What is meant by "frozen shoulder"?

Question

Has it got to do with arthritis?

Answer 1

Frozen shoulder, medically referred to as adhesive capsulitis, is a disorder in which the shoulder capsule, the connective tissue surrounding the glenohumeral joint of the shoulder, becomes inflamed and stiff. Movement of the shoulder is severely restricted. The condition is frequently caused by injury that leads to lack of use due to pain. Rheumatic disease progression and recent shoulder surgery can also cause frozen shoulder. Intermittent periods of use may cause inflammation.

Abnormal bands of tissue (adhesions) grow between the joint surfaces, restricting motion. There is also a lack of synovial fluid, which normally helps the shoulder joint move by lubricating the gap between the humerus (upper arm bone) and the socket in the scapula (shoulder blade). It is this restricted space between the capsule and ball of the humerus that distinguishes adhesive capsulitis from a less complicated painful, stiff shoulder. People with diabetes, stroke, lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and heart disease, or who have been in an accident, are at a higher risk for frozen shoulder. Adhesive capsulitis has been indicated as a possible adverse effect of some forms of highly active antiretroviral threapy (HAART). The condition rarely appears in people under 40 years old.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Hi! Sometimes it has to do with arthritis, but not always. It happens when there is an injury to your shoulder that makes you keep the shoulder immobile over a long period of time, either because it is in a sling or cast or because of pain. There is a lot you can do for it, but the best thing is GENTLE exercise as directed by a therapist. Rest, ice, wrapping and gentle exercise is usually the best course of action, but again check with your therapist. I am at windstarhealing.com if you have any questions, or you can get in touch with me in my virtual office at Kasamba.com . Good luck!

Answer 4

It has to do with your rotater cuff, which is around your shoulder. If your rotater cuff is torn or injured, a suregeon can fix it, but you must endure the pain of physical therapy, so that your shoulder does not freeze up. If it gets frozen, you won;t be able to move your arm to full rotation,and that is very painful.Arthritis can also cause frozen shoulder, but if you are in enough pain, I would think that you would see a DOCTOR.

Answer 5

Constant severe limitation of the range of motion of the shoulder due to scarring around the shoulder joint (adhesive capsulitis). Frozen shoulder is an unwanted consequence of rotator cuff disease: damage to the rotator cuff, the set of four tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint and help move the shoulder in diverse directions. Rotator cuff disease can be due to trauma, inflammation or degeneration. The common symptom is pain in the shoulder of gradual or sudden onset, typically located to the front and side of the shoulder, increasing when the shoulder is moved away from the body. (A person with severe tears in the rotator cuff tendons may not be able to hold that arm up).

The diagnosis of rotator cuff disease can be objectively confirmed by x-ray, an arthrogram (in which contrast dye is injected into the shoulder joint) or, preferably, an MRI. Treatment depends on the severity of the injury to the rotator cuff. Mild rotator cuff damage is treated with ice, rest, and anti-inflammatory medications (such as ibuprofen and others) and, if needed, a cortisone injection in the rotator cuff. More severe rotator cuff disease may require arthroscopic or open surgical repair. Gradual exercises are important and are specifically designed to strengthen the rotator cuff and increase its range of motion.



Frozen shoulder, medically referred to as adhesive capsulitis, is a disorder in which the shoulder capsule, the connective tissue surrounding the glenohumeral joint of the shoulder, becomes inflamed and stiff. Movement of the shoulder is severely restricted. The condition is frequently caused by injury that leads to lack of use due to pain. Rheumatic disease progression and recent shoulder surgery can also cause frozen shoulder. Intermittent periods of use may cause inflammation.

Abnormal bands of tissue (adhesions) grow between the joint surfaces, restricting motion. There is also a lack of synovial fluid, which normally helps the shoulder joint move by lubricating the gap between the humerus (upper arm bone) and the socket in the scapula (shoulder blade). It is this restricted space between the capsule and ball of the humerus that distinguishes adhesive capsulitis from a less complicated painful, stiff shoulder. People with diabetes, stroke, lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and heart disease, or who have been in an accident, are at a higher risk for frozen shoulder. Adhesive capsulitis has been indicated as a possible adverse effect of some forms of highly active antiretroviral threapy (HAART). The condition rarely appears in people under 40 years old



Prevention
To prevent the problem, a common recommendation is to keep the shoulder joint fully moving to prevent a frozen shoulder. Often a shoulder will hurt when it begins to freeze. Because pain discourages movement, further development of adhesions that restrict movement will occur unless the joint continues to move full range in all directions. Therapy will help one continue movement to discourage freezing. A medical doctor referral is not needed before occupational or physical therapy can begin under law in most US states




Signs and diagnosis
With a frozen shoulder, one sign is that the joint becomes so tight and stiff that it is nearly impossible to carry out simple movements, such as raising the arm. People complain that the stiffness and pain worsen at night. Pain due to frozen shoulder is usually dull or aching. It can be worsened with attempted motion. A doctor, or therapist (occupational or physical), may suspect the patient has a frozen shoulder if a physical examination reveals limited shoulder movement. Frozen shoulder can also be diagnosed if limits to the active range of motion (range of motion from active use of muscles) are the same or almost the same as the limits to the passive range of motion (range of motion from a person manipulating the arm and shoulder). An arthrogram may confirm the diagnosis. Physicians have described the normal course of a frozen shoulder as having three stages:

Stage one: In the "freezing" or painful stage, which may last from six weeks to nine months, the patient has a slow onset of pain. As the pain worsens, the shoulder loses motion.

Stage two: The "frozen" or adhesive stage is marked by a slow improvement in pain, but the stiffness remains. This stage generally lasts four months to nine months.

Stage three: The "thawing" or recovery, during which shoulder motion slowly returns toward normal. This generally lasts five months to 26 months.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Yes it can be.You could have hurt it and did'nt know it.I have been going through th epast year.