We’ve all experienced some type of shoulder pain along the years, and it’s never fun. Whether the pain is mild or severe, the discomfort it brings can get in the way of your day and make simple tasks seem extremely tough.
The sensation that your shoulder is stiffening out of nowhere and limits your range of motion is a common one. This is known as frozen shoulder syndrome.
Do you think you might be experiencing frozen shoulder syndrome? Keep reading to find out what the frozen shoulder stages involve and how to get treatment for it.
What Is Frozen Shoulder?
Adhesive capsulitis, or as we know it, frozen shoulder, is when the shoulder capsule, or the tissue that surrounds your shoulder joint, becomes very thick. The abnormal thickness of the tissue causes your shoulder joint to feel stiff and tight, making it difficult to move and, in some cases, causes a lot of pain.
It restricts your shoulder, making it hard to perform tasks, even simple ones like reaching to grab a book on the top of your shelf or buttoning up your jacket.
What Causes Frozen Shoulder?
No one has been able to detect the exact cause of frozen shoulder. Some people are more prone to it than others.
Frozen shoulder is more common in people who are in their 40s-60s, especially women. Also, recovering from a serious medical condition, such as a stroke, could make you more susceptible to getting a frozen shoulder. Any lack of movement for long periods of time due to an injury can increase your chances as well.
What Are the Symptoms?
Symptoms involve feeling tightness around your shoulder joint. Stiffness increases over time, and you might feel pain while trying to mobilize your shoulder. The pain may also worsen during the evening.
Is There a Way to Diagnose it?
It generally requires a simple physical exam done by your doctor to diagnose adhesive capsulitis. If the test is inconclusive, then your doctor might request an X-ray to discard any other possible conditions.
What Are the Frozen Shoulder Stages?
Frozen shoulder can last a long time, up to three years, and it tends to be a gradual process. Generally, symptoms are mild at first. With time, however, they can worsen.
Stage 1
Also known as the freezing stage is when pain is at its worse and continues to progress. It becomes more and more challenging to move as the stiffness in the shoulder joint increases.
Stage 2
Thankfully, pain does not increase in the second stage, also known as the frozen stage. Your shoulder remains the same, and sometimes, the pain may diminish. But this can take time, as it usually varies from 4-6 months.
Stage 3
The final stage of frozen shoulder is the stage where you’ll notice some improvement. The stiffness in your shoulder joint is reduced as well as the pain. Even though this stage, known as the thawing stage, takes 6 months up to 2 years, you’ll begin to regain your regular motion back in your joint.
Treatments for Frozen Shoulder
There’s no defined treatment to cure frozen shoulder, but there are a few things that could help relieve pain or speed up the recovery.
- Medication — Speak with your doctor and ask him or her to prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication that can help soothe the pain
- Corticosteroid Shot — Getting cortisone injected directly into the shoulder joint works well to relieve pain right away and works a lot faster than taking oral drugs
- Surgery — Surgery is very uncommon, and a frozen shoulder doesn’t usually require such an invasive procedure, but your doctor might think it’s the best choice depending on your situation
- Home Care — Ice packs on your joint every day for 15 minutes and doing at-home stretches and exercises can reduce pain
- Avoid Execissve Movement — You will begin to recover your mobility eventually, but until then, try not to overwork your joint with harsh movements or workouts, as this can increase pain
Chiropractic Care Is the Best Treatment
Even though the treatments mentioned above can give some relief, the most effective treatment you can get is chiropractor care. It has proven to one of the best forms of treatment for all kinds of issues, including frozen shoulder syndrome.
Not only is chiropractic care an invasive treatment that can ease the symptoms of frozen shoulder, but it also helps treat the root of the problem. It can also speed up the recovery, as they adapt the treatment according to each patient.
They assess how long you’ve been dealing with it and how severe your symptoms are so that they can plan an effective treating method for you. They will effectively manipulate the shoulder using a wide variety of techniques as well as apply the necessary pressure to the joint to help it gain its mobility. Proper chiropractic care can help frozen shoulder to reach its final stage a lot more quickly.
If you suffer from any other medical condition that might be the underlying cause of your shoulder pain, it’s best to treat it before visiting a chiropractor.
Visit Your Chiropractor
Don’t hesitate any longer. Whether your pain is recent or old, visiting a chiropractor is the best choice. You’ll be taking a step closer to recovery, and no doubt will they provide relief for your pain.
If you suspect that you’re experiencing one of the frozen shoulder stages, contact us today or use our website to find the most qualified chiropractor near you.
