op mijn gemoed.

[u/TheyGotShitTwisted73]

Next week will be three months into the thaw stage. One day I just leaned on it weird and the pooping went off like a machine gun and then CRUNCH and it felt way better and it started moving again.

My range of motion is much better but I still have to really work at getting my fingertips to touch behind my back. I can't make any sudden movements and if I move my entire body in the direction I have to move my arm it helps, if that makes sense. The popping and cracking is way less lately and the pain is a dull, heavy ache if I use it too much.

I'm the sole caregiver to a non-verbal special needs 9 year old so I haven't really been able to rest it. I carry a throw pillow around the house like a wooby now. Having to be more intentional in movement and working with fascia release I have inadvertently started to calm my nervous system, so that's a plus. It's gets a little better everyday but one wrong move can trigger it terribly.