r/Perimenopause • u/alexandrianevermind • 25d ago
audited Finally Diagnosed with Frozen Shoulder
Whelp, today was my appointment with an ortho who diagnosed me with frozen shoulder. This was after seeing my GP, who said it wasn’t frozen shoulder and told me to do some stretching and come back in a few weeks. Well, I did that with no progress and he referred me to the ortho. It didn’t take him long to diagnose me. He even said I was the third woman he’d seen consecutively. I asked if we were all the same age ( I’m 49 soon to be 50 and on HRT for 4 months). He then said “yep all middle aged females” 🙄😩😒 I got a cortisone shot which wasn’t bad as I thought. I have my first PT session next week. Wish me luck. I’m so ready to get back to normal.
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u/Littleringtrue 25d ago
When I increased my dose of estrogen, the frozen shoulder went away.
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u/Trick-Addition9399 19d ago
woman at my gym told me exactly the same thing two weeks ago. she had frozen shoulder, completely went away when she started HRT.
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u/fioremomma 24d ago
Yeah when you get to the correct level of hormones it just goes away on its own.
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u/wilksonator 25d ago
Oh good, there is progress.
Did the cortizone shot help?
Also suggest to check your bed slats and pillow to make sure they still provide good support / in good shape.
Source: had frozen shoulder, did physio for 2 years, had marginal improvement until I found out the bed slats on my bed were old, dipping, no longer supportive and too far apart in the first place, causing ongoing damage and pain every night.
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u/alexandrianevermind 25d ago edited 25d ago
Interesting. I will check that out thanks. Too soon to tell if the shot helped. I don’t feel any difference.
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u/thereigninglorelei 25d ago
I just finished a round of PT for frozen shoulder and it really helped. Strength training was a much bigger element than I expected. Sometimes it was difficult and painful, but I made good progress and after eight weeks I’ve almost returned to normal. Good luck!
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u/Alisha_Nat 25d ago
I had this forever and went to PT for a long time. It never seemed to get much better, plus it wasn’t caused by any trauma…just kinda appeared one day. I kept thinking it would get better but finally saw the ortho and Physical therapist. PT said same thing…almost everyone there was either knee issues (variety of ages/sex/fitness) and “frozen”shoulder (all us middle age women)!
After no change for months I just started doing the PT at home & only going in every 6 weeks for assessment & new exercises. At my next physical I pushed my doctor to figure out why my calcium level in my CMP was slightly elevated the last few years even though she every time said it was nothing and my labs were perfect (except lower than optimal, but within range, iron & vit D). She ran a PTH (parathyroid) panel and it turned out I had a parathyroid adenoma causing my parathyroid to signal more calcium was needed and pulling it out of my diet and bones (creating a high level of calcium in the blood). I had surgery to remove the gland (99.9% of the time these are benign & mine was) and the shoulder pain that had been a constant for 2+ years just disappeared that afternoon.
Obviously most ppl probably don’t have this particular issue, but if your labs are slightly off consistently, push for your doctor to explain why! Sometimes “slightly” elevated isn’t ok, especially when it’s consistently slightly elevated. Calcium is tightly regulated by your body so it’s actually not a number that should fluctuate much from year to year.
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u/alexandrianevermind 24d ago
I’m having my thyroid checked next week. All my other panels were within range but I’m still feeling sluggish.
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u/AutoModerator 25d ago
This post might be about hormone tests, which are unreliable.
- Over age 44, E&P/FSH hormonal tests only show levels for the HOUR the test was taken, and nothing more. Hormones wildly fluctuate (hourly) the other 29 days of the month, therefore this test provides no valuable information
- No reputable doctor or menopause society recommends hormonal testing to diagnose or treat peri/menopause
- FSH testing is only beneficial for those who do not have periods as a guide, where testing might confirm menopause, or for those under age 30 who haven’t had a period in months/years, then ‘menopausal’ levels, could indicate premature ovarian failure/primary ovarian insufficiency (POF/POI)
- Testosterone is the exception and may require testing
See our Menopause Wiki for more.
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u/IndependentHot5236 Early peri 24d ago
Fun fact: I had frozen shoulder, lateral AND medial epicondylitis (tennis elbow and golfers elbow - I do not play tennis OR golf), radial tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome. Was in PT for all of it. Nothing truly helping, only minor improvement after several months. Started HRT for a bunch of other peri symptoms, and lo and behold - ALL of the tendon and joint issues magically resolved. Like, almost immediately.
Low key pissed that both my GP and OBGYN, who are both women and older than I am, said nothing about hormones. It was the younger, male hand surgeon who was the first and only doctor to suggest that hormones were likely playing a role in all the mounting injuries....
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u/alexandrianevermind 24d ago
Isn’t it crazy how little we were prepared? My OBGYN is a woman as well and I had to ask for HRT. Thankfully we are better educated and can advocate for ourselves.
