Treatment for frozen shoulder
Treatment for a frozen shoulder should start as soon as a patient manifests the very first symptoms of this condition. Otherwise, the problem will develop quickly and shortly turn into a chronic form, which is always difficult to cure. Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is categorized as the stiffness of the shoulders resulting in immobility in the shoulder joints. It typically affects adults in their 40s to 60s, and women are affected most. Several factors may increase the risk of treatment for adhesive capsulitis, including certain medical conditions like tuberculosis, obesity, and even Parkinson’s disease.
The typical symptom of a frozen shoulder is stiffness and a limited range of motion in the shoulder. However, three phases accompany this occurrence.
The treatment goals are ultimately to reverse the inflammation, restore the elasticity, motion, and function of the shoulder, and, most importantly, remove the pain. Many treatments for frozen shoulders have been recommended over the years, with varying levels of success.
For individuals seeking an immediate solution, surgery may be required to loosen up the joint capsule, bringing back its range of motion. However, those who do not have the resources may go for alternative treatments for frozen shoulders, such as injections of corticosteroids accompanied by massage and cold treatments, which will often do the trick to relieve frozen shoulders.
Over-the-counter medicines such as paracetamol and codeine are first-line defenses against the frozen shoulder. They are physician-approved painkillers and anti-inflammatory agents that can provide immediate relief lasting six to eight hours.
There are also natural remedies for frozen shoulders, like massage, acupuncture, homeopathy, home remedies, and spine sublimation, that have been proven very effective in treating frozen shoulders without any side effects.
What causes frozen shoulders?
The actual cause of frozen shoulders is yet to be discovered. It may gradually progress over time or be abrupt. However, when it does happen, the capsule in the shoulder joint is thickened, scarred, or contracted. It is also most common in individuals who have had prolonged immobility of the shoulders, maybe due to surgery or a fracture.
People with diabetes also have a higher risk of developing frozen shoulders because of the collagen fibers accumulated in the linings of the joints, resulting in the limited capacity of the shoulders to stretch or move. Unfortunately, there is no solution to prevent this; only compound treatments, including analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs,
Dupuytren’s contracture has also been found to cause a frozen shoulder. It is a condition affecting the hands and fingers where the connective tissues in our palms thicken, forming nodule cords that pull the fingers bent towards the palm. And in some extreme cases, these nodule cords can climb up, affecting the shoulder joints.
How to Prevent Frozen Shoulder
To begin with, make sure you are on the right track towards good health. Maintaining a regular exercise routine will help keep your shoulders mobile. Your car is a perfect example of this theory. If you do not frequently use it, keep it tuned up or fill it with oil; eventually, it will get rusty, and the same holds for our bodies.
The shoulder joint comprises several tendons and ligaments we use for various activities. However, once you keep them immobile, the body will not be able to supply them with enough blood for nourishment, and thus, poor blood circulation can tighten up the muscles and capsule joints.
Using proper body mechanics will also prevent a frozen shoulder. Our shoulder comprises a complex structure that includes our clavicle, shoulder blades, breast bones, upper back, and neck, all important to allow the shoulder to do its many jobs. However, if you go about your daily routines without proper body mechanics, these parts can be stressed. Over time, this can cause discomfort or inflammation in the shoulder joints, which take on most loads and impact when performing a task.
Another thing you can consider to prevent shoulder pain is to maintain a healthy diet. Foods rich in calcium and vitamin D can strengthen the bones surrounding the shoulder joints. The same applies to eating foods rich in vitamin B complex, where veins and ligaments are appropriately nourished to their full potential. Sticking to a healthy diet daily will not only help prevent a frozen shoulder but, by far, all the unnecessary conditions you may experience and suffer from.
There Are 3 Stages of Frozen Shoulder:
The freezing stage
The shoulder starts to stiffen up and becomes painful. It is usually worse at night or when lying on the affected side.
The frozen stage
The shoulder is now stiff and painful. The range of movement is significantly reduced. You can’t carry out tasks that seemed simple a few weeks ago.
