Frozen Shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)

Frozen shoulder occurs when the capsule thickens and tightens around the shoulder joint, restricting its movement. Symptoms stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. Symptoms generally begin slowly, then get worse. Over time, symptoms get better, usually within 1 to 3 years.

Having to keep a shoulder still for a long period increases the risk of developing frozen shoulder. This might happen after having surgery or breaking an arm. It’s usual to recur in the same shoulder. But some people can develop it in the other shoulder, usually within five years.

Treatment involves range-of-motion exercises. Sometimes treatment involves corticosteroids and numbing medications injected into the joint. Rarely, arthroscopic surgery is needed to loosen the joint capsule so that it can move more freely.

Shreya Hospital at Ghaziabad is popular in providing best solution for Frozen Shoulder. Orthopedic Surgeon working here with expertise can help you to reduce the symptoms and can guide you well enough to prevent recurrence of the disease.

Symptoms

Develops slowly in three stages.

• Freezing stage. Any movement of the shoulder causes pain, and the shoulder’s ability to move becomes limited. This stage lasts from 2 to 9 months.
• Frozen stage. Pain might lessen during this stage. However, the shoulder becomes stiffer. Using it becomes more difficult. This stage lasts from 4 to 12 months.
• Thawing stage. The shoulder’s ability to move begins to improve. This stage lasts from 5 to 24 months.

For some people, the pain worsens at night, sometimes disrupting sleep.

Causes of Frozen shoulder

The shoulder joint is enclosed in a capsule of connective tissue. Frozen shoulder occurs when the capsule thickens and tightens around the shoulder joint, restricting its movement.

There is no specific reason, why this happens to some people. But it’s more likely to happen after keeping a shoulder still for a long period, such as after surgery or an arm fracture.

Risk factors

Certain factors may increase the risk of developing frozen shoulder.

Age and sex

People 40 and older, particularly women, are more likely to have frozen shoulder.

Immobility or reduced mobility

People who’ve had to keep a shoulder somewhat still are at higher risk of developing frozen shoulder. Restricted movement can be the result of many factors, including:

• Rotator cuff injury
• Broken arm
• Stroke
• Recovery from surgery

People who have certain diseases appear more likely to develop frozen shoulder. Diseases that might increase risk include:

• Diabetes
• Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
• Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
• Cardiovascular disease
• Parkinson’s disease

Diagnosis of Frozen Shoulder

During the physical exam, a Specialist might ask you to move your arm in certain ways. This is to check for pain and see how far you can move your arm (active range of motion). Then you might be asked to relax your muscles while the provider moves your arm (passive range of motion). Frozen shoulder affects both active and passive range of motion.

It can usually be diagnosed from signs and symptoms alone. But imaging tests — such as X-rays, ultrasound or MRI — can rule out other problems.

Treatments of Frozen Shoulder

The procedure fallowed by Orthopedic Specialists at Shreya Hospital for frozen shoulder treatment mostly involves controlling shoulder pain and preserving as much range of motion in the shoulder as possible.

Medications

Pain relievers such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) can help reduce pain and inflammation associated with frozen shoulder. In some cases, a health care provider might prescribe stronger pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Therapy

A physical therapist can teach you range-of-motion exercises to help recover your shoulder movement. Your commitment to doing these exercises is necessary to regain as much movement as possible.

Surgical and other procedures

Most frozen shoulders get better on their own with time. For severe or persistent symptoms, other treatments include:

• Steroid injections. Injecting corticosteroids into the shoulder joint might help decrease pain and improve shoulder mobility, especially if given soon after frozen shoulder begins.
• Hydrodilatation. Injecting sterile water into the joint capsule can help stretch the tissue and make it easier to move the joint. This is sometimes combined with a steroid injection.
• Shoulder manipulation. This procedure involves a medication called a general anesthetic, so you’ll be unconscious and feel no pain. Then the care provider moves the shoulder joint in different directions to help loosen the tightened tissue.
• Surgery. Surgery for frozen shoulder is rare. But if nothing else helps, surgery can remove scar tissue from inside the shoulder joint. This surgery usually involves making small incisions for small instruments guided by a tiny camera inside the joint (arthroscopy).