The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Chinese Stretching Method
Posted by Pathompy (Delray Beach) on 11/01/2016
★★★★★
I was experiencing frozen shoulder about 7-8 out of 10 in the pain department for about 2 weeks. Sleeping at night extremely difficult for only for a few hours at night. Last night I hung my frozen shoulder arm over the bed for 10 min with excellent results. Sleep last night was pleasant without constant pain of the shoulder all locked up. I'm thankful for the advice and the significant increased mobility.
Chinese Stretching Method
Posted by Rodilyn (California) on 08/12/2016
★★★★★
Omg THANK YOU. I stumbled across your post and I have INSTANT relief. I did both stretches, hanging off the side of the bed, and the side - and my range of motion improved at least 50% in FIVE MINUTES. I can't tell you how happy I am. Thank you thank you. Every other stretch /exercise I've tried to do was painful and tedious. Wow, how does everyone not know about these simple stretches. Xoxo
Turmeric
Posted by Charles (Saint Cloud , Florida) on 12/31/2007
★★★★★
I started taking turmeric powder about 2 and a half years ago, after seeing on a famous news show that it was one of the main ingredients in a pill that was able to reduce your antioxidant level to zero. I did a little research and saw there was little Alhiemers in India, where it is a big part of the diet. I was having a bit of a memory problem at the time. Anyways, after about 3 months of taking a tablespoon a day, I noticed my shoulder pain went away. My doctor had said he could do nothing for it, as it was arthitis and that he had it also. Now I notice that I don't seem too concern about memory and I have regained some interest in reading articles. I have had several, 3, cases of skin cancer in the last year, hopefully its due to the years of living in a tropical climate. I tried to stop taking it a couple of times to see what would happen and my shoulder pain seem to start to come back. So apparently it did not cure it but stopped the pain and I am now able to shoot basketball or any other activity. I put it in water and stir it up and swallow the half a cup very quickly as I do not like the taste. I order it 5 pounds at a time and keep a 10 pound supply on hand. Be careful it stains things yellow.
Olive Oil
Posted by Laurie (New York) on 05/06/2024
★★★★★
Hi, I recently read that quality Olive Oil was used topically in a study on pain relief and so I gave it a try today on my sore shoulder. I rubbed about 2 teaspoons well into my skin, and guess what? It took about 85% of the pain away for several hours! Just make sure you're not wearing a nice piece of clothing that could get stained, lol.
Hope this helps!
Lysine, Iodine
Posted by susan (buffalo) on 10/08/2021
★★★★★
This worked for my family:
1) l-lysine. 500 mg twice a day (1000mg total per day)
plus
2) 2000 micrograms iodine once a day
Take the above for three weeks beyond when you feel better. You will probably feel better in about a week plus take the above for three more weeks= four weeks total. Limit your coffee intake severely at this time.
This is the same recipe to take for anyone with a frozen shoulder that has occurred spontaneously/without injury. Based on my experience, I believe a frozen shoulder this way is caused by a virus.
Castor Oil
Posted by P. Raghavan (Virudhunagar, Tn, India) on 07/22/2018
Mark,
Glad to hear that castor oil worked for your Rotator Cuff Injury. Castor oil has very high antioxidant level (ORP level) of about - 200 milliVolt (mV). Antioxidants are needed to repair damaged cells in our body. Antioxidants in castor oil can penetrate our skin and reach nearby damaged cells in the body.
A similar treatment can be tried for eye vision problem due to damaged cells in the eye. One can apply castor oil lightly near eyes at night. One can expect gradual improvement in vision.
Best wishes.
P. Raghavan.
Castor Oil
Posted by JJ (Australia) on 11/16/2020
Interesting about the castor oil. DMSO worked great for me, applied topically and orally. Combined with MgCl oil. Needs to be a pure dmso as the only ingredient or something like 99.8%, preferably in glass bottle (I wouldn't buy 90% of the dmso products out there). Dmso takes anything with it direct into the bloodstream/ through your body, so clean dry hands also. Start with several times per day. I apply the dmso first with hands or organic cotton ball, then spray the mgcl and rub in. Leave 30 mins to dry. There is a youtube video with Dr Jacobs on 60 Minutes about dmso. Can't believe it's not used more, but then pain pills might not be needed. Cheers.
