Frozen shoulders are characterized by shoulder pain, loss of movement, or stiffness. It affects about 2 percent of the total population. This process involves thickening and contracting the capsule that surrounds the shoulder joint. Doctors can diagnose shoulder pain causes based on the patient's history of symptoms and physical examination.

What is frozen shoulder?

Adhesive capsulitis is stiffness in the shoulder due to scarring that causes painful movement and loss of motion. The body begins to “attack” its substances and tissues. The exact cause of adhesive capsulitis is debatable. Some believe it is caused by inflammation, such as when the joint’s lining becomes inflamed (synovitis) or an autoimmune reaction. Other possible reasons are:

• Reaction after injury or surgery
• Pain from other conditions such as arthritis, rupture of the rotator cuff, bursitis, or tendonitis that causes a person to stop moving their shoulders
• Immobilization of the arm, for example, in a sling, after surgery or a fracture.

What are the stages of frozen shoulders? Most people with adhesive capsulitis experience worsening pain and loss of movement.

Stage 1: Pre-freezing: In phase 1 of your development, it may be challenging to identify your problem as adhesive capsulitis. You have symptoms for 1 to 3 months, and they get worse.

Stage 2: Frozen: There are symptoms for 3 to 9 months, and there is a progressive loss of the shoulder movement and an increase in pain (especially at night).

Stage 3: Freezing: Symptoms last 9-14 months with minimal mobility. In this early stage, there is still severe pain. However, towards the end of this stage, the pain subsides, which usually occurs when you move your shoulders as much as possible.

Stage 4: Thaw: Symptoms for 12 to 15 months, with significantly reduced pain, especially at night.

Frozen Shoulder Symptoms:

Most frozen shoulder patients experience dull pain when they first move their shoulders. As the pain increases, people tend to limit the use of their shoulders, which increases their stiffness and the loss of their entire range of motion.

How are frozen shoulders treated?

The purpose is to relieve pain and maintain shoulder mobility. Over time and during shoulder pain treatment, 9 out of 10 people experience relief. Recovery is slow, and symptoms can last for years. There are several ways to relieve pain and relieve the condition.

- Painkillers: Over-the-counter painkillers help reduce pain and inflammation associated with frozen shoulders. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.

- Hot or cold compression: May relieve pain and swelling. Switching between the two can help.

- Physiotherapy: This can provide training in exercises to maintain maximum Mobility and flexibility without putting pressure on the shoulder or causing excessive pain

- Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy: Spinal decompression therapy is the best and safest alternative treatment for frozen shoulder patients. It is also the only non-surgical treatment in Abu Dhabi.

Non-surgical spinal decompression in Abu Dhabi

One of the most common causes of frozen shoulder is immobility, which can occur during recovery from a shoulder injury, broken arm, or trauma. If you’ve had an injury that makes it difficult to move your shoulder, Adam and Eve Specialized Medical Center is the only one in Abu Dhabi that provides Spinal decompression for pain relief.