I had/have issues with frozen shoulder due to ruptured and herniated discs in my neck. I find with the massage therapy you need to go often at first. Then keep up with any PT stuff you might have. Then you can go less often. I would love to go at least once a month but finances don't always allow it. It does work for me when I can keep up with it. The exercise stuff is really important though.

Trish in SC

I have significant pain in my shoulder, down my arm and developed tingling in my fingers. I was worried! I never had anything like this before. I went to a chiropractor who sent me for x-rays and I have subluxation - a compression/degeneration in two vertebra in my neck. She (the chiro) has me scheduled for 12 treatments and hopefully my pain will be gone by the end of 12 treatments. I plan to continue with "maintenance" after. I would consider massage and acupuncture also - the chiro is covered by my health insurance.

hostapasta

i have not had either but my dogs have both had massage therapy & accupuncture. the massage therapy was o.k but for both dogs accupuncture worked soo well. our dog tracey has severe hip displasia due to bone malformation (no sockets) and accupuncture was a miracle treatment for her, she acts like a 2 yr old afterwards. for accupuncture you go several times over a couple of months then you can taper off to a maintenance schedule of once a month or less. i hope you find relief from one of these therapies ~ liz

I haven't went much but the cost & mileage is getting too much for me to handle. I don't see any improvement and having worse pain. I don't have insurance for it.

Joann: I had frozen shoulder three years ago. I couldn't lift my arm past my waist. I just checked my calendar and see I went to PT eight times, after which I was much improved, but not 100%; so I continued with the exercises at home after that. One of the exercises used an over-the-door pulley, which I purchased inexpensively online. There is no quick fix; it takes several weeks.

You may very well find some of these exercises online. I know Youtube has many exercise/Physical Therapy videos.

I was a Physical Therapist Assistant for many years. Worked on many frozen shoulders with deep massages and passive range of motion exercises (this means that I moved the arm for the patient). It was extremely painful to them but you have to grin and bear it... wasn't easy for me to deliver the pain either. It takes time and effort on your part at home. If there is no success with the PT, most Orthopedics will knock you out and break the adhesions while you are under. You don't feel the pain and your arm is restored (usually) to it's range BUT you must continue therapy after that.... and yes, it continues to be painful but your motion is usually restored. Good luck and keep up with the exercises. Worse thing you can do is nothing!

I have had accupuncture on and off for the past 20 years. I've used it to treat migraines, vertigo and abdominal issues. All I can say is that it works for me when all other avenues have failed. My accupuncture therapist has also taught me how to do accupressure on myself. I can clear my sinuses within 5 minutes of pressing on pressure points.

I have also used accupuncture on my dog who had severe arthritis. The tricky part was keeping a 95 lb. lab still while the needles and electrodes did their work. Mind you this did not happen in one appointment. It probably took 2 weeks before we saw slight improvement and then 3 months before he was off his meds and walking without a limp.

I had wondered about the mind/body connection with my own therapy, such as the placebo effect, but when I saw how it helped my dog who had no idea why he was there and what this was supposed be doing for him, did I realize the true healing properties of accupuncture.

I agree with Orie's advice. The PT I had made my shoulder worse as it aggravated all the pressure points, even down my back.

After I had each manipulation done on a shoulder, I had several deep tissue massages. I agree they can be painful but if you are doing the right excerises, the massages actually do help by working out where the muscle is knotted. Since you haven't had the manipulation, the adhesions are being massaged as well. You might be past the point of getting better with just PT and massage.

Did you check out the Isolated Stretchng excerises?

When I feel my shoulders and neck tightening up I usually have trouble turning my neck. One or two massages within a 10 day span usually helps. Wish I could afford them routinely but that's not gonna happen.

Hope you find relief soon. You just don't realize how much you rely on your shoulders during the day.

joann, you might do some research into whether Univ FL's Physical Therapy program needs or uses volunteers for the students. I have several friends who are RN's, MD's, optometrists and dentists and everyone of them needed patients to learn and practice on, it is all done under strict MD etc...supervision. i used to teach at Indiana Univ/Purdue univ med school and went to their dental students for yrs for cheap to free care (paid for the product like teeth whitening). it might be a good way to get cheap or free PT ~ liz

Have had massage therapy for my and it sure works for me

didn't mention my BACK