Like many conditions, a frozen shoulder can occur
without your knowledge and you only realize when it starts hurting. If you are
experiencing pain and stiffness when you move your arm at a certain angle, and
you did not involve in any physical activity or there is no injury, it's
probably because of the frozen shoulder.
Medically known as adhesive capsulitis, a frozen shoulder restricts your hand movement and makes it difficult to move it around. This can heal without medical intervention but takes one year to three to do that. Instead, seeking medical help will determine the condition and speed up the recovery process.
This blog is all about the reasons behind a frozen shoulder, whether it gets healed on its own, what type of medical help you should look for and when you should go for it, and many such questions. Continue reading to know more.
Reasons for Frozen Shoulder
Long-term inactivity, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, hormonal imbalances, weakened immunity, injury or surgery to the shoulder, there can be many reasons behind a frozen shoulder. In most cases it is because of the inactivity and injuries.
In addition, people who did not follow the recovery measures after a shoulder surgery or a stroke. Also, it can occur in people with thyroid issues.
Different Stages of a Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder is a chronic condition that,
sometimes, takes 9-12 months to cause any sort of pain. Based on the severity
of pain and discomfort, a frozen shoulder can happen in three stages.
- Freezing stage - All of a sudden you wake with certain discomfort in your shoulder. It will not be that severe initially but restricts your hand movement at a certain angle. It can occur between 6-9 months.
- Frozen stage - The pain might become worse or there won't be any pain but the stiffness would not let you do the things that you used to. It can disrupt daily living activities too.
- Releasing stage - After a span of 2-3 years, a frozen shoulder will get normal, restoring all the activities of your daily living.
Major Symptoms of a Frozen Shoulder
Pain, stiffness, and limited movement are the
aftermath of a frozen shoulder. It does not have any other symptoms in
particular. However, you need to be aware of these symptoms to seek medical
help at the earliest. In some cases, earlier involvement of an orthopedic
specialist can turn the things in your favour.
When to seek medical help?
Frozen shoulders (the determined ones) can be left untreated if the difficulty is minimal. In the cases where the pain and stiffness are on the rise, visiting your nearest orthopedic hospital would be a wise thing to do.
After conducting the physical examination, your joint care specialist will start the treatment process. Usually the doctor might prescribe medications combined with physical therapy for frozen shoulder. A few cases might require surgery to be cured.
Treatment for Frozen Shoulder
Physical therapy involves stretching the joints from the permitted range to beyond. The goal is to improve movement to gently break the adhesions in the shoulder. The treatment will also involve medications that include anti-inflammatory medications, and steroids that should be injected on the shoulder itself.
Surgery for Frozen Shoulder
When the above two options are not working, your doctor might recommend a surgery. The orthopedic surgeon will perform a surgery on your shoulder to manipulate and break the adhesions. In another option, an arthroscope will be used to cut the scar tissue and bring the shoulder back to its normal position.
The physical therapy sessions should be continued after a surgery in order to avoid the formation of scar tissue. This prevents recurrence of the frozen shoulder.
Key Takeaways
A frozen shoulder can disrupt simple activities like putting on a shirt or switching on a light. Even though there is no instant cure for frozen shoulder, seeking medical help at the right time from the right orthopedic specialist can help you avoid a bundle of pain and discomfort.
If you have been diagnosed with the frozen shoulder,
practice the prescribed exercises regularly, take the medications, and follow a
healthy daily routine. If the issue still persists, book an appointment at the
nearest orthopedic hospital to find a cure.
Reviewed by Fimshospitals
on
September 05, 2020
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