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Definition

Frozen shoulder is when the shoulder is painful and cannot move normally because of inflammation.

Alternative Names

Adhesive capsulitis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The joint capsule of the shoulder joint has ligaments that hold the shoulder bones to each other. When the capsule becomes inflamed, the shoulder bones are unable to move freely in the joint.

Most of the time there is no cause for the inflammation. However, inflammation may be caused by:

Symptoms

The main symptoms are:

  • Decreased motion of the shoulder
  • Pain
  • Stiffness

Frozen shoulder without any known cause starts with pain. This pain prevents you from moving your arm. The lack of movement leads to stiffness and decreased motion. Eventually you cannot perform activities such as reaching over your head.

Signs and tests

The health care provider will make the diagnosis based on your symptoms and an examination of your shoulder.

You may have x-rays of the shoulder to make sure there is no other problem, such as Arthritis. Sometimes an MRI exam may show inflammation, but there are no specific findings that diagnose frozen shoulder.

Treatment

Pain is treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) and steroid injections. Steroid injections along with physical therapy can significantly improve motion. It can take as long as 6 - 9 months to see improvement. The physical therapy is intense and needs to be done every day.

Any risk factors for frozen shoulder may also need to be treated.

Surgery is recommended if therapy is not successful. Your health care provider will release the scar tissue by bringing the shoulder through a full range of motion. This procedure is done under anesthesia.

Arthroscopic surgery can be used to cut the tight ligaments and remove the scar tissue from the shoulder. Some surgeons may use repeated pain blocks after surgery so you can participate in physical therapy.

Expectations (prognosis)

Treatment with therapy and NSAIDs will usually return the motion and function of the shoulder within a year. Even if left untreated, the frozen shoulder can get better by itself in 18 - 24 months.

Even if surgery restores motion, you must continue physical therapy for several weeks or months afterward to prevent the frozen shoulder from returning. Treatment may fail if you cannot tolerate physical therapy.

Complications
  • Stiffness and pain continue even with therapy
  • The arm can break if the shoulder is moved forcefully during surgery
Calling your health care provider

If you have shoulder pain and stiffness and suspect you may have a frozen shoulder, contact your health care provider for proper referral and treatment.

Prevention

The best way to prevent frozen shoulder is to contact your health care provider if you develop shoulder pain that limits your range of motion for an extended period of time. This will allow early treatment and help avoid stiffness.

People who have Diabetes will be less likely to get frozen shoulder if they keep their condition under control.

References

Miller RH, Dlabach JA. Shoulder and elbow injuries. In: Canale ST, Beatty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2007:chap 44.

Krabak BJ, Banks NL. Adhesive capsulitis. In: Frontera WR, Silver JK, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2008:chap 10.

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12y ago
Definition

Frozen shoulder is when the shoulder is painful and loses motion because of inflammation.

Alternative Names

Adhesive capsulitis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The joint capsule of the shoulder joint has ligaments that hold the shoulder bones to each other. When the capsule becomes inflamed, the shoulder bones are unable to move freely in the joint.

Most of the time there is no cause for frozen shoulder. However, risk factors include:

Symptoms

The main symptoms are:

  • Decreased motion of the shoulder
  • Pain
  • Stiffness

Frozen shoulder without any known cause starts with pain. This pain prevents you from moving your arm. The lack of movement leads to stiffness and then even less motion. Over time, you become unable to perform activities such as reaching over your head or behind you.

Signs and tests

The health care provider will make the diagnosis based on your symptoms and an examination of your shoulder. You will have a loss of rotation in your shoulder.

You may have x-rays of the shoulder to make sure there is no other problem, such as arthritis. Sometimes an MRI exam may show inflammation, but there are no specific signs to diagnose frozen shoulder.

Treatment

Pain is treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) and steroid injections. Steroid injections plus physical therapy can improve your motion.

It can take a few weeks to see progress, but it may take as long as 6 - 9 months to have a complete recovery. The physical therapy is intense and needs to be done every day.

If nothing is done, the condition should get better by itself within 2 years with little loss of motion.

Any risk factors for frozen shoulder, such as diabetes or thyroid problems should also be treated.

Surgery is recommended if nonsurgical treatment is not effective. This procedure is done under anesthesia. See: Shoulder arthroscopy

Your health care provider will release the scar tissue by bringing the shoulder through a full range of motion. Arthroscopic surgery can also be used to cut the tight ligaments and remove the scar tissue from the shoulder.

Some surgeons may use repeated pain blocks after surgery so you can participate in physical therapy.

Expectations (prognosis)

Treatment with therapy and NSAIDs will usually return the motion and function of the shoulder within a year. Even if left untreated, the frozen shoulder can get better by itself in 24 months.

Even if surgery restores motion, you must continue physical therapy for several weeks or months afterward to prevent the frozen shoulder from returning. Treatment may fail if you cannot tolerate physical therapy.

Complications
  • Stiffness and pain continue even with therapy
  • The arm can break if the shoulder is moved forcefully during surgery
Calling your health care provider

If you have shoulder pain and stiffness and suspect you may have a frozen shoulder, contact your health care provider for proper referral and treatment.

