Has anyone had a frozen shoulder and had it manipulated under anasthesia?

Question

Or are you a medical professional familair with the procedure? What are the chances of my arm breaking? I would be totally SCREWED if I cannot drive.

Answer 1

On two separate occasions I have dislocated my shoulder playing rugby, each time it was so frozen that I needed to be placed under general to manipulate it back into place. Emergency doctors are very used to correcting frozen shoulders, I couldn't see there being any complications. Having said that, I doubt they could break your arm if they tried.

Answer 2

What is frozen is the joint capsule around the shoulder joint also called adhesive capsulitis. The manipulation will break up the adhesions(it sounds like a machine gun when it is done). The doctor will only take your shoulder through its normal range so there is hardly any chance of fracture or tearing of muscle. Make sure you have an orthopaedic doctor doing the procedure and be prepared to be very sore. Ice is the best. Usually, the doctor will send patients to a physical therapist right afterwards so you can keep the new range of motion and not let the shoulder freeze up again.

Answer 3

I had a frozen shoulder treated with a cortisone shot and exercise. After a few days it started improving. I have about 90% use now... took about a month of careful stretching.

Don't know about the manipulation thing, though. Not sure if I would trust it. I went to a sports doctor (orthopedics). I shy away from chiropractic.

Answer 4

I had a severe shoulder dislocation, and by the time the swelling had gone down and I was ready for surgery, by shoulder was frozen. My Surgeon was an ex-NFL linebacker, and he said he to use all his strength to push my shoulder over my head (under anesthesia).