Frozen Shoulder Treatment in Gurgaon
Are you suffering from shoulder pain for quite some time? Is your shoulder pain disrupting your regular routine? Well, it is time to seek a consultation with Dr. Ratnav Ratan, an orthopedic surgeon based in Gurgaon.
This article will highlight the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of frozen shoulder. It will give you a better understanding of how to treat it and recover from it.
Symptoms of the frozen shoulder -
Frozen shoulder is referred to as adhesive capsulitis in medical language and is identified across the following stages:
Freezing stage
Even the slightest movement of your shoulder is painful and the flow of the shoulder gets limited and restricted to some extent. This condition usually lasts for 6 – 9 months.
Frozen stage
Gradually, the pain reduces, but the shoulder becomes stiff, making it difficult to move and use it. This condition lasts for 1 year at least.
Thawing stage
In this condition, the range of movement of the shoulder improves. Some patients may complain of shoulder pain worsening at night, causing disturbed sleep. Within a period of 6 to 12 months, the condition of the frozen shoulder may improve.
The other symptoms of a frozen shoulder are a pain in the shoulder muscles and top of the arm, shoulder joint along with reduced shoulder mobility. Yes, this condition can cause a lot of discomfort and pain. It is very much likely that you will have to bring changes in your regular routine while coping up with the shoulder pain.
Causes of frozen shoulder
In most cases, it occurs due to minor or secondary injury. At times, its exact reason may never be known. There are high chances of developing a frozen shoulder if you are in the age group of 40 – 60 years, and/or suffering from heart disease, parkinson’s disease, or stroke. Other medical conditions include diabetes, overactive and underactive thyroid conditions, and tuberculosis. Women are likely to suffer from the frozen shoulder as compared to men.
The primary intent is to know the underlying cause of pain, especially rotator cuff injuries and arthritis. You are also likely to develop a frozen shoulder if you are recovering from a stroke or mastectomy.
The doctor will advise any or all the diagnostic procedures before recommending the treatment –
- Physical examination
- Imaging diagnostic tests – X-rays, MRIs and Ultrasound
- Administration of Anesthesia
In most cases, a physical examination is adequate to determine the pain and decrease in movement. Only in extreme cases, the doctors will suggest an X-ray or an MRI and get a clear picture of the shoulder joint. In some patients, the orthopedic doctor will administer anesthesia and numb the shoulder to assess the range of motion for an accurate diagnosis.
As mentioned earlier, patients suffering from hypothyroidism, diabetes, stroke, and other systemic illnesses are more likely to be affected by frozen shoulder conditions. There is a high incidence of diabetes patients suffering from severe frozen shoulder condition, which could be treatment-resistant. In the case of stroke patients, it could be due to muscle spasticity in the shoulder area and pathological factors.
It becomes essential to evaluate and suggest treatment depending upon their current health condition and ongoing medical treatment to avoid further complications.
Medical treatment of frozen shoulder
The healing of a frozen shoulder condition could take anywhere between one to three years. So, you have to be extremely patient during the treatment period.
The treatment protocol prescribed could be a combination of
- Pain management through pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs
- Maintenance of the range of the motion of the shoulder
- Physical Therapy – a range of motion exercises to improve the shoulder’s mobility. You must do these exercises regularly for a speedy recovery.
It is advisable to follow the physical therapy exercise regimen seriously. There are high chances that you will recover faster from this condition if you do the recommended exercises regularly.
However, in case of no improvement or marginal improvement in frozen shoulder patients, the orthopedic surgeon may advise any of the following options such as
Shoulder manipulation – Under general anesthesia, the patient’s tightened tissue in the shoulder joint in different directions by the orthopedic doctor. The main aim of this procedure is to loosen the tight shoulder tissues. The main objective of this procedure is to ease the tight shoulder tissues.
The orthopedic doctor will move your shoulder up and down, in and out without you feeling the pain. This action will loosen up the scar tissue and enable your shoulder to move normally without the pain or discomfort.
Steroid injections – If the frozen shoulder is in the early stage, it is advisable to proceed with steroid injections. Here, corticosteroids are injected in the shoulder joint to improve the shoulder’s mobility and reduce pain.
Joint distension – Here, the orthopedic doctor will inject sterile water in the joint capsule to stretch the tissue and ease the movement in the shoulder joint.
PRP treatment – PRP is injected into the shoulder joint under local anesthesia as a daycare procedure. The platelet-rich plasma induces the growth factors which increase the stem cells and also produces collagen. It accelerates the healing process and speeds up the recovery when injected in the affected area. There have been cases wherein shoulder pain has considerably reduced, and the range of motion has significantly improved after the PRP injection administration.
Surgery – Only if non-surgical procedures have been unsuccessful, the doctors will suggest a surgical procedure. The orthopedic doctor will perform an arthroscopy to remove the scar tissues, adhesion from your shoulder joint.
A frozen shoulder is a medical condition that resolves gradually. You must understand that it could take a couple of months or even years before you become pain-free.
Well, it is best to seek a doctor’s advice on time and recover rather than delaying and suffering in pain for a long time. Do seek advice from Dr. Ratnav Ratan, an eminent and well-versed orthopedic doctor who has treated many patients with a frozen shoulder condition.
