Recovery from frozen shoulder can take up to a year or more. There are numerous treatments that can help the shoulder joint’s motion range. The shoulder area is made up of tendons, bones and ligaments. The capsule is a strong tissue that surrounds the joint in the area. The synovial fluid helps to lubricate the joint and the capsule tissues. However, when a frozen shoulder occurs, there is thickening of the capsule, and then it swells around the shoulders joint.
It is not uncommon for stiff tissue bands to develop. These bands are called adhesions. There is also a reduction in synovial fluid around the joint, and typically just one shoulder is affected. There has been many studied done regarding this condition. It affects women way more than men, and it mostly occurs after age 40. Those who have experience any trauma, like a rotator cuff injury or a broken arm may be at a greater risk. Those who have diabetes are five times more likely to develop this condition.
There are three stages to frozen shoulder; they are painful, frozen and thawing. Receiving a diagnosis of frozen shoulder is overwhelming to some. Most shoulders can improve on their own between six to twelve months. With no treatment, the return of motion will be gradual and some will never get full motion back. To reduce the inflammation in the area, an over the counter NAISD can be used. These medications are known as Tylenol, Advil, Aleve and others. There are stronger anti-inflammatory drugs and strengths that a doctor can prescribe. When these don’t work for the pain, an injection of a corticosteroid can be used. If given during the first stage of the condition, the pain relief is most responsive. The injections are also known to hasten recovery times.
For those who don’t want pills to manage the pain, stretching exercises can be utilized. When something is hurting and stiff, most people don’t want to try to move it. However, a few simple exercises recommended by the physical can prevent further loss of use, and it can actually help to regain mobility. Once the joint begins to thaw, these exercises can strengthen the muscle surrounding the rotator cuff. These are the muscles that help to stabilize the scapula, or shoulder blade.
One method of relief that is often used is nerve stimulation through electrical impulses. A TENS unit is an approach to pain relief that has been used for decades. The unit sends small impulses through electrodes that are placed in the area that’s hurting. The impulses help to stimulate healing and to movement to the area. A TENS unit is a transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation device and the settings can be controlled based on an individual’s comfort.
When all other methods have failed, and the pain is still persistent, a doctor can suggest some radical procedures. One of which is to inject water that has been sterilized into the joint capsule. This will help to expand the tissue and allow the joint room to move. Another method is arthroscopic surgery. This removes the buildup of scar tissue inside the joint, which also frees up the joint and allows it to move. It will go away on its own, but oftentimes it doesn’t return to the same function level. Doing some pain prevention and other therapies can help heal the damages areas and lessen the pain.
Dr. Fandos is a pain management physician from Babylon, NY.
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