Last year my diabetologist recommended trigger point therapy instead of the traditional treatment for adhesive capsulitis in my right shoulder.

I found an excellent book by Clair Davies, specifically for treatment of frozen shoulders.

The Theracane made performing the therapy easier for me; however, therapy can be done without it.

Bottom Line: It works. Plus, I have an effective way to deal with other painful conditions.

Disclosure: I have no personal or financial interest in Mr. Davies books or the Theracane.

Regards,

John

As a physical therapist I would estimate between 5-10% of  my frozen shoulder patients are diabetic. The rest are split between idiopathic (no known cause/corelation) and secondary (preceded by a traumatic injury). Interestingly, the ones who try manipulation end up no better and sometimes worse! Obviously I'm biased towards conservative therapy for this condition because it works more often than not, and, nearly all of the patients get at least a measurable return of function, diabetics included.

I also find compliant diabetics have the best outcomes with conservative therapy (may have to do with compliance with exercise as well, but that's another study).Here's my most important tip for anyone having this condition: Find a therapist who has experience treating this...not all PTs are created  equal - some have skills that can make a huge difference in ROM and reducing pain. It's worth the effort to research and ask questions. Frozen shoulder exercise programs found on the internet can be valuable if the source is reputable. I've spoken with one author of a program who has such experience and his course is making a difference, probably because he provides interactive follow-up. Whatever course of treatment is pursued, whether it's PT, manipulation, surgery, etc..., make sure you do your due dilligence before jumping in.

I have been diagnosed with Frozen Shoulder.  It is both shoulders now.  I don't have Diabetes that I know of.  I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes before having a gastric bypass, but since then my A1H numbers have been below 6 and my BS has been under 100.  But my shoulders are killing me.  I've undergone arthrscopic surgery to remove the calcium deposits and part of the scapula, I've had radio frequency ablation which was painful, I've had cellulitis twice from the arthroscopy and biopsy, and I've been on pain meds for months now.  I'm tired of this.  After the ablation pain subsided, I had full range of motion for a few days, now it's limited again.  The pain started in the left shoulder and now is in both.  The orthopedist said Frozen Shoulder was related to an auto-immune disorder.  I had the rheumatologist run some tests but there was only one slightly elevated result and he didn't think it was related. He didn't run CMV, EBV or other titers, which I have tested positive for in the past.  My daughter sent me a link to this forum, she was diagnosed Type I Diabetic in January.  The pain in my shoulders is agonizing, the pain doctor keeps trying to give me Morphine which only makes me uncomfortable buzzed and doesn't touch the pain.  I'm very frustrated.  Some days I can lift my arm over my head, other days I can't lift it past chest level.  What is Theracane?  I'm willing to try anything.  I'm tired of pills, I don't want to depend on them, but I can't live with the pain either.  It's absolutely the worst pain I've ever had.

Thank you :)

Lisa

Hi all.  Same issue here -- about a year ago, noticed limited range of motion.  Saw a shoulder specialist, who (in my opinion) diagnosed "adhesive capsulitis" solely on the basis of the fact that I was diabetic.  X-rays and MRI came up negative.  2nd shoulder specialist recommended manipulation.

And yet... my shoulder isn't frozen.  It isn't locking up, and it isn't increasingly limited in range of motion.  Plus which, I'm not the traditional patient.  I am quite athletic, well within my target weight, and have a good A1C (somewhere around 6).  I run about 20 miles a week and lift weights / do strength workouts.

What I've noticed is that WHEN I'M WARMED UP (for instance, after a 5K run or so) I have much greater range of motion.  I can do MOST of the exercises that usually test for limited range of motion.  And I've discovered that my range of motion is limited only in two directions.  Trigger point guy suspects (I'm going to misquote him here, so sue me) upper deltoid and supraspinatus (spelling)?

Anyway, I've had a LOT of success with trigger point therapy and some pretty aggressive massage / stretch techniques. 

I'd be VERY careful of anyone who prescribes treatment when they can't diagnose the problem better than "idiopathic adhesive capsulitis".  In my opinion, that's just giving a fancy name to "I don't know."

muchow posted:

Hi all.  Same issue here -- about a year ago, noticed limited range of motion.  Saw a shoulder specialist, who (in my opinion) diagnosed "adhesive capsulitis" solely on the basis of the fact that I was diabetic.  X-rays and MRI came up negative.  2nd shoulder specialist recommended manipulation.

And yet... my shoulder isn't frozen.  It isn't locking up, and it isn't increasingly limited in range of motion.  Plus which, I'm not the traditional patient.  I am quite athletic, well within my target weight, and have a good A1C (somewhere around 6).  I run about 20 miles a week and lift weights / do strength workouts.

What I've noticed is that WHEN I'M WARMED UP (for instance, after a 5K run or so) I have much greater range of motion.  I can do MOST of the exercises that usually test for limited range of motion.  And I've discovered that my range of motion is limited only in two directions.  Trigger point guy suspects (I'm going to misquote him here, so sue me) upper deltoid and supraspinatus (spelling)?

Anyway, I've had a LOT of success with trigger point therapy and some pretty aggressive massage / stretch techniques. 

I'd be VERY careful of anyone who prescribes treatment when they can't diagnose the problem better than "idiopathic adhesive capsulitis".  In my opinion, that's just giving a fancy name to "I don't know."

I have it as well. Aqua fitness does wonders. The pool is heated and it lessens the pain.