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 highlights 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.

Other symptoms of frozen shoulder include pain in the shoulder muscles and top of the arm, shoulder joint pain, and reduced shoulder mobility. This condition can cause a lot of discomfort and pain and may affect your regular routine.

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 higher 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 frozen shoulder more often than 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.

Normal shoulder joint vs frozen shoulder joint

Diagnosis and evaluation

The doctor will advise one or all diagnostic procedures before recommending treatment:

Physical examination
Imaging diagnostic tests — X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasound
Administration of anesthesia in selected cases

In most cases, a physical examination is adequate to determine the pain and decrease in movement. Only in extreme cases, doctors suggest an X-ray or MRI to get a clear picture of the shoulder joint.

Patients suffering from hypothyroidism, diabetes, stroke, and other systemic illnesses are more likely to be affected by frozen shoulder conditions, so treatment is often planned according to the patient’s overall health condition and ongoing medical care.

Medical treatment of frozen shoulder

The healing of a frozen shoulder condition could take anywhere between one to three years, so patience during the treatment period is very important.

The treatment protocol prescribed could be a combination of:

Pain management through pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs
Maintenance of the range of motion of the shoulder
Physical therapy — range of motion exercises to improve shoulder mobility

It is advisable to follow the physical therapy exercise regimen seriously. There are high chances that recovery will be faster if the recommended exercises are done regularly.

When improvement is limited

However, in case of no improvement or only marginal improvement in frozen shoulder patients, the orthopedic surgeon may advise any of the following options:

Shoulder manipulation — Under general anesthesia, the tightened tissue in the shoulder joint is moved in different directions to loosen the tight shoulder tissues.
Steroid injections — More advisable in the early stage to improve shoulder mobility and reduce pain.
Joint distension — Sterile water may be injected into the joint capsule to stretch the tissue and ease movement in the shoulder joint.
PRP treatment — PRP is injected into the shoulder joint under local anesthesia as a daycare procedure.
Surgery — Usually considered only if non-surgical procedures have been unsuccessful. Arthroscopy may be performed to remove scar tissue and adhesions from the shoulder joint.

A frozen shoulder is a medical condition that resolves gradually. It could take a couple of months or even years before the shoulder becomes pain-free, so early medical advice and consistent treatment matter.