I feel that the cause of your pain is a condition called Adhesive Capsulitis or “Frozen Shoulder.” This is a common shoulder problem that affects thousands of people every year.
We do not know the cause of frozen shoulder. It does not seem to result from an injury. While some people relate the onset of their pain to an injury or illness, many more say the problem began “out of the blue,” without any cause.
Pain may start suddenly or begin slowly. Pain and stiffness in the shoulder increase. Often patients report difficulty with sleep as the shoulder is particularly painful at night. Reaching up to get items off shelves, reaching behind the back to tuck in a shirt or blouse become difficult or impossible.
Adhesive capsulitis is not a disease or aging. Most patients are between the ages of 40 and 60. The condition does not increase as you get older. Let me emphasize that this is a condition, not an injury. Like any condition it has a beginning, a middle and an end. You know the beginning. That is why you came to the office for an examination. The middle occurs as the pain decreases but the stiffness remains. The condition ends as range of motion returns.
Why does adhesive capsulitis occur? Medical science has not found a cause of this process. We know what happens, but not why. Normally the shoulder joint ligaments are folded, like the folds of curtain or fan. When the arm moves upward, the folds expand. When the arm is lowered the folds contract. In frozen shoulder the folds stick to one another. The scar tissue prevents normal shoulder movements and causes pain.
The good news is that most individuals regain excellent use of their shoulder with none or minimal discomfort. The bad news is that this process of healing and recovery can take 1-2 years.
What can be done? Regrettably we have no proven method to speed the natural healing process. Intensive physical therapy, shots, pill, and injections have all been shown to improve the condition but do not improve the condition more quickly than simple exercises that one may do at home.
We will show you the exercises that are beneficial. You cannot break the scar tissue loose. It is too strong. The purpose of these is to gently stretch the shoulder joint and encourage the return of motion. Muscle strengthening exercises help you maintain tone so that when your shoulder motion recovers, the muscles are strong.
You should not be afraid to use your shoulder. Use your shoulder for any and all activities that are not painful, but if pain occurs, stop the activity. Do not try to work through the pain.
I know that this is a frustrating condition as I see hundreds of patients each year with the same problem. Hopefully now that you know why your shoulder is painful and understand what will happen and what you can do about it you will feel more at ease.
Again if you have questions or your condition worsens, please return for another examination or discussion.
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