Do you (really) have a frozen shoulder?

There isn’t a week without a patient coming to see us with shoulder pain and thinking that they might have a frozen shoulder.

A frozen shoulder is one of those scary medical terms that are given a bit too quickly to patients… a bit like a sciatica…

…when in fact they do not have one…

Getting the right assessment will help you to now if you REALLY have a frozen shoulder…

So what is a frozen shoulder?

A good definition is a “shoulder disorder manifesting as pain and progressive loss of shoulder movement”.

The causes are

— Primary - spontaneous onset with no known cause or trauma (also called idiopathic,[patho] for illness and [idio] for unknown)

— Secondary - associated with a previous trauma, surgery, immobilisation, change in hormones. It is also very common in the diabetic population.

Frozen shoulder pain is often wide and diffuse – shoulder, scapula, chest, upper arm above the elbow. The pain often described as constant, deep and severe.

Loss of shoulder movement is a key feature.

There are 4 stages to a frozen shoulder:

1. Painful stage: the joint starts to be very painful and starts to be stiffer.

2. Freezing stage: Severe pain and severe restriction of movement

3. Frozen stage: Great stiffness and less pain than previously

4. Thawing Stage: Little pain and gentle improvement

How can we treat a frozen shoulder?

It will depend on the patient, the pain and the restriction in movements.

We always advise patients to get a cortisone injection as soon as the diagnosis is made. The injection will most often than not help with the pain.

Physiotherapy treatment will consist on:

• Get the right diagnosis.

• Help and advice on how to manage the condition and necessary adaptations.

• Massage and joint mobilisations to maintain/increase the range of movement

• Acupuncture/TENS to reduce the pain

• Shockwave therapy to also decrease the pain and help increase the movement.

• Strengthening and mobility exercises to maintain muscle strength and avoid develop other injuries such as tendon injuries.

In rare cases, patients will need surgery to stretch the joint further and allow to move more easily. Physiotherapy will be required after to continue to stretch as much as possible and avoid the shoulder to freeze again.

And what if you do not have a frozen shoulder?

Well, the shoulder is full of surprises and there is a multitude of conditions that might be confused with a frozen shoulder.

Here is a little list of some of the main ones:

Referred pain from the neck

Arthritis

Shoulder impingement

Chronic bursitis

Rotator cuff tendons injury

Subacromial calcification

Frozen shoulder treatment success story:

“I went to Benji with a frozen shoulder several months ago, he gave me physio and exercise for a while but recommended that to aid recovery and to progress faster I would benefit from a steroid injection into my shoulder.

Unfortunately this was not an option for me as I am terrified of needles, so I resigned myself to the long haul. I knew that it could take anything from 1-3 years to get better on its own.

Benji upped the exercises but progress was very slow. Benji then recommended that I would be a good candidate for the shockwave therapy. I wasn’t so keen but trusted him to give it a try.

The therapy was not pain free, in fact it was rather sore and I was cursing his name! After 3 sessions, which last approx. 5 mins each, the constant pain has gone from my shoulder. I can almost do up my bra from behind me and even if I jerk my arm accidentally it does not reduce me to tears.

For the 5 mins of discomfort it has allowed me to get back to horse riding again and also back to the gym.

Thank you Benji x”

We’re here for you!

Have a question or concern about your shoulder pain? Call or email us.

07760615804

info@benjiphysio.co.uk