What is a frozen shoulder? Causes and treatment

Are you experiencing shoulder pain that makes it challenging to reach or lift? You can suffer from a frozen shoulder, a condition common among many people, creating considerable pain and limited movement.

Fret not! Here at the MJ Naidu Super Specialty Hospital, we provide state-of-the-art orthopedic frozen shoulder treatment/care to relieve pain and restore function to your shoulder. In the blog, we will discuss what a frozen shoulder is, what causes it, and how our state-of-the-art frozen shoulder treatment(s) help to restore your freedom of movement.

What is a Frozen Shoulder?

The shoulder joint is a ball-and-socket joint, with a capsule of connective tissue that helps keep it in place. In a frozen shoulder, this capsule becomes inflamed, thickens, and tight, making it hard to move the shoulder properly. Over time, stiffness from this problem becomes very painful and restricts motion. Frozen shoulder develops in three phases:

Freezing phase: Pain gradually develops and worsens at the shoulder, eventually compromising movement of the shoulder.
Frozen phase: Pain might completely resolve, but shoulder stiffness remains or increases.
Thawing phase: Mobility of the shoulder slowly returns as the inflammatory process resolves.

Reasons for Frozen Shoulder

The specific origins or reason for frozen shoulders are not always well understood, but various factors increase the likelihood of developing frozen shoulders.

Injury or Surgery: If you have undergone shoulder surgery or have suffered an injury that prevented you from moving your shoulder, such as a rotator cuff injury or fracture, you may be at increased risk for developing a frozen shoulder.
Diabetes: Individuals with diabetes are more likely to suffer from frozen shoulders. High blood sugar levels affect the soft tissue of your shoulder and joints, and in some instances, make them prone to inflammation and stiffness.
Age and Gender: Frozen shoulder is more prevalent in patients between 40 and 60 years old, and women are more prone than men.
Other medical conditions: Medical conditions such as thyroid disease, heart disease, and Parkinson’s disease also amplify your risk of developing a frozen shoulder.
Shoulder immobility: The shoulder joint might be immobile for an extended period of time, which contributes to a frozen shoulder.

What are the Frozen Shoulder Symptoms?

The key frozen shoulder symptoms or indicators are as follows:

Pain and stiffness: A painful shoulder that feels worse with movement.
Reduction of motion: Hard time reaching, lifting, or rotating the arm.
Pain at night: Pain that tends to be worse at night.
Reduced shoulder movement: Inability to perform normal tasks such as getting dressed, driving, or reaching overhead.

What is the Frozen Shoulder Treatment?

At MJ Naidu Super Specialty Hospital, we focus on advanced, patient-centered orthopedic care, including frozen shoulder. Our experienced orthopedic specialists will provide the most advanced frozen shoulder treatments suited to your situation. We aim to provide the best possible care to regain your mobility and quality of life, whether you are experiencing pain, stiffness, or diminished range of motion.

Physical Therapy: One of the most successful approaches to alleviating frozen shoulders is physical therapy. Our qualified therapist will lead you in exercises focused on shoulder mobility and reducing stiffness. Stretching and strengthening exercises will be the best medicine for frozen shoulders which will work to restore your shoulder’s degree of motion and maintain that range of motion once begun.
Medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or steroid injections help minimize inflammation and ease pain for frozen shoulders. Oral pain relief medicines, one of the renowned frozen shoulder treatments, are also used to treat immediate problems related to pain, especially during the early stages of the condition.
Surgical Treatment: If no improvement is made with conservative frozen shoulder treatment options, surgery may be considered for frozen shoulder issues. Options include arthroscopic surgery, which utilizes a small camera to remove scar tissue and adhere, under anaesthesia, requiring the doctor to move the shoulder joint while the patient is under general anesthesia to help eliminate the adhered tissue.
PRP Therapy (Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy): PRP therapy attends to the patient’s blood, which has been processed to concentrate its platelets and growth factors. The concentrated plasma is then injected into the affected shoulder joint to facilitate the healing of periarteritis, relieve inflammation, and accelerate the repair of tissue. This therapy is a natural, minimally invasive frozen shoulder treatment option for patients who are seeking long-term relief while avoiding standard treatments for frozen shoulders.
At MG Naidu Super Specialty Hospital, we focus on advanced, patient-centered orthopedic care, including frozen shoulder. Our experienced orthopedic specialists will provide the most advanced frozen shoulder treatments suited to your situation. We aim to provide the best possible care to regain your mobility and quality of life, whether you are experiencing pain, stiffness, or diminished range of motion.
Steroid Injections: Frozen shoulder cures in 1 minute with Corticosteroid injections offering relief by decreasing inflammation and pain at the shoulder joint. Corticosteroid shots are usually performed if the patient is suffering from extreme pain in the frozen shoulder.

When to See a Doctor for Frozen Shoulder?

If you have ongoing shoulder pain that does not improve with rest or over-the-counter pain medications, or if it affects your sleep or your daily life, it may be time to see a doctor.

You should also seek evaluation if you are gradually losing shoulder motion that is impacting activities like reaching, dressing, or lifting. If you have had a shoulder injury within the last 12 months or a history of shoulder surgery or a relevant comorbidity, such as diabetes, and you are experiencing limitations, early evaluation is crucial because these conditions make you more susceptible to frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) and promote worsening stiffness.

The sooner the condition is evaluated, the sooner treatment can begin to address mobility and prevent it from worsening.

Restoring Mobility and Relieving Pain at MJ Naidu Hospital

Frozen shoulders can greatly hinder your movement and affect your quality of life. At MJ Naidu Super Specialty Hospital, we are equipped to offer advanced, customized therapies/ advanced frozen shoulder treatment to alleviate your pain and improve your shoulder function.

Our team of experienced orthopedic specialists works to assist in restoring your movement and facilitate a return to your normal daily activities.

Don’t let shoulder pain get in your way anymore! Contact us today or book your consultation and start the journey to recovery.