Frozen Shoulder by Orthopedic

• Dr. Paras Aggarwal

Diagnosis and Treatment of Frozen Shoulder by Orthopaedic

What is frozen shoulder?

The condition, also known as adhesive capsulitis, causes stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. It can lead to severe symptoms. This condition can be severe and last for up to 12 months. There are usually three phases.

• You experience significant pain and limited movement in your shoulder due to inflammation of the capsule. You will then experience a vicious cycle in which your shoulder moves more minor, and you move on to the next stage.

• Frozen - Your shoulder becomes stiffer and more difficult to move. Although pain levels can decrease as the inflammation in your capsule settles, it also thickens.

• Thawing - gradually, your shoulder range increases and then returns to normal.

What causes a frozen shoulder

The connective tissue capsule around your shoulder becomes thicker and more rigid, causing a frozen shoulder. Although doctors aren't sure why this happens in certain people, it is known that some factors can increase your chances of getting a frozen shoulder. These factors include:

• Certain diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and cardiovascular disease, along with tuberculosis, diabetes, Parkinson's, Parkinson's, and other diseases that affect the thyroid, include:

• Age - A frozen shoulder is more common among people over 40. Affected women are more likely to experience it than those who are male.

• You have reduced mobility in the shoulder. This could be caused by trauma, rotator-cuff injury, or surgery.

What are the symptoms of a frozen shoulder?

These symptoms include worsening pain and restricted movement in the shoulder.

How can a frozen shoulder be diagnosed?

Your consultant will perform a physical exam to determine how much movement you have in the shoulder and how much pain you are feeling. 

An anaesthetic injection may be administered to determine how much active or passive motion you have. (Passive motion is when the consultant moves your arms rather than asking you to do so). To rule out other conditions, you may have an X-ray and MRI.

How can a frozen shoulder be treated?

Most frozen shoulders disappear within one to two years. You may receive painkillers or anti-inflammatories during this time and physiotherapy to improve mobility.

Your doctor may recommend various non-surgical and surgical treatments if the condition does not improve.

• Corticosteroid injections reduce pain and increase the range of motion in the shoulder.

• Joint distension is a procedure that stretches the tissue through sterile water injection in the joint capsule. This makes it easier for the joint to be moved.

• Under general anaesthesia, shoulder manipulation can be done to loosen tightened joints.

Capsular Release: 

This surgical procedure uses keyhole surgery to loosen the tight capsule that causes frozen shoulders. If your condition is not responding to other treatments or physiotherapy, this procedure may be recommended. 

You can have the surgery performed under general anaesthesia or by blocking the nerves in the arm to make it feel like the surgeon is operating. An arthroscopic camera is inserted, and three small incisions are made at the shoulder. 

The instruments are used to remove the capsule tissue around the shoulder joint to minimize bleeding. The surgical staples or sutures are used to close the incisions. 

Radiofrequency waves cauterize any damaged tissue. You will feel a more excellent range and less pain after the incisions are closed with sutures or surgical staples.