Chin Up Bar
Posted by Caroline (Essex) on 03/11/2021
How did you manage this as my husband cannot lift his arm above his head?
Miracle Balls
Posted by Natural Jenn (California) on 08/07/2013
★★★★☆
The miracle balls were a life saver for me. But I was also very helped by acupuncture. After the second acupuncture visit, the acute sharp pains in my shoulders went away but the nagging muscle aches, especially underneath my shouder blade was still present. Rolling on these miracle balls really gave me some relieve. I also sought the help of a viseral massage therapist and she was able to release a lot of the muscles that were all knotted up because of my frozen shoulder. I am now 6 acupuncture treatments in and getting better each week although the progess is slow.
Laser Light Therapy
Posted by Susan (Buffalo) on 03/07/2018
This is a follow up to my previous comment from 2014.
About three years later, I got a frozen shoulder on my opposite arm. This was not due to an injury such as a fall. This was caused during a virus attack with flu like symptoms (fever, runny nose, tired/malaise. nausea, a slight sore throat, etc.) My family of 4 and a foster child in my house came down with this flu like illness. They all recovered within a week-except for me. In the fifth day of this illness I felt severe pain in front of my ear, down my neck and into my right shoulder. My thyroid gland levels (TSH, T3 and T4 all went low).
The severe pain in shoulder and abnormal thyroid levels and tiredness lasted months. Blood testing revealed a CMV virus and low iodine. What helped was putting 5% Lugels iodine (4-6 drops) directly on the painful areas. I also went to Dr. Tent (Novi, Michigan). He had me take 2-500 mg tablets of lysine per day and follow a low argenine diet. I also took a 12.5 mg iodine tablet per day with a 200 mg selenium tablet per day for about 6 months. The shoulder eventually recovered however if I ever feel the slightest pain in the shoulder, I start taking lysine for about a week. I still pop a iodine pill about once a week. I was told by Dr. Tent that I am prone to viruses.
Alfalfa, DMSO
Posted by Larry C (Il, Usa) on 10/25/2013
★★★★★
I know this is long winded but since there is very little on the Earth Clinic website I felt it necessary to elaborate.
My problem started while on business in India this past May. As a field service engineer I'm required to haul around a tool case weighing over 50lbs. I believe what caused the original problem was the lifting and tossing sideways that heavy case. I don't remember there being any specific blast of pain, more like a twinge. The next day the pain was there and stiffness not allowing me to raise my arm nor extend it very far. No longer a young man but still in pretty good shape I felt (as usual) it would simple heal itself with time. All the while picking up bits and pieces of the horror stories of torn rotator cuff diagnoses, surgeries and long and painful recoveries. I simply couldn't believe I had torn a muscle.
Well, as time passed from days into months (3) I finally realized it was time to get serious and sought professional medical advice. Since I don't have a regular Dr. I simply found a local one who is part of my health ins. group. She of course wanted to do X-Rays and I immediately questioned that with "what will that show" when I knew the answer was "my bones". Since I knew there was no bone injury I balked and asked what else can I do. She mentioned physical therapy so I chose that in order to get it prescribed for insurance purposes. Before I left the Dr.'s office she was trying to find more ways to raid my health coverages by requesting a cholesterol test. I replied I didn't need one since I don't consume red meat nor consume dairy. She said she wanted to do one anyway, I said thank you and goodbye.
Not knowing exactly where to look I found tidbits here and there on what I could do to avoid the knife at all costs.
I began taking alfalfa supplements which are purported to help repair muscle as well as turmeric, MSM, and DMSO, and started physical therapy. I did a total of eight 45 minute "PT" treatments two times a week which consisted stretching and muscle exercises mostly using resistance bands and about 10 minutes each of direct therapist stretching. Progress was slow and extremely painful and then my insurance co. began to question effectiveness. I didn't realize why until the bill showed that each 45min treatment cost $316 of which I paid $30. It was then I decided to simply purchase my own resistance bands and take my healing into my own hands.