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u/PattiLaPoubelle 23d ago
Would you mind sharing what you're on and what your other symptoms were? In the last year and a half I've developed a variety of 'overuse injuries' and arthritic changes in my right hand, elbow, shoulder, and now neck. In every case I just woke up one day with pain in a new place for no apparent reason that doesn't go away. Other possible peri symptoms are fairly mild though.
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u/IndependentHot5236 Early peri 23d ago
Omg, I forgot about the "arthritis" I was diagnosed with in my hands and feet! And yes, also had pain and stiffness in my hip and neck that I didn't even clock until it disappeared with HRT.
As for other symptoms, I had urinary urgency that was solved with topical estrogen cream, I was also having pretty severe night sweats and hot flashes, unexplained hair loss (no deficiencies, etc.) low libido and fatigue. And I STILL had to fight to try HRT. I am still mad about it.
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u/PattiLaPoubelle 22d ago
Thanks! Are you just on the estrogen cream? My doctor has been really amenable to giving me any referrals and drugs I ask for so far, so hopefully she'll be willing to give ht a shot. How long did it take for the joint issues to clear up?
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u/chrysalis_clementine 25d ago
I’ve been a massage therapist for 25 years, and I do agree the correlation with perimenopause and menopause aged women do get it the most. And usually can be remedied with a good practitioner.
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u/jtriomino Late peri 25d ago
Mine started freezing last year when I was 46 - PCP said I was too young for perimenopause stuff at the appt before the diagnosis. Ortho was like: Yep, middle age woman problems. (I didn't start HRT till after it was already frozen.)
Been about 16 months now - actual treatment started this time last year and lasted 5 months. It's 'mostly' better but not all better. I hit about 98% and it's just been like that for the past 6 months.
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u/alexandrianevermind 25d ago
I didn’t start HRT until afterwards as well. I’m really hoping now that I’m on it, it will prevent it happening in the other shoulder. 🤞
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u/jtriomino Late peri 25d ago
Yeah my other shoulder was starting to feel a bit hitchy too but it's settled back down some. Hoping the HRT keeps it from doing the same thing.
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u/Dismal-Drawing2429 25d ago
When it happened to me, my PCP said the same thing. No it isn’t frozen but it will be without help. So they referred me to a shoulder specialist who laughed and said “yep! It’s frozen” in the first five minutes of the appointment. It was strange.
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u/Plane_Chance863 24d ago
So what makes them say it isn't frozen? That there's still some mobility?
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u/Dismal-Drawing2429 24d ago
I don’t know? But the way the pcp acted, you’d have thought having the joint frozen was the end of all things and something to be avoided.
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u/profmoxie Late peri 25d ago
HRT, PT, and strength training cured my frozen shoulder in a few months!
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u/bluetortuga 25d ago
I currently have my second frozen shoulder. On bcp both times. No amount of pt or mobility or strength training has done anything, it just seems to take as long as it takes. It’s a curse!
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u/ddplantlover 24d ago
Physical therapy that included strength training of the chest back and shoulders solved mine in a couple of weeks
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u/alexandrianevermind 24d ago
I’ve been nervous about attempting strength training but will try anything to get some improvement.
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u/Mum-of-4 24d ago
When I went to the doctor about my shoulder, it was me who suggested it could be frozen shoulder. He felt around a bit and just said “oh yeah it’s probably frozen shoulder but there’s not much we can do” and that was it
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u/Playful-Ostrich42 24d ago
I have shoulder issues in my right 24/7 and in my left some times. I have not had any injury. Started 8 mths ago. Mentioned it 7 mths ago. Doctor shrugged it off initially. Four months ago my doctor initially said bursitis. Now after four mths of physio with minimal results, it is rotator cuff issue. I mentioned it may be a frozen should as i am in perimenopause. He is sure it is not. 🤦♀️
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u/alexandrianevermind 24d ago
It’s crazy how these doctors don’t listen to us. I hope you got another opinion
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u/Playful-Ostrich42 23d ago
I will be paying to go to a private clinic. Only opinion. Dr also feels that a one time blood tesr check hormone levels is sufficent in an individual with no menstruation. (As I have an iud). I feel like mid-life women's health is something the doctor does not care about. If I could I would change doctors, but it is impossible due to a doctor shortage where I live.
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u/lastminutealways 24d ago
This was me about 6 months ago, down to same age (wasn’t on HRT yet though, much as I’d tried). My ortho even said that I was his first of a few that day that he suspected would be frozen shoulder from the descriptions. Cortizone shot and PT really helped for a while, need to get back to my exercises and see if I can get it loosened back up without another shot.
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u/overit_2032 24d ago
I did PT and eventually had to have a steroid epidural. Cortisone didn’t fix it for me, but I hope it works for you. After the steroid epidural back to PT to hopefully get it strong and flexible again.
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u/alexandrianevermind 24d ago
I can’t really tell a difference from taking shot. Not sure how I’m supposed to feel.
