Frozen Shoulder – Causes, Symptoms, and Best Treatments

Is your shoulder aching and feeling stiff? Moreover, does it refuse to move less than usual? Then, chances are, you are suffering from a condition called frozen shoulder.

OK. Fret not – as this is a pretty common condition. Of course, the underlying cause matters. But millions suffer from this. So, you aren’t alone.

Nevertheless, understanding what it is, its causes, symptoms, and ways of treating it are necessary to ease it and prevent it from worsening further.

What is a Frozen Shoulder and its Stages?

Also called adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder causes pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint. The human shoulder joint has a capsule of connective tissue around it. Frozen shoulder thickens and tightens the capsule around the joint, limiting its movements.

Frozen shoulder doesn’t develop in a day or two but over a period in stages, including;

• Freezing Stage: Pain increases slowly with any shoulder movement, restricting its movement. This stage can last from 2-9 months.
• Frozen Stage: During this stage, the pain may subside. However, the shoulder becomes even stiffer, making it challenging to perform routine activities. The duration of this stage is 4-12 months.
• Thawing Stage: The shoulder’s range of motion steadily improves. This stage can take from five months to two years to develop.

What Causes Frozen Shoulder?

You’ve seen that the frozen shoulder condition develops over a wide time frame. However, what causes it? Let’s understand some reasons people suffer from it.

• Prolonged Immobilization: Lack of movement after surgery, pain or various other shoulder-related conditions can freeze the shoulder over a period.
• Diabetes: This condition potentially causes changes in collagen and connective tissues and results in a frozen shoulder.
• Injury or Surgery: Fractures, rotator-cuff injuries, or post-operative recovery may restrict the shoulder movement, increasing its risk as time progresses.
• Health Conditions: Some conditions like Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, or thyroid disorders (particularly hypothyroidism) can lead to a frozen shoulder.
• Shoulder Capsule Inflammation: As mentioned earlier, the thickening and tightening of the capsule around the shoulder joint can lead to pain and stiffness.
• Gender and Age: The condition affects women more than men and the age group under risk is between 40 and 60.

What are the Symptoms of Frozen Shoulders?

Adhesive capsulitis shows the following symptoms.

• Pain: The condition causes dull or aching pain in the upper arm and outer shoulder. This pain may worsen during the night and when you move the shoulder.
• Stiffness: Moving the shoulder, overhead or behind the back, may become challenging. This can limit routine activities like reaching for things, dressing, etc.
• Restricted Range of Motion: The shoulder gradually loses its active (self-moving) and passive (when someone else moves it for you) motion.

How to Treat Frozen Shoulder?

One must treat a frozen shoulder through appropriate medical intervention. While the type of treatment may vary with the person and their condition, some measures include;

• Self-Management

Self-management depends on your condition to what extent it has worsened. Thus, while pursuing self-care, you must still consult a doctor who would recommend the following.

• Rest (Without Complete Immobilization): While giving your shoulder some rest, you must avoid lifting heavy objects or movements that aggravate the pain. But you should continue moving the shoulder gently to prevent further stiffness.
• Cold Packs: Applying ice packs can reduce sharp pain and inflammation.
• Heat Therapy: Apply a warm compress before stretching to loosen up the shoulder.

• Physiotherapy

You can undergo physiotherapy under expert guidance. The type of physiotherapy depends upon your specific condition. However, generally speaking, the physiotherapist will ask you to perform stretching and range-of-motion exercises and move the arm to encourage movement without straining (passive motion techniques).

• Pain Management

This often includes consuming over-the-counter pain relievers like NSAIDs to reduce pain and inflammation. However, in worse cases, doctors may prescribe stronger pain relievers. In some early cases, corticosteroid injections into the shoulder joint can reduce pain and enhance mobility.

• Surgery

Surgeons consider surgery under specific conditions and usually in severe cases. A couple of alternatives, depending on the patient’s condition, include;

• Manipulation Under Anesthesia: Your shoulder is gently moved while you are asleep to break up adhesions.
• Arthroscopic Capsular Release: The surgeon cuts the tight joint capsule with the help of minimally invasive techniques to enhance your shoulder movements.

• Alternative Therapies or Treatments

Alternative treatments, depending on the treatment’s suitability, include acupuncture or massage therapy. The latter helps reduce muscle tightness and pain.

Experiencing Frozen Shoulder Symptoms?

Then, don’t live with them or allow them to worsen. Visit Ranka Hospital and seek expert treatment. We are orthopedic specialists with several decades of collective experience. Our comprehensive diagnosis and personalized treatment help you relieve the symptoms of a frozen shoulder, reduce pain, and enhance your range of motion. Call us at +91 – 20 – 24261530 to schedule an appointment with our doctors.