It is now five mos. after the original injury and although I still have considerable pain it is lessening and I have almost complete motion in my shoulder.
This is simply my own journey of recovery but want to aim anyone suffering this malady to what I found on youtube after I was far on my way to wellness. There are very interesting videos of trigger point therapy as well as a Canadian Dr. who uses a chiropractic method who supposedly is returning full motion after one treatment. Also look for stretching exercises to return your motion.
I, as well as others believe there is a ton of misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgery associated with this injury. Do yourself a big favor, research and treat thyself unless you've been in an accident that caused physical trauma to the shoulder.
Best of luck and thank you Earth Clinic.
Pau d'Arco
Posted by Terry (Qulin, Mo) on 09/22/2010
★★★★★
I had a frozen shoulder first in the left, then in the right. For the first time for 2 months I used cold showers. The reason it works is that it increases circulation. Frozen shoulders can be caused by diabetes or heart and circulation problems also infections have a role to play. Mine started from a wisdom tooth infection and when it was extracted, my first frozen shoulder cleared up fast.
But what got the healing started was when I drank pau de arco herb. My pain stopped almost instantly.
I drank this tea 5 times a day thereafter and the second time I also took d ribose to increase the heart output and also vitamin e and ubiquinol (the better form of coq10) also started taking baking soda 1 teaspoon morning and bedtime.
Cleared up fast then. Since found this site and using many of Teds remedies and feeling great.
DMSO, Castor Oil
Posted by Linda (Ireland ) on 02/10/2022
★★★★★
Bought dmso for my sore shoulder, I dont know why it was sore but I couldn't lift my arm above my head and it was starting to hurt even without movement, so earth clinic suggested dmso and castor oil.
1 application and after a rash, itch and a little discomfort the pain went from 9 out of 10 to like a 2.....i love herbs and old remedies and would definitely recommend this
MSM
Posted by Athena (Ohio) on 09/28/2021
Thank you so much for including the info about MSM causing heart palps. I get PVCs and PACs and need to know what sorts of things can aggravate it :).
MSM
Posted by Orh (Ten Mile , Tn) on 06/22/2020
CYNTHIA,,,,,,,,, ORH here,,,,,,, yep, it works on million dollar horses and will work on you. Posted many times that MSM is from reacting DMSO and H2O2. MSM can be taken internally or used transdermally with DMSO to drive it into yo bod. Suggest all read Dr Jacobs book on both DMSO and MSM. Worked at the farm this morning and our fruit is now breaking our pear and apple tree limbs because of the abundance of fruit. Think the Lord is getting us ready for the hard times that are coming. Just saying.
====ORH====
Castor Oil
Posted by Lisa (Minneapolis MN) on 07/15/2022
Great YouTube on Dr Jacob for DMSO. 60 Minutes was true journalism and great exposing the FDA prohibition of it. If this was done today it would be censored. Thank you.
Epsom Salt, Ice
Posted by Charity (Faithville, Us) on 11/19/2017
Three weeks. I would use castor oil hexane free and get a glove on my hand, put oil 1/2-1 tsp. on there and then wear old long sleeve t shirt and make a rice pack from a tube sock ...put a bit of rice in it, half full or less, heat in microwave and put over the castor oil area to make it penetrate into the muscle . Or use heating pad or hot water bottle.You could also add some activated charcoal 1/2 capsule in the castor oil but put saran over that before the shirt and then add heat...sleep with this overnight .... stains everything so take precautions with the works.
