FROZEN SHOULDER

Frozen shoulder

Frozen Shoulder or Adhesive Capsulitis, is a condition where the tissues around the shoulder joint contract and tighten. This causes stiffness and a decreased range of movement of the shoulder. No-one knows the cause of a frozen shoulder but it can occur with no cause whatsoever, but also after trauma, immobility, and is thought to occur more frequently in patients with diabetes or dupuyten’s disease.

What are the symptoms of Frozen Shoulder?

Patients get pain around the shoulder, which gets progressively worse. This can be very severe. There is a decreased range of movement and stiffness in the shoulder and patients may not be able to do most simple activities and may not be able to sleep at night.

What is the treatment for a frozen shoulder?

Like all condtions there are various treatment options. These include Simple pain relief, Physiotherapy, Use of Steroid injections into the shoulder joint, and Shoulder Distension. If these don’t work then surgical release through a keyhole or arthroscopic procedure is performed. In this procedure the tightened tissues are cut, allowing the shoulder to move more freely.