Prevention

The best way to prevent frozen shoulder is to contact your health care provider if you develop shoulder pain that limits your range of motion for an extended period of time. This will allow early treatment and help avoid stiffness.

People who have diabetes will be less likely to get frozen shoulder if they keep their condition under control.

References

Miller RH, Dlabach JA. Shoulder and elbow injuries. In: Canale ST, Beatty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2007:chap 44.

Krabak BJ, Banks NL. Adhesive capsulitis. In: Frontera WR, Silver JK, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2008:chap 10.

Reviewed By

Review Date: 10/31/2010

Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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What is the medical condition frozen shoulder?

A shoulder that becomes scarred and cannot move.


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When there is inflammation in the subacromial bursa (a part of the shoulder joint), there is pain on elevation of the shoulder above the horizontal. This condition is variously called subacromial bursitis and shoulder impingement syndrome. If this condition is left untreated, eventually scar tissue will form in the shoulder joint. This scar tissue permanently restricts motion of the shoulder. This condition is called adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder. Frozen shoulder is treated conservatively by physical therapy, but if that doesn't work the orthopedist has to do one of 2 things: violently wrench the shoulder to break up the scar tissue, or do surgery to go in and break up the scar tissue.


When do you need a professional consultation for Frozen Shoulder?

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If polymyalgia rheumatica is severe enough what disease of the shoulder can appear?

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Heat pad.


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what are the causes of Frozen Shoulder?

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Can Regenerative Cell Treatment Help in Frozen Shoulder ?

Is frozen shoulder harmful? Won't it heal by itself? Should I consult a specialist? Is surgery the only available option? If these are the questions that keep bothering you now and then, here is the good news for you! There is no need for surgery. Frozen shoulder can heal by itself and provide permanent relief from symptoms. Medica Stem Cells therapy will help in treating the shoulder joint by itself. Let us understand the causes and symptoms of frozen shoulder, and see how regenerative cell treatment can do wonders.According to the article published by Zuckerman JD and Rokito A in the journal J Shoulder Elbow Surg., dated 2011, frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis, is defined as "a condition of uncertain aetiology, characterized by significant restriction of both active and passive shoulder motion that occurs in the absence of a known intrinsic shoulder disorder."Frozen shoulder is always associated with severe pain that worsens by night, stiffness, and loss or range of motion. Frozen shoulder may be primary or secondary type. Primary frozen shoulder is often associated with conditions like diabetes mellitus. A secondary type of frozen shoulder usually affects individuals with a recent history of shoulder injuries like subacromial impingement, rotator cuff tendon tear, biceps tenosynovitis and calcific tendonitis.Stages of frozen shoulderFrozen shoulder often reveals in three stages:Freezing stage or the painful stage: This stage lasts for 2-9 months. It starts gradually with dispersing pain, followed by the thickening of the shoulder capsule. This condition leads to severe pain with restricted movement.Frozen stage or the adhesive stage: This stage lasts for 4-6 months. Here, the pain usually begins to subside, and it restricts the joint movement. Stiffness persists in this stage.Thawing stage or the last stage: This stage lasts for 6-24 months to heal completely. During this stage, the shoulder joint capsule begins to loosen up. The pain subsides gradually with gradual improvement in the range of shoulder movement.Causes of frozen shoulderThe exact cause of frozen shoulder has remained unknown. However, patients having systemic ailments like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson's disease, etc. have frozen shoulder. Similarly, those who immobilize their shoulder joint for a prolonged time, mostly after surgery or fracture, are more prone to have a frozen shoulder. Still, manual workers and women above the age of 40 are at higher risk of developing a frozen shoulder.Diagnosis of frozen shoulderPhysical examination of the shoulder followed by tests such as an X-ray, ultrasound scan, or an MRI scan can detect the condition.Treatment of frozen shoulderThe conventional treatment methods of frozen shoulder include R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice therapy, Compression, and Elevation), physiotherapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration, and corticosteroid injections. But these treatment methods help to alleviate the symptoms only for a short duration. Hence, the physician may recommend frozen shoulder surgery as the only method to get permanent relief from pain.Regenerative cell treatmentRecently an innovative treatment method named regenerative cell treatment has emerged as one of the most popular treatment methods for frozen shoulder pain treatment. This non-surgical Regenerative cell treatment is safe that naturally utilizes the intrinsic property of your regenerative cells to promote healing. This therapeutic approach not only alleviates the symptoms but also promotes self-healing of the damaged tissues. Unlike conventional treatment methods, regenerative cell treatment addresses the cause of the symptoms rather than merely masking the symptoms. Hence, this regenerative cell treatment has also reduced the need for medications, steroid injections, and surgery.For more information on the regenerative treatment for the frozen shoulder condition, we use PRP therapy or Plasma Rich Therapy, along with other Regenerative therapies for frozen shoulder treatment. You can also contact Medica Stem Cells Clinics, to learn more about the types of Medica stem cell therapy available to treat your frozen shoulder.


What is formed when a joint becomes frozen and unable to move?

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