The thawing stage
The pain starts to subside, and the shoulder starts to regain its previous range of movement. You may experience bouts of pain before each step of improvement. But in time, the shoulder should return to (or almost return to) its old self.
Adhesive capsulitis is due to scar tissue forming in the shoulder capsule. The shoulder joint is the most mobile in the human body. Just look at the arcs of movement it needs to perform. The shoulder capsule allows the shoulder just the right amount of movement in all the directions it needs to go. When the capsule is damaged and inflamed, it scars and becomes less elastic, causing a reduction in joint mobility.
Natural treatment for frozen shoulder
You don’t have to endure the intense pain and stiffness of frozen shoulders for months or years. Natural remedies for adhesive capsulitis can help relieve pain and increase freedom of movement.
You can do simple shoulder stretching and flexibility exercises to relieve pain and stiffness. Using anti-inflammatory foods will help you fight inflammation of the shoulder tissues. Listed below are the most effective natural treatments for a frozen shoulder.
Home treatment for frozen shoulders—the most popular
natural treatment for frozen shoulder
Frozen shoulders can sometimes be confused with arthritis, but they aren’t similar. Adhesive capsulitis is only related to a shoulder joint, while arthritis can occur in any of the bone joints in the body.
However, many home treatments for adhesive capsulitis are easy to follow and safe at home. Some of the popular home remedies for frozen shoulders are:
- Pendulum stretching is one of the home remedies for frozen shoulders. To achieve this, stand up, relax your shoulders, and let the affected arm hang. Gently swing your arm in circular motions about ten times in each direction. Slowly increase your speed each day, adding more repetitions to the exercise. You can also add some weight to your hand to help it heal faster.
- To achieve this home remedy for a frozen shoulder, place your affected arm on a shelf at chest level. Bend slightly and straighten your knees to straighten the crooks of your arms. Try to bend your knees lower than your shoulder heels.
- Towel stretching is also one of the most effective home remedies for frozen shoulders. Take a small towel and hold one side of it. Bring the towel towards your back and grab the other end with your other hand. Pull one arm up and the other down. Do this exercise for 10 to 20 minutes every day.
- Finger crossing is also an effective treatment for frozen shoulders. To achieve this, stand with your fingers in front of a wall at waist height. Keep your arm slightly bent. Slowly and evenly place your fingers against the wall as far as possible without putting too much strain on your shoulder. Do this exercise 10 to 20 times a day.
- Using your unaffected arm to lift your affected arm off the elbow will help with this frozen shoulder treatment. Guide the affected arm through your body and comfortably stretch for 15 to 20 seconds. Do this exercise for 10 to 20 minutes each day. Extend the arm more and more every day. This home remedy for frozen shoulders is also very effective in relieving pain.
Massage treatment for frozen shoulder—another popular natural treatment for frozen shoulder
Massage treatment is one of the natural treatments for a frozen shoulder that is very effective. It can be quite a long and often painful process for a person.
Massage treatment for a frozen shoulder is to create balance across the shoulder by targeting the rotator cuff and other muscles that support and stabilize the shoulder joint. It does this by lengthening and reducing the pain in the soft tissues of the shoulder and associated areas.
A massage treatment for frozen shoulders is created to achieve the best possible result for the client. This consists of making a subjective and objective examination of the client’s condition. Information is gathered from a range of motion and special shoulder tests. Palpation (touch) is used to identify changes in soft tissue or to reproduce the client’s pain in the exact location.
Yoga for frozen shoulders: a natural treatment for frozen shoulder based on exercises
A frozen shoulder can be one of the worst feelings, and the recovery time can be challenging. But one of the great ways to relieve that feeling of stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint is yoga. Yoga for a frozen shoulder is a simple movement that helps to relieve the pain of a frozen shoulder.
Listed below are the most effective yoga poses for shoulders:
Kneeling Neck Stretches, eight reps per side
- This yoga for frozen shoulders helps relieve tightness in the neck and shoulders and improves internal rotation of the shoulder joint with this stretch.
