What Frozen Shoulder Treatment is Available?

September 6, 2008 by admin
Print This Post

Adhesive capsulitis is a medical condition that is commonly called frozen shoulder. This condition restricts or inhibits any movement in the arm or shoulder.

Frozen shoulder is a condition that is caused by inflammation in the shoulder capsule, or joint. The capsule houses the ligaments and tendons that are used to attach the shoulder blade bone to the arm bone. Inflammation in this joint makes it difficult to move the arm…

While there is no known certain cause for frozen shoulder, there are other medical conditions that are thought to contribute to a persons chances of contracting it. These conditions include diabetes, hyperthyroidism, a history of open heart surgery and a history of shoulder injury.

Frozen shoulder has three phases. In the first phase the patient will have severe pain in the shoulder and arm which will cause them to not want to move it. This lack of movement leads to the second phase which is stiffness. As the inflammation subsides, the third phase sets in and range of motion gradually returns.

Frozen shoulder treatment is dependent on the severity of the condition and the phase that it is diagnosed in. For the most part, effective frozen shoulder treatment will come in the form of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), physical therapy, and steroid injections.

Physical therapy for frozen shoulder treatment is painful and must be done daily for it to be effective. Nerve blocks or steroid injections can help to ease the pain associated with physical therapy.

There are two extreme forms of frozen shoulder treatment that are both considered to be last resort treatments. They are both procedures that must be performed under anesthesia. The first one is a shoulder manipulation.

The patient’s arm is forcibly rotated to release any scar tissue. There is some danger of shoulder dislocation or muscle tearing with this option. The second one is a surgical procedure during which the tight ligaments are cut to relieve some of the stiffness in the shoulder. Scar tissue may also be removed at this point.

Click here for more information on Frozen Shoulder Treatment