KNOW MORE ABOUT FROZEN SHOULDER
Frozen shoulder is also known as adhesive capsulitis. It is a condition that causes stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. The symptoms typically begin very gradually, worsen over time and then get resolved within one to three years.
The risk of developing frozen shoulder increases if you are recovering from a medical condition or surgery that prevents you from moving your arm.
Even after treatment, frozen shoulder can recur in the same shoulder and sometimes in the opposite shoulder.
SYMPTOMS OF FROZEN SHOULDER
The symptoms develop over some time and mainly in three stages:
Freezing stage
It is when any movement of your shoulder causes pain and the range of motion for your shoulder becomes limited.
Frozen stage
The pain in the first stage starts to subside during this stage. But the shoulder gets stiffer and using it becomes more difficult.
Thawing stage
In this stage, the range of motion improves and you can move your shoulder with some ease.
The pain of a frozen shoulder may worsen at night and sometimes it will disturb your sleep.
THE MAIN CAUSES
To understand the causes, we should first look at the structure of a shoulder joint. The bones, ligaments and tendons that make the shoulder joint are encased in a capsule of connective tissue. Due to various reasons, this capsule may get thickened and tightens around the shoulder joint, restricting its movement.
Though doctors are not sure why this happens, it is more likely to happen in people who have chronic ailments like diabetes or those who were immobilized due to surgery or an arm fracture.
THE RISK FACTORS
Certain factors increase your risk of getting frozen shoulder. People who are forty and over, especially women are more likely to have frozen shoulder. Those who have been immobilized due to rotator cuff injury, broken arm, stroke or surgeries are also prone to developed the condition. If you suffer from certain diseases like diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, cardiovascular disease, tuberculosis and Parkinson’s disease are also at risk of developing frozen shoulder.
WHAT IS THE TREATMEN?
Treatment for frozen shoulder involves a range of exercises and at times corticosteroids are given. Sometimes doctors administer numbing medications which get injected into the joint capsule. In a small number of cases, arthroscopic surgery may be performed to loosen the joint capsule to enable it to move freely.
WHAT IS THE PREVENTION?
Frozen shoulder may be prevented especially if you are recovering from stroke or surgery by asking your doctor to guide you about exercises you can do to maintain the motion in your shoulder joint.
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