Chinese Stretching Method
Posted by Erica (Ontario ) on 11/21/2016
I would like to make a general comment. After seeing 6 different doctors, X rays, MRI, Ultrasounds, etc etc etc. If any of these options give you fast results the chances are you could be misdiagnosed. It may be I was, I was within minutes of paying $7500.00USD for a procedure. And then, I went for another opinion. My range of motion does not fit the "text book definition of Frozen Shoulder". My shoulder actually moves. So I am taking some of the advise given here and doing some shock therapy. I will be more than happy to give this great forum an update. I am doing MSN, DMSO, Shock and non traditional physio which involves stretching and some standard physio exercises (which includes the stretching listed here) I am so happy I found this site.
Acupuncture
Posted by Eve (Sydney, Australia ) on 07/02/2024 16 posts
★★★★★
I had a severe frozen shoulder. The only thing that cured it was twice weekly then weekly acupuncture.
Remove Amalgam Fillings
Posted by sumner (renfrew, pa.) on 03/14/2023
★★★★★
amalgam fillings link to frozen shoulder?
This is a short post as It's late. My wife had 2 frozen shoulders and mercury is a great mimicker and sets up shop where you are genetically weak (read Huggin's book 'its all in your head").
Mercury in teeth short-circuits voltage and makes healing almost impossible on associated meridians. reference: healing is voltage jerry tennant.
My wife is HEALED.
Orthobionomist
Posted by Jo Black (Australia) on 04/03/2020
★★★★★
I recently had a Rotator Cuff injury which was getting steadily worse over the course of 3 months and causing me agonising pain with most movements. I went to my doctor in desperation who said he believed it to be rotator cuff but would need an MRI or Ultrasound to confirm which would cost $300 and $200 respectively. I decided I would rather put this money into seeking alternative treatment and saw an Orthobionomist who works in a similar way to an Osteopath only instead of stretching out a painful muscle they help the body go with the contraction which prompts the muscle to release. Well, after the first session the shoulder felt better but it only lasted a day. The benefits of the second weekly session lasted 3 days and the treatment progressed in this way until my 4th session, after which the benefits were permanent. The shoulder is about 98% totally cured and each day it gets a little bit better. I only had 4 sessions in total and did not believe physical adjustment could have such profound results.
Magnesium Oil
Posted by Art (California) on 07/20/2022 2325 posts
Rho,
I generally suggest to people who have not tried mag oil (MO) previously to by an 8 ounce bottle of already made MO first to see if they find it beneficial or not before buying a larger bag of dry flakes to make it yourself less expensively. Here is a typical 8 ounce bottle :
https://www.amazon.com/Magnesium-Oil-Spray-STRENGTH-Essential/dp/B01N0KQ9QJ/ref=sxin_17?content-id=amzn1.sym.1c94c7d0-cb77-4dde-85cf-ebc6f981735d:amzn1.sym.1c94c7d0-cb77-4dde-85cf-ebc6f981735d&crid=2GDYJQM6QECDF&cv_ct_cx=mag+oil&keywords=mag+oil&pd_rd_i=B01N0KQ9QJ&pd_rd_r=ff7481a0-a412-44fa-bde8-2efc6f1eb636&pd_rd_w=AVOiJ&pd_rd_wg=p3bgb&pf_rd_p=1c94c7d0-cb77-4dde-85cf-ebc6f981735d&pf_rd_r=E2Z6FCHHSD95ZYMQZG4J&qid=1658345136&sprefix=mag+oil,aps,3298&sr=1-2-92ed6bd7-1c6c-44b2-bb2d-fa5d1bc0d642
If you find the spray helpful, save the bottle to refill when you make your own MO from magnesium chloride flakes. Here is a link to a typical bag of magnesium chloride flakes:
https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Minerals-Magnesium-Zechstein-Chloride/dp/B00BBD508C/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3RA0LRS4LCM49&keywords=magnesium+chloride+flakes+bulk&qid=1658345469&s=beauty&sprefix=magnesium+chloride+flakes,beauty,121&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1&smid=A30WKDBFDH8MJ&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyTlNUVEJHTzNaRTJIJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjI3OTg5MjYzWlBCMVM2Wlc3SCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjEwNzg5SjZDS0RHSFpZWUJTJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
A bag this size will refill that 8 ounce bottle at least 20 times to give you an idea of how cost effective it is to make your own MO from flakes.
