Frozen Shoulder

If you find it painful and difficult to carry out the full range of normal shoulder movements and perform everyday tasks, such as putting on a belt or reaching the bra hook behind your back, you are experiencing shoulder movement problems. Stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint are early symptoms of frozen shoulder. This article will answer all your questions about frozen shoulder

The exact causes of frozen shoulder are not known. Theoretically, it may be caused by an autoimmune reaction. Normally, the body’s defensive system protects it from bacteria, viruses, foreign objects and abnormalities such as cancer cells and affected tissues. In the case of a frozen shoulder, the defensive system mistakenly begins to attack the tissues of the body and this causes an inflammatory reaction in the tissue that is under attack. When the resulting inflammation in the shoulder joint becomes so severe that it causes the joint capsule to contract and become “frozen”, the shoulder joint will no longer move normally.

No one knows why frozen shoulder occurs so suddenly. It may begin after a shoulder injury or surgery. It can also start if the shoulder has not being used for a while, such as after a wrist fracture when the arm is kept in a sling, or even while recovering from cardiovascular disease.

Frozen shoulder might be an antecedent symptom for other shoulder problems like tendonitis, rotator cuff tear, or shoulder impingement syndrome. These problems may cause chronic inflammation that leads to the patient using the shoulder less than normal, leading to a situation that can cause frozen shoulder. The frozen shoulder should be treated first before the underlying problems are addressed.

• More common in women than men
• Mostly affects people ages 40 to 65 years old
• Found in 10 to 20% of patients with diabetes
• Associated with other health conditions such as thyroid, ischemic heart disease, depression, Parkinson’s disease and upper limb injuries

The symptoms of frozen shoulder typically begin with shoulder pain and a reduced range of motion in the joint. The range of motion is the same whether you are trying to move the shoulder yourself or someone else is trying to move it for you. There comes a point in each direction of movement where the motion stops, as if something is blocking it and the shoulder usually hurts at that point. The shoulder can be painful at night. The tightness in the shoulder can make it difficult to do daily activities like combing hair, getting dressed, putting on a belt, or reaching for things, such as a bra hook behind the back.  

The diagnosis of frozen shoulder is usually made on the basis of the patient’s medical history and a physical examination. With the above symptoms, simple x-rays are not usually helpful. As the ability to move the shoulder increases, the doctors may perform tests to rule out underlying conditions, such as impingement or a rotator cuff tear. The tests include:

• X-rays to find any bone abnormalities
• Ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to view the tissues around the shoulder joint
• Arthroscope to examine and treat the condition

Treatment is dependent on the type of frozen shoulder being experienced, for example, diabetics or thyroid deficiency sufferers will be required to medicate their underlying health condition. Alternately, patients who have suffered a bone fracture will require surgery to repair the affected bone as the first course of action, before taking anti-inflammatory medication and undergoing physical therapy or strength-conditioning for the affected shoulder.

If all these treatments are ineffective, the doctor will proceed with a progressive, modern treatment known as arthroscopic shoulder surgery. This technique is currently playing a huge role in the field of surgery, both at home and abroad, due to benefits that include minimal pain, scarring and blood loss, as well as fast recovery times and a reduced risk of post-surgery complications.

Patients are able to return to their daily lives shortly after this type of surgery which can be used to treat all causes of frozen shoulder. This reduces stress and torment for patients suffering from the condition, and improves the state of their shoulder to the extent that it may be used as normal again. With all these benefits, arthroscopic shoulder surgery can help patients make a full recovery and improve their quality of life.

The Sports and Orthopedic Center also reaches out to anyone suffering from orthopedic injuries, or from acute or chronic damage to bones and joints. Our center brings together a highly accomplished team of 38 orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists and sports injury and physical rehabilitation experts. We pair these experienced experts with the latest orthopedic and physical rehabilitation equipment, ensuring all patients receive the best possible care.