Frozen shoulder Treatment in Noida | Noida Pain Management Clinic

Frozen shoulder or Stiff shoulder or Adhesive capsulitis is a condition in which shoulder become very painful and movements of shoulder become very limited. Any painful condition of shoulder with or without any injury, if not treated, can finally result in a frozen shoulder.

Who can get a frozen shoulder - Some people have more chances of developing a stiff or frozen shoulder. These are-

Females - Frozen shoulder is much more common in females compared to males.
Diabetics - Diabetes patients have more chances of developing a frozen shoulder. This is both in those having uncontrolled sugar or having sugar for a long time or also in those who are not very active.
Post-stroke or Parkinson’s disease patients
Patients with Thyroid disorders
Patients with Rheumatoid arthritis
After Open heart surgery or other cardiac patients
A stiff shoulder can also develop after any shoulder injury - Patients may have shoulder injuries and if the patient doesn’t consult a medical doctor and the pain continues then after some time a frozen shoulder may also develop. Shoulder injuries like Rotator cuff tendinosis or tear, Subdeltoid bursitis, or Bicipital tendinitis may develop frozen shoulder if not treated.

Symptoms - Most patients complain of pain around the shoulder which is very disturbing, especially at night. Pain initially starts as mild pain which slowly increases over time. At the same time movements of the shoulder become slowly limited.

Slowly patients find it difficult to raise their arms above their heads. They also have great difficulty in normal tasks like wearing clothes and combing their hair. Initially, the pain is more but later patient’s range of shoulder movements becomes very small.

What happens in a frozen shoulder - The capsule of the shoulder is a covering of tissues that is around the shoulder joint. In a frozen shoulder, it becomes very thick and there are lot of scarring which kind of tightens a previously normal shoulder joint. The shoulder movements thus become slowly restricted due to adhesions (scar tissue) in the capsule.

Diagnosis - The diagnosis of the shoulder is easy for an experienced pain specialist. Usually, the doctor will ask about how the pain started and when it's worse along with a physical examination to clinch the diagnosis. Almost all our patients with the frozen shoulder at Noida Pain Management Clinic are made to do a few movements of the shoulder and thus confirm the diagnosis.

Investigations - As discussed earlier we don’t need many tests to diagnose a frozen shoulder. A detailed examination of the patient’s shoulder is good enough in most cases. Except in a few patients, we may need these investigations-

1. Plain X-ray of the shoulder should be done in all patients with Adhesive capsulitis.

2. MRI scan may be required if there are chances of a rotator cuff tear to quantify the degree of tear and for planning treatment.

Management- We believe that stiff shoulder pain management needs a holistic approach for long-term relief and not just writing a few painkillers. Our approach to frozen shoulder pain is as follows-

Initially, a combination of NSAIDs and physical therapy must be tried for a few days. Muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory medications along with nerve medications can also achieve substantial relief in the majority of patients.
Local application of heat with local pain sprays can also provide some relief.
In a few patients, Physiotherapy may also give good relief.

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