If You Have Diabetes, Frozen Shoulder Can Be a Problem

Adhesive capsulitis, which is better known as frozen shoulder, can make you helpless. Simple tasks such as buttoning a shirt or getting dressed can seem almost impossible if you have frozen shoulder. It can also make it hard to reach over your head.

It usually begins as a dull ache in the shoulder. The tendency is not to use the shoulder, which often results in stiffness and more pain. If the joint becomes stiff, you can’t move the shoulder even if you want to…

Frozen shoulder can develop from an injury or can develop for no reason at all. Certain diseases such as stroke or heart disease can make you more susceptible to frozen shoulder.

If you have diabetes, frozen shoulder can also be a problem. It is believed that glucose molecules attach themselves to collagen, which is a key part of ligaments that hold the bones together in a joint. In people with diabetes, frozen shoulder can happen because of unusual deposits of collagen in the cartilage and tendons of the shoulder.

It builds up and causes stiffness in the shoulder. In people with diabetes, frozen shoulder is seen in about 20% of this group. Normally, people without diabetes only have an incidence rate of 5%. It is seen more often in people between 40 and 60 years of age and is seen more often in women.

It is important to start treatment early. This is especially true in people with diabetes; frozen shoulder has a less likely chance to have a complete recovery, even with physical therapy.

Frozen shoulder can often be treated with physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medicines. Sometimes an injection of cortisone is required to ease the pain. Other treatments include ice and heat therapy and ultrasound treatments. Surgery should always be a last resort.

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