Frozen shoulder

sewbocushions

Hi
Sorry if this question has cropped up before but I'm feeling low as I have been diagnosed with a 'frozen shoulder' which causes me a lot of pain, particularly at night or if I 'jerk' it. I know it's not a disability in the general sense but it really impaires my mobility in a lot of ways. My problem is, being on a low income there is no way I can afford accupuncture or even to go swimming at my local baths - which I've read are the best treatments to help my problem. I can just about keep my head above water from week to week as it is. Does anyone know of any benefit available or any financial help that I may be eligible for so that I would be able to try these aids please? It's really getting me down. My GP doesn't offer help and the local council have stopped GP referrals at local leisure centres now!
Many thanks,
Bo

[Deleted User]

DLA maybe one avenue to explore

krisskross

I wouldn't think that DLA would be awarded for a variable condition like frozen shoulder.

OP ask about all treatments. I had steroid injections, physiotherapy, used a tens machine. It gradually got better but did take a year. You have to adapt your activities to avoid the pain and if it was like mine it was agonising but stopped as soon as I stopped moving my arm, so painkillers don't help.

With DLA restrictions on how long you have to have the problem before being able to claim I would suggest that this benefit would be a non starter.

teajug

sewbocushions wrote: »

Hi
Sorry if this question has cropped up before but I'm feeling low as I have been diagnosed with a 'frozen shoulder' which causes me a lot of pain, particularly at night or if I 'jerk' it. I know it's not a disability in the general sense but it really impaires my mobility in a lot of ways. My problem is, being on a low income there is no way I can afford accupuncture or even to go swimming at my local baths - which I've read are the best treatments to help my problem. I can just about keep my head above water from week to week as it is. Does anyone know of any benefit available or any financial help that I may be eligible for so that I would be able to try these aids please? It's really getting me down. My GP doesn't offer help and the local council have stopped GP referrals at local leisure centres now!
Many thanks,
Bo

Is your employer able to help you with reasonable adjustments, if not asked them and let them know of your condition. Also get in contact with Access to Work and see if they will be able to help with adjustments for you at work as well.

Have you had an x-ray on MRI scan at the hospital, if not go and see your GP and say that you want one as they pain is getting too much for you to cope with.

Best of Luck

kurgon

Not sure why an MRI would be used.....
If money is a worry, ask your GP to refer you for hydro-therapy with your local physio team. The other thing that can help is to use a hot water bottle, although make sure it is wrapped in at least oe towel.
Accupuncture is not recommended for long term injuries and has the potential to cause dependance - so I would avoid this.
As krisskross said, try and adapt your lifestyle to avoid undue stress on the area.

teajug

I have am experience very bad neck and shoulder pains for the last couple of years, my gp sent me to see a consultant for examined my neck and found multiple nodes on side of my neck and one was thought to be JDG node . Since then I looked nodes and found they are in shoulder as well. I am having an MRI scan next week for further diagnosis.

http://www.nhlcyberfamily.org/nodes.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18838245

krisskross

kurgon wrote: »

Not sure why an MRI would be used.....

Sometimes it can be rotator cuff damage. MRI would show this.

sewbocushions

Thanks for all the advice, I'll let you know how I get on

Savvy_Sue

I don't know if this would help you or not, but after my shoulder surgery, someone suggested I should sleep with a pillow between my arm and my body, and I found it really did help. You can move the pillow to move your arm, if that makes sense, without moving the shoulder.

shegar

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I don't know if this would help you or not, but after my shoulder surgery, someone suggested I should sleep with a pillow between my arm and my body, and I found it really did help. You can move the pillow to move your arm, if that makes sense, without moving the shoulder.

Yes I slept with the pillow between arm and body it was best ever way to sleep and control the pain, , I had subarcromial arthroscopic decompression operations on both shoulders a couple years ago.........

sewbocushions

Yes, I do use pillows to help support the arm at night but still keep waking with the pain, but pillows definately help, thanks for the tips