Frozen Shoulder:Symptoms

A frozen shoulder is a painful, persistent stiffness of the shoulder joint, which makes it very difficult to carry out the full range of normal shoulder movements.





You May Find It Difficult To Carry Out Everyday Tasks, Such As:

• Dressing
• Driving
• Sleeping comfortably

Some people find they are unable to move their shoulder at all, which is why the condition is known as a frozen shoulder.

Stages Of Frozen Shoulder

The symptoms of a frozen shoulder advance slowly and are usually experienced in three separate stages that are spread over a number of months or years. However, the symptoms of frozen shoulder can vary greatly from person to person.
The three stages of frozen shoulder are described below.

Stage One

During stage one, your shoulder will start to ache and will feel stiff before becoming very painful. The pain is often worse at night and when you lie on the affected side. This stage lasts two to nine months.

Stage Two

Stage two is known as the adhesive stage. Your shoulder may become increasingly stiff, but the pain will not usually get worse. Your shoulder muscles may start to waste slightly because they are not being used. This stage lasts four to twelve months.

Stage Three

Stage three is the recovery stage. During this stage, you will gradually regain movement in your shoulder. The pain will begin to fade, although it may recur from time to time as the stiffness eases.
Although you may not regain full movement of your shoulder, you will be able to do many more tasks. Stage three can last five months to three or four years.

Shoulder Pain:Over View

Shoulder pain is a symptom rather than a condition in itself

Shoulder pain is a symptom rather than a condition in itself. Shoulder disorders are the most common causes of shoulder pain.


Examples Of Shoulder Disorders Include:

• Frozen shoulder – a painful condition that reduces normal movement in the joint and can sometimes prevent movement in the shoulder altogether 
• Rotator cuff disorders – the rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint and help to keep it stable 
• Shoulder instability – where the shoulder is unstable and has an unusually large range of movement (hypermobility) 
• Acromioclavicular joint disorders – conditions that affect the acromioclavicular joint, which is the joint at the top of the shoulder

How Common Are Shoulder Disorders?

• Shoulder disorders are fairly common. About 3 in 10 adults are affected by these types of conditions at any one time.
• Frozen shoulder and rotator cuff disorders are most common in middle-aged and older people. 
• Shoulder instability and acromioclavicular joint disorders tend to affect younger people, particularly men who play certain sports.

For Example:

Sports that involve repetitive shoulder movements, such as overarm bowling or throwing
contact sports, such as rugby, where you may injure or fall on your shoulder

Outlook

Shoulder pain can be a long-term problem. Up to half of people still have symptoms after 18 months. It is therefore important to obtain the correct diagnosis so that you can receive effective treatment for your symptoms.
Several treatment options are available for shoulder pain. They include:
painkillers – such a paracetamol
physiotherapy – where physical methods, such as massage and manipulation, are used to promote healing
injections of corticosteroids – corticosteroids are a type of medication that contain hormones
surgery (in some cases)