When I make my MO, I used a 16 ounce mason jar or similar. I place a piece of scotch tape as a marker for 4 ounces and then I use a marking pen to mark exactly where 4 ounces is and do the same for the 8 ounce mark on the jar. I then add distilled water to the 4 ounce mark. Now add the mag flakes until the 8 ounce mark is reached. Place the lid back on the mason jar and shake vigorously. Let sit for 15 minutes and shake vigorously again. Now refill your spray bottle. Once I refill the spray bottle, I make another batch just like the first one but just leave it in the mason jar until needed.
Many commercial products are as strong as 70%, but with experience I have found that 50% is faster drying while being just as effective as 70%. Another thing that I found useful is that if you feel the effects of the MO wearing off, you can just wet the area with plain water where you previously applied the original MO, rub it in and you should note a return of pain relief without applying MO again. This only works once, but is easy and is MO sparing. This ionic form is well absorbed through the skin.
Please give us feedback on your MO using experience and I highly recommend you read some of those 4837 reviews in order to get an idea of what people use MO for beside muscle and joint pain, muscle cramps, fibromyalgia or bath soaks.
Art
Chinese Stretching Method
Posted by Ellie (Minneapolis) on 07/09/2022
I tried to understand this Chinese stretching method for frozen shoulder and did it 2 different ways. Both were wrong! LOL Face down and hung arm. Face up and suspended arm overhead. Then I did a wall stretch with arms extended and knees bent. All in all, any kind of stretch helps a tiny bit. Here is a Youtuber demonstrating the correct stretch. I need a breather and will give that a try as well! Good luck everyone!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A3JVP91Rno
Dietary Changes
Posted by Mimi (Central Ohio) on 03/29/2018
★★★★★
I agree very much with this post. For me, if I eat too much gluten I get so much pain in the shoulders and upper arms that I can barely sleep. Dr. William Davis who wrote "Wheat Belly" says there is more sugar in two slices of bread than in a candy bar! Who knew! If I stay off gluten I have absolutely no pain!
Chinese Stretching Method
Posted by Beth (London, England) on 08/02/2016
★★★★★
Frozen shoulder - stretching
I damaged some tendons in one arm doing heavy overhead lopping. I thought rest would be the best cure but the problem developed into frozen shoulder. I realised after 3 months rest was achieving worse than nothing so finally saw the doctor who recommended 400 mg ibuprofen 3 times daily on a full stomach for 2 weeks to reduce the inflammation. Not something I would normally consider.
After a week the pain and presumably the inflammation did reduce and I tried to hang my arm down over the edge of a bed/sofa, as suggested by Teh's post below.
Very painful at first and I could only manage to dip the elbow down, not the whole arm. But persevere. Day 3 and I can now almost hang the arm down, but some support, resting hand on floor, is still required. Nevertheless this is real progress. Inch by inch I'm getting further. The arm can now get above the horizontal in forward motion but sideways and backward motion is still very limited.
It is absolutely not possible yet to hang the head and arm over the head as also suggested here, but it's a good start.
If you want to take alfalfa or another herbal anti inflammatory in addition to ibuprofen, please research possible interactions, especially if you have any bleeding issues.
Laser Light Therapy
Posted by Susan (Buffalo, Ny) on 01/26/2014
★★★★★
Laser light therapy was a Godsend for the frozen shoulder. It was hell on earth with the pain and lack of function for the shoulder for almost two years. After two sessions of laser light therapy per week for a month, there was significant ease of pain and shoulder movement. I now have full function of the shoulder and no pain. Every once in a while I feel a twinge in that shoulder and I go and have a laser light treatment (through my Chiropractor).
Chinese Stretching Method
Posted by Starsa (Londonderry, Nh) on 03/12/2014
Was wondering if you could clarify this. Laying in bed as normal but just closer to the edge, with arm hanging down and hear bent so that it falls off the side of the bed, or laying sideways on bed with head hanging down and arm extended up over head?...lol where is a whiteboard when you need it :)
Chinese Stretching Method
Posted by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 03/29/2014
Teh, one should never go "into" the pain. This exercise is good if taken VERY slowly and patiently and only to the point of feeling a slight stretch, each time or two, that point will get farther.