Puppy pose, eight breaths
- Puppy pose is yoga for a frozen shoulder that gently puts the shoulders into forwarding flexion, which can become a challenging movement for a frozen shoulder.
Eagle arms, eight breaths per side
- This treatment for frozen shoulders helps to relieve stiffness in the rear shoulder and upper back.
Acupuncture for frozen shoulders: the most effective natural treatment for frozen shoulder
Acupuncture is a pain management technique that “causes a peripheral effect through the release of local tissue substances and transmitters,” according to the current study researchers.
Acupuncture for a frozen shoulder is a natural treatment for a frozen shoulder that is very effective with no side effects. Acupuncture for frozen shoulders alleviates pain and restores the range of motion of the shoulder for patients with frozen shoulders.
With each session of acupuncture, it peels off layers of tension, allowing more movement and less pain. For long-term relief from a frozen shoulder, it’s ideal to do shoulder exercises that loosen the shoulder, such as swimming or yoga.
Stimulating acupuncture points around the rotator cuff and joint capsule can reduce pain and inflammation in the short term. It’s best to have acupuncture treatment in the early stages, as it’s anti-inflammatory, and use physical therapy afterward.
Homeopathy medicine for frozen shoulders: an effective natural treatment for frozen shoulder
Homeopathy is fundamentally different from the conventional medical system. Natural medicines not only help the individual to have a good recovery from the presentation of the symptoms of the frozen shoulder but also help treat the responsible root cause. Homeopathic remedies for frozen shoulder believe in treating the underlying cause or root because if the root cause is eliminated, there will be no disease symptoms that will persist in an individual.
Homeopathic remedies for frozen shoulders are of natural origin and have no toxic effects. Rhus Tox, Ferrum Metallicum, and Sanguinaria Canadensis top the list of homeopathic remedies for frozen shoulder. They help relieve pain and stiffness in the shoulder and can even save a person from undergoing any surgical procedures.
Listed below are homeopathic remedies for frozen shoulder
Rhus Toxicodendron
- Rhus tox is a homeopathic medicine for a frozen shoulder made from the fresh leaves of a plant in the Anacardiaceae family. Rhus tox is an excellent drug that can help with longstanding cases of pronounced stiffness of the shoulder joint. The shoulder is too stiff to move. Shoulder stiffness usually improves with the application of heat. This can also be helpful in cases where exercise and massage tend to relieve stiffness. There is a severe crack and a throbbing pain on top of the shoulder. Pain worsens in cold, wet weather. The pain becomes intense at rest, especially at night, and prevents the patient from falling asleep. There is a constant feeling of pressure on the shoulders when a heavyweight is placed on them.
Sanguinaria Canadensis
- Sanguinaria canadensis is a homeopathic medicine for a frozen shoulder that comes from the plant stem of the Papaveraceae family. Sanguinaria canadensis is an excellent remedy showing an affinity for right shoulder pain.
Ferrum Metallicum:
- Ferrum Metallicum is an excellent homeopathic medicine for frozen shoulders There is a pain in the left shoulder that is constant. The pain is that of the character who draws, pulls, tears, and intensifies. The pain is usually dragged up the arm, and the patient may not feel able to raise the arm. The person needing this remedy feels an extreme heaviness in the shoulder joint. The slow movement of the shoulder will gradually improve the condition. Heat can be given to relieve pain. The pain in bed worsens; the patient has to stand up and move slowly to get relief.
Conclusion
Frozen shoulder, aka adhesive capsulitis, is a severe problem that causes significant limitations on shoulder movements and the ability to perform normal functions. The most popular natural treatments for adhesive capsulitis are acupuncture, massage, reiki, yoga, and homeopathy. All these natural medical treatment approaches are available at the clinic. Contact Philadelphia Holistic Clinic at (267) 284-3085 to schedule your appointment for evaluation and treatment.