It occurs with a persistent pain or stiffness in the shoulder. This problem is sometimes called adhesive capsulitis (adhesive capsulitis). It is a not well known issue. However, if it is treated, it usually improves over time.
What is Frozen Shoulder?
Frozen shoulder is a very common problem in Orthopedics and Traumatology units, especially in women. In this disease, which is very painful and causes loss of movement, patients may not be able to use their arms for a long time. In advanced cases, shoulder movements are severely restricted. Patients do not have to brush their teeth, take anything from the closet, button their skirts, pull their trousers, etc. They may have difficulty performing their daily functions such as Many patients have night pain. The first symptom felt is shoulder pain. The shoulder feels as if it hurts. Other symptoms may include:
- Shoulder pain that increases with movement of the arm.
- Shoulder pain that is unbearably intense.
- Pain in the shoulder that makes it difficult to perform daily tasks.
- Inability to raise or rotate the arm beyond a certain point.
What are the Causes of Frozen Shoulder Syndrome?
The causes of frozen shoulder are varied. Women are more prone to this condition than men. This problem is more common in women aged 40 and over. Sometimes, years after a shoulder injury, frozen shoulder pain may occur (ideopathic). In the third rank, cases with shoulder-joint range of motion limitation after trauma or surgery are included. should be investigated. It should not be forgotten that most of the patients who develop frozen shoulder today are under intense stress. Among these diseases, especially those with diabetes, the response to treatment may be less.
The first symptoms in patients with frozen shoulder usually begin with pain. Later, limitation of shoulder joint movements occurs. The shoulder is a joint made up of many separate parts. Thanks to these parts, you can lift and rotate your arm. You can shake and shake. However, if there is a frozen shoulder condition, certain parts of the joint are pulled in. That is, it shrinks. In this case, when you want to move your arm, you usually feel pain and stiffness. In untreated cases, limitation in shoulder joint movements may be permanent.
How to Diagnose Frozen Shoulder?
In order to diagnose this condition, your symptoms and health history should be known. For this, the arm will be rotated around its own axis by lifting it up without forcing, so it will be seen how much it can move and whether the movement causes pain or not. A shoulder X-ray may then be taken. In some cases, it may be necessary to have other imaging studies done. After the examination results come out, the diagnosis is made together with the examination findings.
How to Treat Frozen Shoulder?
The first treatment of frozen shoulder is conservative, that is, surgical. Patients present with pain in the initial stages of frozen shoulder. Here, beyond radiological examinations, clinical examination and good rest of the patient are very important. Frozen shoulder is diagnosed by clinical examination. It is never necessary to make a decision based on radiology reports only. For this purpose, pain relievers and edema reducing drugs, shoulder joint injections and physical therapy are applied. The fact that patients do not protect their shoulder joints and do not perform their daily movements due to pain may cause the situation to worsen. Patients should definitely try to use their shoulder joints during the freezing phase.
Cortisone Injections: Cortisone is a steroid that helps reduce inflammation, namely swelling and tenderness. In this treatment, cortisone is injected directly into the joint. This method does not cure the frozen shoulder condition, but it can generally reduce the pain to a degree that allows shoulder stretching movements.
Arthroscopic Surgery: The purpose of arthroscopic surgery is to prevent the adhesions of the frozen shoulder joint capsule. Arthroscopic procedure is performed under general anesthesia. The areas where the capsule is narrowed are loosened arthroscopically without opening the shoulder joint. Shoulder-joint movement is provided. Frozen shoulder is treated quickly with arthroscopic intervention. Patients complain of long-term limitation of movement and pain. gets rid of the spirit. After arthroscopy, shoulder-joint movements are examined under general anesthesia and care is taken to avoid loss of movement.
Is post-operative rehabilitation necessary?
- Rehabilitation after frozen shoulder surgery must be done. Postoperative pain occurs to vary from patient to patient. Patients may complain of pain, especially on the first day. On the first day after the surgery, the aim is to use painkillers to alleviate the patient's pain first.
- Physical therapy usually starts the day after the surgery. In physical therapy, it is very important for the physician performing the surgery to guide the findings and physical therapy. At the initial stage, the surgeon tells the patient about the exercises they will do, and most patients can easily understand the movements and begin to practice them. The aim is to achieve the full range of motion of the patient's shoulder joint.
- In addition to the patient's own physical therapy, professional support is also obtained from physiotherapists when necessary. Although the duration of physiotherapy varies from patient to patient, it can take up to 4-6 weeks.
What Happens If Frozen Shoulder Is Not Treated?
In untreated frozen shoulder patients, mostly limitation of movement and sequelae remain. After the frozen shoulder complaints begin, the duration of the disease varies from patient to patient. In the literature, it is seen that the disease continues for 2-10 years in untreated cases. In untreated cases with limitation of movement, shoulder joint limitation may remain in their later life.
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