Understanding Frozen Shoulder: Your Journey to Pain-free Movement

A frozen shoulder is a condition where the shoulder joint loses its movement. This joint is one of the most mobile joints in the body. It consists of the humeral head or ball and glenoid or socket. When the shoulder is frozen the joint gets stuck and its movement is restricted.

Causes

Frozen Shoulder is generally caused by inflammation i.e. swelling, pain, and irritation of the surrounding tissues of the joint. The tissue surrounding the joints and holding them together is called the Capsule. During a normal circumstance, the capsule has folds that expand and contract as the hand moves. But during a frozen shoulder, the capsule gets scarred and inflamed. The shoulder movement is limited and the joint movement becomes painful as the capsule’s fold becomes scarred and tightened.

There is no definite reason that causes a frozen shoulder. The weakening of the shoulder joint due to an injury or accident can cause a frozen shoulder. Inflammation of the muscles and tendons, such as rotator cuff tendinitis or bursitis, can cause the shoulder joint to freeze.

How to diagnose a Frozen Shoulder?

On noticing the symptoms your doctor may advise you to undergo several tests like X-RAY to determine the condition properly. These tests are also important to rule out the possibility of conditions like arthritis, calcium deposits, etc.

How is frozen shoulder treated?

The motive of the treatment is to increase mobility and decrease pain. To increase mobility, physiotherapy is advised. The physiotherapist or a pain specialist moves the arm of the patient to stretch the capsule. He also teaches the patient home exercises.

Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, Naprosyn, or Aleve are routinely prescribed by doctors to relieve pain. Tylenol or opioids may be recommended to relieve discomfort following therapy or to aid with sleep. Steroid injections into the joint or bursa are sometimes necessary. Steroids such as prednisone, taken orally, may be used to reduce inflammation.

Conclusion

Frozen Shoulder creates Hindrances in the day-to-day life of many individuals. The condition causes excruciating pain in the arms, so much so that the patient is unable to sleep at night. Regular activities like wearing clothes also become a heavy task. Not only that, the patients face difficulty in drinking tea/coffee or eating food. Consulting a pain specialist can help them get relief from this painful condition. Home exercises prescribed by the pain specialist also help a great deal.

If a frozen shoulder is making your life a living hell, don’t wait your time Visit Health Village Hospital (Best Multispecialty hospital in Bhubaneswar )!!