With the technology that we have now, there is a multiplicity of reasons as to why we are a whole lot luckier than our ancestors, even our grandparents. The technology that we experience today provides answers to almost all known problems that people have, physical or otherwise. However, such modernization has also given birth to a lot of medical conditions that people in the old days never had. Heart problems was never this worse, hypertension was never this complicated. What was even worse is that there are medical problems in which, the root causes are still undergoing further studies. Such is true for frozen shoulder, a medical problem occurring to a small percentage of the community, which may be a valid reason as to why there are still areas about such that are unknown to the medical world until today.

Although not much is known regarding its root causes, there are symptoms which are enough for any medical physician to distinguish what sets this condition apart from other problems involving the shoulder. Firstly, people with frozen shboulder always experience a rather dull but aching pain, which often grows worse once the shoulder is put in motion due to everyday activities such as putting on a t-shirt. Sleeping on the affected shoulder’s side will also prove to be as much painful as doing such activities involving that particular shoulder.

As such, it is best advised that people who experience such symptoms should see a doctor to know what is troubling him. Due to studies done with this condition, it’s easy for a doctor to distinguish what the real problem is, and will therefore be able to provide proper diagnosis to the patient regarding the physical state.

What Causes Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder, although not a very common medical condition such as hypertension or even heart disease, is a serious problem nonetheless, affecting up to two percent of all the people and is characterized by intense pain due to the contraction of the capsule which surrounds the shoulder joint. The capsule, due to such contraction, forms scar tissues as well.

Unfortunately, frozen shoulder occurs without any discernible reason. Although there are people who develop such condition due to major injuries to the shoulder, it is clearly not the usual reason for acquiring such. There are risk factors, like age, in which it was noted that this condition occurs most likely in patients ranging from forty to sixty years old. In addition to that, patients with endocrine abnormalities like those with thyroid problems and diabetes are most often affected rather than people who do not. Another factor which greatly contributes to adhesive capsulitis (another term for frozen shoulder) is systemic conditions such as cardiac abnormalities and Parkinson’s disease. As to why such diseases like the ones aforementioned often lead to frozen shoulder, medical experts cannot give the exact reason, though it may be safer to conclude that a weakened immune system because of these problems contributed as one of the culprits.

The good thing is, a frozen shoulder can be easily diagnosed by a medical professional, wherein restricted movement is often the most visible, and perhaps the most common, symptom that your physician can perceive. Therefore, once you experience such difficulty, it is best to consult with a specialist right away so as to be properly diagnosed and treated.

What One should do with Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a medical condition in which a person suffers from pain and stiffening of the shoulder. Affecting almost two percent of the general population, people between ages forty to sixty, regardless of their age, sex or occupation, are a greater risk of acquiring such. Although the exact causes of frozen shoulder are still unknown, studies have shown that it occurs mostly in people with diabetes as well as those with Parkinson’s disease, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and heart problems.

Moreover, people who had undergone surgery are also at risk since it can also be acquired due to prolonged immobility of the shoulder. People suffering from it will experience intense pain which can worsen thru motion attempts done by the patient. Pain is felt over the outer shoulder area and may even extend to one’s upper arm.

With this condition, intensive physical therapy is needed to restore the shoulder’s motion. Heat is also used at times, to help lessen the pain. Certain anti-inflammatory medications such as pills like ibuprofen or injections like corticosteroids are advised to relieve the intense pain. If, however, these processes fail, therapists often resort to nerve blocking. A more aggressive physical therapy is also done.

Fortunately, almost ninety percent of the people suffering from frozen shoulder experience great improvements after a while, provided that therapy is done simultaneously with taking different medications to relieve the stiffening and pain. However, these combined procedures may take a few years before one’s condition goes back to normal, so it is best to consider other options, such as surgery, first before deciding which procedure will suit your condition best.

What you need to know about Frozen Shoulder

Was there ever a time when you felt so much pain in your shoulders that it’s as if someone just put a pair hollow blocks over it? Was the pain so stiffening that it would require other people’s assistance so you can move it about? If so, you may be suffering from the condition called frozen shoulder.

Frozen shoulder is a condition commonly affecting people from ages forty to sixty years. Little is known as to what really causes this condition, as well as who may be at a greater risk of developing it since it does not have any clear predisposition based on arm dominance, occupation and even sex.

What is known, however, is that frozen shoulder occurs in twenty percent of people suffering from diabetes as well as people with diseases such as hypothyroidism, cardiac problems and Parkinson’s disease.

Also, one has a greater chance of getting it if one’s shoulder has been immobilized over a period of time. In order to prevent that from happening, one has to try moving his shoulder earlier than usual or as advised by a medical professional.

Serious as it can be, surgery is not always advised since it can get better on its own – three years at most — provided that regular checkup and medications are done. The treatment for this condition is often aimed at controlling the pain and teaching the patient to move one’s shoulder a step at a time. Surgery serves as the last resort if there is still no improvement after sufficient therapy and medications had been done.

Shoulder Pain

When a tendon becomes sore, the result is commonly known as shoulder pain. This is often due to various activities which require people to life their arms such as painting or playing basketball. However, shoulder pain is often a symptom of more serious conditions that require utmost medical attention such as major injuries in the shoulder or adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder). The more serious conditions which bring about such pain in the shoulder may also require surgery and prolonged intensive therapy. Medications of anti-inflammatory drugs are also prescribed which may lessen or ease the pain either entirely or momentarily, depending on its severity.

Here are some of the reasons as to why one should seek medical help with regards to pain in the shoulder:

• Inability to use the arm to carry an object
• Inability to raise one’s arm
• Any traumatic injury resulting in any deformity in the shoulder joints
• Pain in the shoulder lasting a few days
• Shoulder pain one might experience while resting
• Swelling around the joint
• Signs of infection such as fever, redness and warmth

Treatment of such condition depends on the cause and severity of the problem. Hence, it is vital that one understands all there is to know about the problem, so as to fully understand how each treatment should be done. There are conditions which may require surgery and prolonged rest. Also, various medications will be prescribed so it is best to understand how these medicines can help remedy your situation, along with any side effects it might have.