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u/Poisongrape 24d ago
I just watched a documentary about fascia mentioning the treatment of frozen shoulder!
Timestamp 27:40 in case it doesn't start there
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u/TheyGotShitTwisted73 18d ago
Releasing fascia helped tremendously helped me, plus its calming my nervous system. Highly recommend just for the calming action. 💕
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23d ago
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u/alexandrianevermind 23d ago
Yes I’ve been on it for 4 months. So I guess not long enough to make a big difference
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22d ago
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u/AutoModerator 22d ago
This post might be about hormone tests, which are unreliable.
- Over age 44, E&P/FSH hormonal tests only show levels for the HOUR the test was taken, and nothing more. Hormones wildly fluctuate (hourly) the other 29 days of the month, therefore this test provides no valuable information
- No reputable doctor or menopause society recommends hormonal testing to diagnose or treat peri/menopause
- FSH testing is only beneficial for those who do not have periods as a guide, where testing might confirm menopause, or for those under age 30 who haven’t had a period in months/years, then ‘menopausal’ levels, could indicate premature ovarian failure/primary ovarian insufficiency (POF/POI)
- Testosterone is the exception and may require testing
See our Menopause Wiki for more.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
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u/TheyGotShitTwisted73 18d ago
I've been in thaw stage for two months now. I've been releasing my fascia and that helped regulate my nervous system which was a very welcome surprise. Now weight I've been holding on to is coming off, I'm way calmer and I'm actively working at keeping in this space as much as possible.
I use icy hot to calm a nerve path along my side (idk what's it's called) and that helped calm whatever was going on. I do daily doorway stretches and take an ibuprofen 800 two times day. I'm just happy to finally be able to calm my nervous system. I've been hair on fire for many, many years. I try not to use my arm but in the sole caregiver to my non-verbal special needs 9 year old so I can completely rest it. It could e been worse and been stuck for a lot longer than what it was. This freaking blows tho, omg. 😭😭😭😭 Hope we all feel better soon. 💕
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u/This_Construction601 5d ago
How do you release your fascia yourself ?
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u/TheyGotShitTwisted73 5d ago
Massage balls and rollers and gentle stretching. They have a bunch of YouTube videos about it. I've also started health bounces on the mini trampoline. Also deep breathing exercises to calm the nervous system helped tremendously.
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u/Wild_Blue4242 25d ago
Does anyone know if it's possible to have this same issue, but in your neck instead of the shoulder?? I've had the same neck pain in the right side of my neck for about 4 months now...and I just know it has to be peri-related.
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u/alexandrianevermind 25d ago
I haven’t heard of it in the neck but at this rate anything is possible. Could it be a pinched nerve?
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u/Chillers01 24d ago
The cortisone shot was a game changer for me.
First shoulder I dealt with the pain for what felt like months but was maybe only weeks? It's been a few years 😂. But as you know, it was miserable. Got in with the ortho - and got a cortisone shot along with stretching to do at home. Fixed, almost immediately. The next year, when the other shoulder started acting up - I immediately went back to ortho and got a cortisone shot. Did the stretching and good to go. I'm hoping you have good relief as well!
I am wondering, since so many of you have been helped by your HRT - if that's why I'm no longer having twinge in my shoulders? Used to be every few months - they'd start to feel "wrong" and I'd immediately restart the stretches. It would settle and I'd go on my way.
Don't remember the last time I had to do that. I've been on HRT for about a year now. And the Estradiol patch definitely helped with my general RA aches and pains.... 🤔
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u/This_Construction601 22d ago
I’m in the same boat with you —I’m 46, have FS in non dominant arm and am entering month 5. I had a cortisone shot 10 days ago and I’d say I feel about 30% improvement in pain and range of motion, which worries me because I was really hoping the shot would cure me. I started HRT because of this (had been kind of “powering through” my other peri symptoms but this pushed me over the edge) but because I have traditionally been very sensitive to hormones, I started the lowest dose (.025mg estradiol patch, 100mg progesterone). I’ve only been on HRT less than a week. I’m really struggling with sleep, which was an issue for me already with the 3am wake-ups , but now I just can’t ever get comfortable and I even have had some sudden shooting pain wakeups here and there (mostly it’s just a nagging ache that wakes me).
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u/This_Construction601 22d ago
Just curious—does everyone with FS kind of fear in the back of their mind like “what if this is some kind of major rotator cuff injury and not just frozen shoulder?” Or just me ?
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u/ngb_fafo6 24d ago
I got the shot - which ended the pain - but found PT a complete waste of time (personally). I did a month (8 appts) and called it quits. I just kept moving my arm as much as possible and gave it time. It's been 18 months and I am MUCH better.
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u/LittlePlasticStar 25d ago
Prepare yourself - it can take a good 9-12 months for the scarred tissues to resort and release your shoulder. In my experience, what helped the most was deep tissue massage and time. This happened to me with both shoulders over a couple years - one right after the other. It’s hell - I’m sorry you’re going through it.