Frozen shoulder or "adhesive capsulitis", is of unknown origin, mostly affecting 40-60 year olds. It causes severe pain and stiffness of the shoulder and is thought to be of autoimmune nature, triggered by factors such as illness, disease, inactivity, injury or trauma.
Frozen shoulder or “adhesive capsulitis”, is of unknown origin, mostly affecting 40-60 year olds. It causes severe pain and stiffness of the shoulder and is thought to be of autoimmune nature, triggered by factors such as illness, disease, inactivity, injury or trauma. The shoulder capsule is a connective tissue structure surrounding or “encapsulating” the shoulder joint. Frozen shoulder causes swelling, thickening and tightening of the shoulder capsule with inflammation and scarring. There are 3 stages of frozen shoulder;
Each stage may be endured for 6 months or more before entering the next stage. Serious Shoulder Pain? You need a shoulder expert! If you have serious shoulder pain which won’t go away, you need to see a shoulder expert. Determining your condition is the first step in making a change to improve it. Dr Manish Gupta is an experienced shoulder specialist and will be able to determine your shoulder condition.
Frozen shoulder may exhibit the following symptoms;
Causes The cause of the frozen shoulder is unclear. Frozen shoulder may arise soon after an obvious shoulder injury, but it may also arise spontaneously with no apparent reason or trigger factor as in the case of idiopathic frozen shoulder. Major Shoulder Injury Major shoulder injuries such as broken shoulder, dislocated shoulder and rotator cuff tears may cause onset of frozen shoulder as the body reacts to trauma. Auto-Immune Trigger Factors Frozen shoulder may be of autoimmune nature, which is thought to be brought about by trigger factors such as autoimmune disease, connective tissue disease, lung disease, heart disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, cervical cancer, shoulder injury, surgery, long periods of inactivity. Diabetic women aged 40-60 years old have the highest rate of frozen shoulder.
To diagnose frozen shoulder, the orthopaedic consultant will check the patient’s;
Stage 1 Pain measure, how severe is your shoulder pain (scale of 1-10), and for how long have you suffered pain? Stage 1 lasts between 2-10 months and is the strongest pain stage of the condition. Stage 2 In Stage 2 of the condition, pain begins to subside, but shoulder stiffness increases where neither you nor your doctor get much movement out of your shoulder. This stage may last between 4- 10 months. Stage 3 In stage 3, both pain and stiffness begin to subside. This stage may last between 5-25 months. Diagnosis and early treatment of frozen shoulder is extremely important to avoid chronic and long term issues associated with the condition. Book an appointment with Dr Gupta to get a thorough diagnosis of your shoulder condition.
Frozen shoulder is an extremely painful condition. Dr Gupta is an experienced Orthopaedic specialist who has treated many sufferers of this debilitating condition. Treatment begins with a thorough diagnosis to understand the severity of the condition in the context of your age, your sport, your work and your life to understand what is important to you about your recovery. Non-Surgical Depending on the stage of your frozen shoulder condition, there are a number of treatments which may help you.
In most cases, frozen shoulder conditions will get better within 12-18 months. Surgical If non-surgical treatment fails, Dr Gupta may use the following surgical treatment of frozen shoulder; MUH or Manipulation under Anaesthetic A non-invasive procedure under anaesthetic help break down scar tissue without associated pain Capsular release A keyhole surgical procedure releasing scar tissue and tight shoulder capsule Post Op Rehab Protocol Dr Gupta uses a clinically proven rehabilitation process for each of his operative procedures. Find out more about Capsular Release rehabilitation on our Post-Op Capsular Release Protocol Page. If you’re suffering ongoing shoulder pain and stiffness, you need an expert diagnosis right away. Dr Gupta uses a systematic approach to diagnosis, treatment and return to sport or work advice is necessary to take back control of your condition and to prevent future complications. Contact Dr Gupta on 02 9687 8344 or make an online booking here.
Dr Manish Gupta is a renowned expert surgeon in the field of Orthopaedic Surgery specialising in Upper Limb including Shoulder, Elbow and Wrist.
(02) 9687 8344
reception@mgorthopaedics.com.au
Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 4:30pm
One Point Health, 510-536 High Street, Penrith, NSW, 2750
(02) 9687 8344
Bella Vista, Hospital for Specialist Surgery, Level 1,Suite 1, 17-19 Solent Circuit, Bella Vista, NSW, 2153
(02) 9687 8344
Suite E Level 3, 20-22 Mons Road Westmead NSW 2154
Specialising in Shoulder, Elbow and Wrist Orthopaedic Procedures.