What is the conventional treatment for frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder is the condition of a stiff shoulder, in which the patient cannot use his shoulder to its maximum range of motion. In the frozen shoulder disorder there is an inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the joint of the shoulder, the inflammation of this tissue make movement impossible for the shoulder and the patient also tends to make no movement at all which further tightens the tissue of the shoulder. Lack of motion after the frozen shoulder results in more immobilization of the shoulder. The patient on the contrary should make as much motion as possible to avoid further tightening of the shoulder tissue. Those who are at the greatest risk of frozen shoulder are mainly patients suffering from diabetes, arthritis, those who have had a recent shoulder surgery, people suffering heart disease, and this condition is found in ten to twenty percent individuals with diabetes. It is indeed a reality that frozen shoulder is found mainly in women who are in their forties to seventies. Acute pain while doing really effortless motions like lifting the arm or trying to move small things are some of the symptoms of a frozen shoulder.

Conventional treatment for frozen shoulder

When the physician diagnoses with a frozen shoulder the main thrust of the conventional treatment is to first reduce the pain so that motion can be possible for the patient. If the frozen shoulder is kept in motion even after the frozen shoulder then the condition may not worsen. There have been many disagreements regarding the effectiveness of the conventional treatment for frozen shoulder among experts and new techniques are constantly evolving to treat the adhesive capsulitis in a more effective way. Doctors concede that the frozen shoulder gets cured by its own but that takes time it may be from two to three years. The conventional treatment is aimed at instant pain relief for which non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs are administered to the patient which include drugs like ibuprofen or Naprosyn, as well as injections, such as corticosteroids. These drugs help to alleviate pain in the shoulder and movement can be made.

Physical therapy and surgery

The conventional treatment also includes physical therapy and the doctor may prescribe a qualified therapist under whose supervision the stretching exercises can be done to release the tightened tissues of the shoulder. The use of heat prior to the exercises is given to reduce the pain. The option of surgery is open after the above treatment fail to improve the condition of the patient.