In June 2013 I was diagnosed with Frozen Shoulder. After months of not being able to move my arm all the way across my body or over my head and losing range of motion daily, I was thrilled at the thought of an ‘end in sight’. After all, when you go to the doctor and they determine the cause of your discomfort, there is usually a medication that can turn it around. Right?
So that same day, knowing it isn’t always effective, I received a cortisone shot straight into the joint cavity along with lidocaine to help you endure the trauma. I was also advised that I would probably need several months of physical therapy to help regain movement and range of motion.

The first week passed and there was no relief from the shot and the physical therapy was just beginning. For 6 months once a week I faithfully went and allowed my bursa capsule to be stretched and manipulated to break up some type of adhesion that was locking up my shoulder. The last time I went to physical therapy, the tech over extended my shoulder and I was in GREAT pain for two weeks and never returned.

What to do? Where do you go? Who knows anything about this? Will it ever resolve? As an Alternative Medicine student, I searched books, libraries, internet sites and picked the minds of my closest student friends. No answers, followed by frustration and concern because my life and responsibilities required the use of my arm.

The stress mounted and I purchased a massage therapy membership and went through several therapists who had no idea how to work my shoulder. It’s painful to get massage or even turn over with limited range of motion so every time was truly a journey.

Then it happened. I got an appointment with a therapist who had knowledge. She used a deep massage stripping the muscles underneath my armpit and along my minor pectorals. During the massage it was difficult to breath sometimes because the pain was intense but she helped me through. The next day, I could move my arm. Over the next 6 months, I went to see her several times a month and was definitely seeing improvement.

Today I am almost completely free of all symptoms and am continuing massage therapy to break free.

Somethings that helped nutritionally were my green drinks (kale, cucumber, cilantro, ginger, turmeric, celery, hibiscus, chia seeds, gogi berries, macaw and cacao), getting 8 hours of  sleep daily and reducing/eliminating alcohol and caffeine consumption and changing to a more vegetarian lifestyle to prevent/reduce inflammation inside my body.

I hope this information helps you or someone you know to recover from Frozen Shoulder. If you have any questions, please leave a comment or send an email. Namaste.