Our shoulder is one of the largest, complex, and most versatile joints in our body allowing a wide range of motion of the arms. The shoulder joint is formed where the humerus (upper arm bone) fits into the scapula (shoulder blade), like a ball and socket. Suffering a direct or indirect injury to the shoulders or any surrounding muscles, ligaments or tendons can cause pain and limit the movement of our arms to a great extent. Other than an injury various other conditions and diseases that affect the surrounding chest region can also cause shoulder pain. These are not a direct pain in the shoulders but due to other known or unknown conditions and are known as referred shoulder pain.
There are various conditions related to Shoulder pain:
> Frozen Shoulder: Development of Inflammation causes shoulder pain and stiffness in our shoulder. As a frozen shoulder progresses, movement in the shoulder can become severely limited.
> Osteoarthritis: The common "wear-and-tear" arthritis that occurs with aging. The shoulders are less often affected by osteoarthritis as compared to the knees.
> Rheumatoid arthritis: A form of arthritis in which the immune system attacks the joints, causing inflammation and pain. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect any joint, including the shoulders resulting in shoulder pain.
> Gout: A form of arthritis in which crystals form in the joints, causing inflammation and pain. The shoulder is usually an uncommon location for gout.
> Rotator cuff tear: A tear in one of the muscles or tendons surrounding the top of the humerus (upper arm bone). A rotator cuff tear may be due to a sudden injury, or a result from gradual overuse.
> Shoulder dislocation: This is one of the most common conditions that occurs due to a sudden injury. The humerus or one of the other bones in the shoulder slips out of position. Raising the arm causes shoulder pain and a "popping" sensation if the shoulder is dislocated.
There are various other types of conditions that result in shoulder pain such as avascular necrosis, bursitis, brachial plexus injury, broken arm, cervical radiculopathy and many more. Shoulder pain accompanied by difficulty breathing or a sense of tightness in the chest may be a symptom of a heart attack and requires immediate medical attention. Among all we will discuss today about ‘Frozen Shoulder’.
What is a Frozen Shoulder?
Frozen shoulder is a condition that affects your shoulder joint. It usually involves pain and stiffness that develops gradually, gets worse and then finally goes away. This can take anywhere from a year to 3 years. With a frozen shoulder, the joint becomes so thick and tight that it’s hard to move. Bands of scar tissue form and there’s less of a liquid called synovial fluid to keep the joint lubricated. These things limit motion even more.
The main symptoms of a frozen shoulder are pain and stiffness that make it difficult or impossible to move it. If you have a frozen shoulder, you’ll likely feel a dull or achy pain in one shoulder. You might also feel the pain in the shoulder muscles that wrap around the top of your arm. You might feel the same sensation in your upper arm. Your pain could get worse at night, which can make it hard to sleep.
Frozen shoulder happens more often in women than men, and you’re more likely to get it if you’re between the ages of 40 and 60. Your risk might also go up if you’re in the process of recovering from a medical condition like a stroke, or surgery like a mastectomy that keeps you from moving your arm.
Certain medical conditions can increase your risk too. You may also be more likely to get frozen shoulders if you have diabetes. About 10% to 20% of people with diabetes get frozen shoulders. Other medical problems like heart disease, thyroid disease, or Parkinson’s disease are linked to frozen shoulder, too.
To diagnose frozen shoulders, your doctor will give you a physical exam. They'll check it to see how badly it hurts and how far it moves. During the “active†part of the exam, they’ll let you move your shoulder on your own. A physical exam is usually enough to diagnose frozen shoulder, but your doctor may also order imaging tests such as X-rays, ultrasound, or MRI to rule out other problems like arthritis or a torn rotator cuff that can also cause pain and limit how far it moves.
After the tests, once the specialist knows the exact reason then based on it the next treatment procedures are carried out. Some of the treatments include:
> Pain relievers: Over-the-counter relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) can relieve most shoulder pain. More severe shoulder pain may require prescription medications.
> Physical therapy: An exercise program can strengthen shoulder muscles and improve flexibility in the shoulder. Physical therapy is an effective, nonsurgical treatment for many shoulder conditions.
> RICE therapy: RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression (not usually necessary), and Elevation. RICE can improve pain and swelling of many shoulder injuries.
> Shoulder surgery: Surgery is generally performed to help make the shoulder joint more stable. Shoulder surgery may be arthroscopic (several small incisions) or open (large incision).