Frozen shoulder treatment in Hyderabad | Dr. Vasudeva Juvvadi

A frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a painful condition in which the shoulder becomes stiff and inflamed, and movement becomes limited.

The connective tissue surrounding the shoulder joint capsule becomes stiff, and thick and causes inflammation and pain. The condition is known as a frozen shoulder.  The ligaments present in the joint capsule attach the humeral head (the top of the upper arm bone) to the glenoid (the shoulder socket) keeping the joint firm and holding it in its place. This type of joint is known as a ball and socket joint.

A person who suffers from this condition experiences severe pain whenever he or she tries to move the shoulder. Therefore, when the pain is more moving the shoulder, it is less likely to be used. Due to lack of movement, the shoulder capsule tends to become thick and tight – leading to a frozen shoulder. The name is given as frozen shoulder for this reason only.

What are the signs and symptoms of a frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder is a painful condition with the following stages:

The freezing stage: In the beginning, pain progressively increases and becomes severe with movement. The shoulder begins to become stiff and it becomes difficult to move the shoulder. The pain and symptoms get worse at night. The inability to move the shoulder increases. This stage may last for up to several weeks or months.

The frozen stage: Though the pain subsides during this stage becoming less, stiffness in the shoulder joint increases. The completion of daily tasks may become a herculean task for many people. This stage may last for several months.

The Recovery (thawing) stage: The shoulder regains some movement with a reduction in stiffness and pain. The movement also improves gradually. However, complete recovery can occur only when motion and strength become normal. The stage may last for several months to years.

What are the risk factors for a frozen shoulder?

Gender: It is common in women compared to men.

It occurs commonly between ages of 40 to 60 years.

Diabetes: Approximately 15 to 20 percent of people with diabetes mellitus develop frozen shoulders.

Previous shoulder surgery or recent injury:  Fractures of the shoulder blade and rotator cuff tear, upper arm fracture, collarbone fracture, and rotator cuff tear can restrict the shoulder from moving. A recent injury or surgery of the shoulder can also result in the need to keep the shoulder from moving.

Stroke: Aftermath of stroke results in restricted arm and shoulder movement due to weakness. This may lead to a frozen shoulder. In addition, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland), and hypothyroidism can also lead to a frozen shoulder.

Diagnosis of Frozen shoulder

Your orthopedic doctor performs a physical examination of your arms and shoulder and asks a few questions. The doctor also takes into account your symptoms and medical history. The doctor will see whether your shoulder is moving in all directions. He will also check whether you feel any pain with the movement. Your orthopedic doctor performs this passive range of motion determination. Your doctor will also see you moving your shoulder to check your active range of motion. Your orthopedic doctor will check both active as well as passive range of motion. The two types of motions are compared. This is done to see whether you have a limited range of both these types of motion as seen in frozen shoulder cases.

X-rays help in making sure whether the cause of your symptoms is due to arthritis. If a rotator cuff is suspected then ultrasound and MRI may be recommended, but for the diagnosis of a frozen shoulder, these tests are not needed.

What is the treatment for a frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder treatment in Hyderabad: To reduce the pain hot and cold compresses work best. your orthopedic doctor may prescribe NSAIDs (acetaminophen, ibuprofen) and other anti-inflammatory drugs. The doctor may also give steroid injections (cortisone – a corticosteroid injection), to manage severe pain and swelling.

You can do a wide range of exercises to improve the movement of your shoulder under the guidance of an expert physiotherapist. You can continue the same exercises at home as well. Another pain-relieving approach is the use of a battery-operated Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device. This technique helps in reducing pain by blocking nerve impulses. If these measures do not provide any relief, your doctor may recommend shoulder arthroscopy.