Signs That Frozen Shoulder Is Starting to Thaw

Jan 10, 2022

frozen-shoulder

Science knows it as adhesive capsulitis, but you may know it as frozen shoulder. As of now, no one is entirely sure how it works. What we do know for certain is that it’s a fairly common musculoskeletal disorder, affecting 5% of the world’s population, and that it tends to occur in three phases: freezing, frozen, and thawing. This process can take days, weeks, or even months to unfold. The signs and symptoms of frozen shoulder vary depending on what phase it’s in, and catching it early could mean shortening your recovery time. Similar conditions can also occur in other joints; however, a frozen shoulder is the most common out of all of them.

Of course, no article is a substitute for professional guidance. If you have any concerns about the upkeep of your joint health and think you may need assistance, consider contacting the professionals at Tucker Chiropractic for assistance.

The Three Phases

Up first is the freezing stage, characterized by an increase in stiffness—but not necessarily pain—in the affected shoulder. When pain does begin to develop, it typically presents itself when the arm is moved and increases proportionally to the decrease in range of motion.

Eventually, the condition will enter the second phase, wherein the joint is completely frozen. You may have a small range of motion left, but it will be incredibly difficult to move your shoulder in any way, and you will likely experience pain even when at rest. Finally, the shoulder will begin to “thaw out”; the pain will subside, and the normal range of motion will be re-established. There is currently no evidence to support the possibility of long-term complications from a frozen shoulder, but as stated before, this process can occur over several months. This could be several months spent in debilitating pain, unable to perform tasks as normal.

What Causes a Frozen Shoulder?

As stated earlier, there is still a lot about frozen shoulder that science doesn’t quite understand. The primary cause of it is one such thing, though there have been studies done into potential risk factors. These risk factors can be separated into two categories: shoulder and non-shoulder.

Risk Factors

Risk factors that directly involve the shoulder include tendonitis of the rotator cuff, bicipital tendonitis, fractures and dislocations around the shoulder, and prolonged immobilization of the shoulder due to pain or injury.

Risk factors that don’t involve the shoulder include diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

Certain conditions—such as an injured rotator cuff, arthritis, and calcific tendonitis—can also produce symptoms similar to frozen shoulder. This is why, when displaying signs of a frozen shoulder muscle, or any other frozen muscle for that matter, your physician may choose to give you an MRI or x-ray first. Frozen shoulder will not show up on an x-ray, but the conditions previously listed will. This is also why it’s recommended that you visit a professional when you start feeling the onset of a frozen shoulder. Perhaps it could go away on its own within a few weeks, or it could be the first sign of something more serious.

How Do I Treat a Frozen Shoulder?

When it comes to treatment, the options vary based on what phase you’re in. If you’re in the freezing phase, a cortisone steroid injection may completely halt the freezing process. There is also research currently being done into the use of tetrandrine to achieve the same result. If your shoulder has already frozen, it may be more effective to use physical therapy in conjunction with household pain medication to speed up the rate at which range of motion is restored. Atlanta physical therapy may also be used alongside chiropractic manipulation during the thawing phase in order to further increase the range of motion and ease the pain. If the shoulder stays frozen for a prolonged period of time and is unresponsive to any aforementioned treatments, you may be recommended for surgery in order to fix the issue. Always discuss possible treatment options thoroughly with a qualified professional to ensure that you get the right care for your body.

Is There Any Way to Prevent Frozen Shoulder?

Current medical understanding of frozen shoulder is limited, and as such, so are prevention methods. Perhaps the most tried and true method to cure most musculoskeletal ailments is simply to stay healthy. As mentioned before, prolonged immobility of the shoulder can lead to it freezing up on you. The solution to this would simply be to keep the shoulder as active as possible. Strengthening the deltoids and the surrounding muscles has been shown to lessen the severity of a frozen shoulder, possibly because it gives the joints beneath them more support. Also, as with any part of your body, routine stretching of your shoulders will keep them flexible. Keeping a healthy diet with high amounts of calcium and vitamin D will also help your joints stay in good condition.

How to Stretch Your Shoulders

Of course, us telling you how to stretch your shoulders may not help much if you don’t know how.

  • To start, warm up the muscles and joints by rotating them through their full range of motion a few times. You can do this by rolling your shoulders or rotating your arms in a windmill fashion.
  • Once you’re warmed up, stand with your feet spread about hip-width apart.
  • Then, put your left hand on your right shoulder and cup your left elbow with your right hand.
  • Once you’re secure in this position, roll your shoulders down and back while gently pulling your left elbow across your chest.
  • Hold this for 10-30 seconds, then repeat for the other side.

Repeat this at least once a day for the best results, preferably in the morning before you become active. And remember: the best way to thaw your frozen shoulder is to do all you can to prevent it from freezing to begin with.

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