What is frozen shoulder?
A frozen shoulder is a shoulder that causes pain and loss of motion due to inflammation.
The capsule of the shoulder joint has ligaments that attach the shoulder bones to each other; when the capsule becomes inflamed the bones are not able to move freely in the joint.
Prognosis of the disease
Treatments for frozen shoulder usually help restore mobility and function to the shoulder after one year; even without treatment it may improve after two years.
If surgery is performed, it should be followed up with physical therapy for a few weeks or months to prevent recurrence.
Symptoms of frozen shoulder
The main symptoms of frozen shoulder are pain, stiffness and decreased mobility of the joint.
If you undergo surgery, you should follow up with physical therapy for a few weeks or months.
Medical tests for frozen shoulder
To make a diagnosis of frozen shoulder, the specialist will ask the patient about symptoms, examine the shoulder and may require x-rays (to rule out other pathologies such as arthritis or calcium deposits) or, less frequently, an MRI.
What are the causes of frozen shoulder?
There are no certain causes for the appearance of frozen shoulder, although we can mention some risk factors:
- Shoulder injury and/or surgery
- Diabetes
- Cervical neck disc disease
- Thyroid problems
- Hormone changes
Can it be prevented?
Frozen shoulder can be prevented with early treatment. It is important to see a specialist when any of its symptoms are detected.
Treatments for frozen shoulder
Frozen shoulder can be treated with NSAIDs and steroid injections, in addition to physical therapy. Still, it may take a few weeks to see progress, and a few months to achieve 100% recovery.
Surgery for frozen shoulder is recommended when non-surgical treatment is not effective. In these cases it is performed by shoulder arthroscopy, which is done under anesthesia.
What specialist treats it?
The specialist who treats frozen shoulder is the orthopedic surgeon.