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This fact sheet is a brief overview of frozen shoulder, produced by our Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist and Hand Surgeon Dr Nick Wallwork.Do you feel severe pain in the shoulder when moving and while resting? Does pain affect sleep? If your mobility is limited in any way, especially while rotating the arm above shoulder level, you may be suffering from frozen shoulder syndrome.įrozen shoulders, also known as Adhesive Capsulitis, is difficult to bear.
#Frozen shoulder full#
The effectiveness of each conservative treatment and surgical procedure varies, but most people will eventually regain full shoulder use and movement after 12 to 24 months. Patients are able to go home on the same day but often stay overnight for pain relief and initial physiotherapy to commence. A sportsmed physiotherapist will also provide you with an exercise program. A probe is then inserted through the incisions to divide or cut out thickened parts of the shoulder capsule under direct vision. Patients are able to go home on the same day.Ĭapsular release is a type of ‘keyhole’ surgery where small incisions are made to enter your shoulder while you are under general anaesthetic. Cortisone and local anaesthetic will be injected following the procedure to further reduce pain and recurrence. A sportsmed physiotherapist will also provide you with an exercise program. While under general anaesthetic, the shoulder will be moved, in a controlled way, to disrupt and stretch the shoulder capsule. This expands the joint enabling greater flexibility and movement. Surgery is not recommended for frozen shoulder until the thawing phase, and generally, will be performed if symptoms are severe and other treatments have not improved the condition after six months.Ī Musculoskeletal radiologist will inject local anaesthetic and cortisone followed by a volume of fluid to distend the shoulder joint capsule. Massage and thermotherapy using warm or cold temperature packs may also be applied to improve shoulder mobility. Moving and stretching the shoulder is crucial to regaining function.Ī sportsmed physiotherapist will provide a number of stretching exercises and techniques to regain movement and flexibility in the shoulder. Regular, gentle stretching exercises will improve the shoulder’s mobility. Corticosteroids help reduce pain and inflammation, but must be administered into the joint itself and not the bursa to improve movement in the shoulder.
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These injections can be utilised if pain medication fails. Pain-relieving tablets of multiple modalities may be prescribed to decrease shoulder pain. Activities should also be restricted, especially if they aggravate the area further. The first stage (freezing) is the most painful, so treatment is focused on relieving pain. Treatment for frozen shoulder varies depending on the stage of the condition. The risk of developing frozen shoulder increases if you suffer from Diabetes or other autoimmune conditions. The cause of this problem is unclear, but it is seen more commonly in females aged between 40-60 years or after injury or surgery. In frozen shoulder, the capsule thickens and tightens around the shoulder joint, restricting movement. The shoulder joint is enclosed in a capsule of tough connective tissue that allows flexibility whilst maintaining stability. This period can last from five months up to 2 years. Full movement of the shoulder may not be regained rapidly, but you will be able to complete tasks that were difficult to carry out in the first two stages. This stage lasts between 4 to 12 months.ĭuring this final phase your shoulder will gradually regain movement and the pain will begin to fade. Pain may begin to decrease during this phase, but your shoulder will remain stiff and your shoulder muscles will grow weak. This stage can last for two to nine months. It often hurts when you lie on the affected side.
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The shoulder’s range of movement becomes limited while the pain increases. The shoulder will start to ache and become very painful even at night and when lifting or reaching away from your body. There are distinct stages of the condition – freezing, frozen and thawing. The pain and stiffness in the joint make everyday tasks such as showering, driving and dressing yourself difficult to complete. signs and symptomsįrozen shoulder progressively develops and can worsen over time. It often arises without injury, is self-limiting and eventually resolves in most individuals. The pain can range from aching to a burning sensation that may affect the entire arm. Frozen shoulder is a condition that involves stiffness and moderate to severe pain in the shoulder joint.