Frozen shoulder, medically known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition that leads to inflammation, stiffness, and pain in the joints of the shoulder. As a result, movement of shoulder is severely restricted and causes great discomfort and pain in the shoulder joint. The common symptoms of frozen shoulder are: a dull aching pain in the shoulder and a difficulty in shoulder movement. Simple tasks like raising your hand to brushyour hair or teeth can become a major problem.
There are three distinct stages of frozen shoulder.
- The painful or freezing stage is the first stage where the pain starts to appear when you move your shoulder.
- The frozen stage, which is the second stage, is the most painful and physically challenging stage.
- The third stage, the thawing stage, is the one when the pain starts to ease up and the condition starts improving.
Each of these stages may last from a few weeks to a few months. Sometimes, the pain of frozen shoulder increases markedly during the night. There are no exact and identifiable causes for frozen shoulder. It may be due to injury, severe stress, or prolonged immobilization of the joint. Certain medical conditions like diabetes, hypothyroidism, autoimmune disorder, lung or heart disease may also increase the chances of frozen shoulder. Also, frozen shoulder is more likely to happen to persons who are in the 46-60 age groups.
There aren't many home remedies to treat frozen shoulder. Mostly, the treatment consists of managing the pain and doing as much physical shoulder movement as possible. Taking over-the-counter painkillers may be helpful in relieving pain, but prolonged use of them is not advisable. Instead, you can try hot and cold compress therapy. Apply alternate compress on the shoulder joint with an ice pack and a hot washcloth. You can do this as many times in a day as is necessary to get relief from pain. You should also keep practicing shoulder movements with some physiotherapy exercises. Regular movement of the shoulder joint will increase the extent of muscle movement and reduce the chances of muscle atrophy. However, before undertaking any exercise it may be necessary to consult a physiotherapist and ask for specific exercise-related advice. Sometimes, the frozen shoulder may need to be treated with cortisone injections, which decreases pain and helps in stretching exercises. Electrical stimulation and surgery are other more serious options. All these treatments cortisone injections, electric stimulation, and surgery should be performed only in close consultation with a doctor.
answered by G M