Shoulder and Arm Pain
Shoulder and Arm Pain
Frozen Shoulder Disease (or simply "Frozen Shoulder")
Normal Shoulder Frozen Shoulder
• Frozen shoulder syndrome is a condition that presents with pain and restricted movement in the shoulder joint. It usually develops after a blow to the shoulder. Sometimes it can occur without an apparent reason.
• In frozen shoulder syndrome, the shoulder loses its normal range of motion. The arm cannot be raised and the hand cannot be placed on the back. When the patient tries to move their shoulder, they feel severe pain. Sometimes a grinding sensation can also be felt.
• Diagnosis is made by physical examination and imaging methods. Magnetic resonance helps with the diagnosis. Additionally, an EMG (Electromyography) test, which measures nerve and muscle transmission, can also be utilized.
Treatment:
• Physical therapy plays a crucial role in the treatment of frozen shoulder. If applied effectively, it can restore full normal movement of the shoulder joint. During physical therapy, the patient is guided through passive exercises, and a home exercise program is also provided. Alongside physiotherapy, pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs are given. Applying an ice pack for 15 minutes, 3-4 times a day, also helps.
• During physical therapy for frozen shoulder, many patients experience severe pain. For this reason, the patient often resists the movements the physiotherapist tries to make. This resistance can lead to even more pain.
• In such cases, a recent method has been developed. It involves injecting a depot steroid, hyaluronic acid, and local anaesthetic into the structure formed by the three joints that make up the shoulder, under imaging guidance. With this intervention, the number of physiotherapy sessions visibly decreases.
• During the same procedure, the nerves carrying the sensation of the shoulder joint are temporarily deactivated. Recently, there has been an increasing use of a method called "pulsed radiofrequency," which uses currents similar to radio waves.
