Good Health | To Your Good Health: Drugs, Other Remedies Help Refrigerated Shoulder

Q: After months of stepping up shoulder suffering joined with dwindling mobility, we schooled that Ihad a refrigerated shoulder.

My doctor says that nothing we can do will help my shoulder reanimate but that it will reanimate after itruns its march of about two years. Most disruptive is the suffering at night - that wakes me hourly.I attempted Vicodin, but it kept me awake. Is there anything that may be done?

A: A refrigerated shoulder is a that has turn stationary and painful. It infrequently happens after aninjury, quite a that forces a person to keep the shoulder motionless. It can moreover occurfrom overuse.

A earthy therapist can uncover you protected work-out that will steadily unfreeze the joint.

At night, put a sham beneath your shoulder. Take a comfortable showering before bed and send the streamto your shoulder. If feverishness doesn't work, an ice fill up might. Keep it there for no more than 15minutes.

Has your doctor ever referred to a cortisone shot? It frequently can ease the inflammation that causesthe pain.

Have you attempted nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Motrin, Advil and naproxen? A newone, called Pennsaid, comes as a glass you request to the skin. There's moreover Voltaren gel, appliedin the same way, and the Flector skin patch. Nucynta, a newer medicine, takes caring of more severepain.

With such an an bountiful of suffering relievers, you shouldn't have to suffer.

Q: we am 68 and found out at age 62 that we have osteopenia. we began a severe exercise programand walked 5 miles 3 or 4 days a week. we took calcium and a multivitamin every day. we nowhave osteoporosis. My doctor gave me all the bisphosphonate medicines - Fosamax, Actonel andBoniva.

I saw a rheumatologist, who mentioned we am a important participant for Forteo. we have fractured threevertebrae; Forteo is the usually disinfectant that rebuilds bone, since the others slow or end boneloss. Why haven't we seen Forteo advertised? It's been on the marketplace since 2002. It isexpensive.

A: Forteo is a lab-made copy of parathyroid hormone, that keeps calcium in balance. we can'tgive you a great reason because it's not advertised.

Forteo does bring a bell that it has caused bone tumors in lab animals given many times morethan the protected sip used in humans. It has to be given by an injection. we ponder Forteo aworthwhile investment for the not responding to other osteoporosis treatments.

There is moreover a new drug, Prolia (denosumab), that's taken usually twice a year. It's expensive,too.

Dr. Donohue answers letters usually in his North America Syndicate mainstay but provides an orderform of existing health newsletters. Write him at

P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.