Epsom Salt, Ice
Posted by Timh (Ky) on 11/19/2017 2048 posts
Try a Heat Pad. Also likely need Bone mineral supplementation like:
Cal/Mag
Boron (plus Ted's Borax remedy here on E.C.)
Manganese
Strontium
plus Vit-D & K
SalonPas are worth a try.
Vitamins D & K
Posted by Any (Ia) on 02/27/2015
★★★★★
Anyone with frozen shoulder should research vitamin d3, vitamin k2-4, and to a lesser degree, calcium and zinc intake. The vitamin k2-4 keeps the calcium in your bones where it belongs, and the vitamin d3 helps regulate your hormone levels.
Chin Up Bar
Posted by Flora (Rsm) on 02/21/2018
My mom has frozen shoulder on both shoulders for a long time. I hope this works for her! Thank you for sharing your experience with us!
Chinese Stretching Method
Posted by Teh (Australia) on 03/28/2014
Hi Starsa,
Lay with your head at the foot of the bed (feet pointing toward pillows). Your head should be on the edge and arms above your head, hanging over the edge of the bed.
A couple of points to keep in mind, there will be some pain in the area of the shoulder with this issue, but it is a matter of persevering with it.
Another point is when you retract your arms to your sides, you will probably need to assist the affected arm with the opposite arm or have someone to assist you. It certainly does bite!!
Bottom line is: NO PAIN NO GAIN.
Cheers, Teh.
Chinese Stretching Method
Posted by Rajesh (Chennai, India) on 01/28/2015
hi, could anyone, show us any photo/drawing about the position please?
Alfalfa, DMSO
Posted by Larry C (Il, Usa) on 10/25/2013
Update:
Just wanted to show what looks like a very promising non surgical proceedure. Wish I had found it earlier. You'll need to do some research but I found much on YouTube.
The Oolo-Austin Trigenics Frozen shoulder treatment procedure is an unprecedentedly non-surgical operation which is rapidly becoming accepted as being the world's best and most successful treatment for the condition called "Adhesive Capsulitis" which is otherwise known as "Frozen Shoulder". No surgical dissection instruments are used and no actual cutting or incisions of tissue is performed requiring sutures. Patients undergoing the operation are not put under general anesthetic although local injections of anesthetic are sometimes administered.
The OAT procedure was invented and developed by Dr. Allan Gary Oolo-Austin in 2002. Dr. Oolo Austin, who has been in practice for over 30 years, is an Osteopathic Physician and Doctor of Chiropractic with a doctorate in Manual Medicine. He also holds specialty designations in physical rehabilitation and sports medicine.
Pau d'Arco
Posted by Tanya (Connecticut ) on 05/31/2023
Has anyone ever considered, whether parasites are the culprit for frozen shoulder and joint pain?
Cold Showers
Posted by Teresa (Bentonville, Ar ) on 09/05/2010
★★★★★
15 days ago I came down with all the symptoms of a frozen shoulder. This is an extremely painful condition in the shoulder that makes it feel sort of like its falling off. Every movement hurts, and no movement hurts. Sleep is all but impossible, because its so hard to find a place to rest your arm that does not hurt. This condition can last for 8 months to 3 years, and may not go away at all. My sister had frozen shoulder several years ago, so I'd seen the condition first hand with her.
After 4 days of frantic searching, I found the cold shower remedy. I started taking them 3-4 times a day when I realized it was helping with the pain. It's been 15 days, I'm down to 2 cold showers a day.
My mobility is getting close to normal. I missed my second shower yesterday, and the nighttime pain was back so at 4 in the morning I'm cold showering again. I will not miss again for a while. I told a nephew who is overweight about it, he has severe hip pain, and he said it's really helping him as well. Just water... Go figure!
