Treat and Understand Your Shoulder Condition

A frozen shoulder generally manifests as dull or aching pain in the shoulder area. The shoulder capsule – strong connective tissue surrounding your shoulder joint – thickens and tightens. Adhesions – thick tissue bands – can form, and important joint lubrication fluid production may decrease. Here’s more about the nature of frozen shoulder:

• Freezing Stage: This ailment develops in three stages. It starts with freezing, where you lose range of motion and experience your highest level of pain. This can last from 6 weeks to 9 months.
• Frozen Stage: Next, the frozen stage may come with lessened pain, but stiffness will remain. This stage may last from 4 to 6 months, making daily activities difficult.
• Thawing Stage: In this last stage, you will experience decreased pain and increased range of motion improvement. The last stage may last from six months to two years.
• Causes: Medical professionals still aren’t sure what directly causes frozen shoulder, but there are links to diabetes and lack of mobility.
• Treatment: For less severe cases, physical therapy, steroid injections, and anti-inflammatory medications are used to treat the ailment. Surgical treatment may be necessary in more severe cases.

Shoulder Arthritis

Arthritis in the shoulder can have a variety of causes, but these five arthritis types are usually the culprits:

• Osteoarthritis: As the bone’s cartilage wears away with the natural aging process, the bones begin rubbing together, causing friction and pain. The bones in the shoulder may become rough or frayed as a result of this arthritis.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis: this is a chronic, autoimmune disease, and it will usually affect both shoulders at once.The synovium, a lining that lubricates your shoulder joint, swells as your immune system targets the area.
• Post-traumatic arthritis: This is a specific type of osteoporosis that can develop after an injury or fracture.
• Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy: Left untreated, rotator cuff tears can lead to arthropathy, where the cuff can’t maintain the placement of your shoulder joint components.
• Avascular Necrosis: This condition occurs when the blood supply cannot reach your shoulder and can develop in stages. If left untreated, your shoulder bones and cartilage can sustain painful damage.

Surgical treatment can be appropriate for severe cases, but most cases can be treated with a combination of physical therapy, steroid injects, icing, and moist heat.

The tendons around your shoulder bones are collectively referred to as your rotator cuff. Disorders of the rotator cuff are some of the most common causes of shoulder conditions. For example, people with shoulder conditions often experience these two:

• Tendonitis: Inflammation of the shoulder tendons can be the result of repeated motion or injury. For example, a baseball pitcher may develop a rotator cuff condition due to the physical demands of the job.
• Bursitis: When the fluid sacs occupying the space between your bones and tendons are inflamed, you have bursitis. Like tendonitis, this condition can result from repetitive physical actions or trauma to the area.

Initially, your orthopaedic surgeon will recommend rest and alternating hot and cold compresses. If necessary, the doctor may suggest physical therapy and corticosteroid injections. Only in the most severe cases is surgery used as a treatment.

Shoulder Dislocations

Dislocations are common for everyone from children to adventurous athletes. There are multiple types of dislocations:

• Partial Dislocation: In this situation, your bone briefly moves out of its socket and returns on its own.
• Total Dislocation: When your shoulder completely leaves the socket, it has to be re-situated with the help of a professional.
• Future Instability: If the dislocation is particularly bad or if you have had multiple dislocations, it can cause future instability in the shoulder.