Frozen shoulder syndrome: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, necessary treatment and prevention of the disease

Frozen shoulder syndrome is also referred to differently as a shoulder-shoulder periarthritis in medicine. The disease is that there is severe pain in the shoulder area, which greatly complicates the movement. It is not so difficult to identify the disease, an unpleasant aching pain in the shoulder area is the main symptom that is simply impossible to ignore.

Doctors warn that self-medication with such deviations is by no means worth it, because the pain will only intensify.

What is the shoulder-shoulder periarthritis

Duplay syndrome, as this disease may also be called, is very common. The essence of this disease is that there is inflammation of the tendons of the supraspinatus muscle in the region of the scapula and capsule of the shoulder joint itself.

The pain that begins to manifest is able to limit movement. The risk group may include people who are already over 40 years old. Such pathologies can occur equally in women and in men.

Causes

The reasons why frozen shoulder syndrome can occur may be as follows:

1. First of all, a disease can occur as a result of an injury, for example, if a hand is hit hard or it is damaged in a fall.
2. Overcooling or even frostbite of the shoulder can cause pathology.
3. Excessive exercise may not be the best way.
4. With age, changes in the body also occur that lead to chronic diseases, for example, diabetes can affect the health of the shoulder joint.
5. Duplay disease can occur after other diseases of the internal organs, most often it is myocardial infarction or liver disease.
6. The occurrence of pathology after serious operations is not excluded. Most often, the shoulder-shoulder syndrome begins to appear after removal of the mammary gland.
7. The reason can be hidden in diseases of the cervical spine, when nerves get pinched and blood circulation is disturbed.

Naturally, not all reasons are listed above, there can be many more, but they are considered basic.

Forms and symptoms of the disease

It should be noted that humeroscapular periarthritis (code according to ICD-10 - M75.0) can occur in several forms, each of which will have its own symptoms. Let us consider in more detail all forms of this disease.

1. A mild or simple form is characterized by mild pain that occurs with movements of the shoulder joint, for example, a sick person can sometimes feel unpleasant sensations when moving his arms to the sides. Symptoms can disappear on their own in a month and not require a special course of treatment. But if such symptoms begin to appear constantly, then this is already an occasion to seek help from a doctor.
2. The disease of moderate severity is often associated with severe pain, which is given to the arm and neck. The pain occurs for no reason, it becomes especially severe at night. In no case should you leave these manifestations of the disease unattended, since in the future it can go into an acute form.
3. If there is a shoulder-shoulder periarthritis (code according to ICD-10 - M75.0), then it is hardly possible to do without medical assistance. First of all, the body temperature of a sick person rises to 38 degrees, and the inflammatory process begins in the shoulder joint. A person cannot freely move his hand, and the convenient position in which he can be is to press his hand to his chest, bending it at the elbow.

In no case can we say that the disease is incurable, any form can be cured, but much depends on how quickly treatment is started. Few people know that even such a harmless disease can go into a chronic form, which is accompanied by disability. In medicine, there is a fourth stage of this disease called capsulitis. Initially, the pain will not be sharp, but the patient will forever lose the ability to raise his arms up, as the shoulder is blocked. Therefore, it is very important at the first symptoms to immediately contact a specialist who will prescribe the correct treatment and relieve the syndrome for a long time.

How to recognize a disease

Recognizing the shoulder-shoulder periarthritis (code according to ICD-10 - M75.0) is not at all difficult. The most important sign is pain in the shoulder with the slightest movement. Over time, such pains will not pass, they will only intensify even at night, when a person is at rest. By all rules, pain can occur on the right in right-handed people, on the left - in left-handed people. The slightest touch on the shoulder joint can cause discomfort and restrict the movement of a person.

If a person does not receive proper treatment, then the amplitude of movements will constantly decrease, the pain will intensify and become aching even more. Some people may confuse symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis with signs of Duplay syndrome. Dizziness, headache, pain in the shoulder blade and chest, numbness of the fingers can also occur.

Stage of treatment for the disease

There are three stages in the course of Duplay syndrome.

1. The very first stage is called "freezing." This period is considered the most painful, as stiffness in the shoulder joint begins to develop, movement is limited. This stage lasts from six weeks to nine months.
2. The “frozen” stage is characterized by the subsidence of the pain syndrome, but everyday human activity still remains limited. This stage can last six months.
3. The stage of “thawing” is considered the longest, as the patient’s motor ability gradually improves, and he returns to normal life.

A person can fully restore his motor activity only with the help of special therapy.

Diagnostics

An experienced specialist will be able to quickly recognize the frozen shoulder syndrome only after hearing the complaints of his patient. But nevertheless, there are certain diagnostic methods that will help to see in what form the disease proceeds.

First of all, the doctor will be able to conduct a traumatic history, this is possible if a person was injured.

A specialist can ask his patient to make simple movements and talk about his feelings, this will help determine whether Duplay syndrome is present or not, a limited movement of 50% indicates that the disease is actively developing.

The doctor will be able to assess the swelling of the muscles in the shoulder area and soft tissue damage.

An x-ray is mandatory to rule out dislocations and fractures.

If there is a suspicion of a shoulder-shoulder periarthritis, an ultrasound of the shoulder joint is prescribed.

To see in more detail the area of ​​the lesion, the patient can be sent for computed tomography, this will allow to fully evaluate bone structures and soft tissues.

After receiving the results of all tests, the doctor will be able to prescribe an effective treatment.

When treatment is prescribed

If there is a suspicion of frozen shoulder syndrome, treatment is carried out only comprehensively and after differential diagnosis. Such diagnostics include:

1. Arthrography is necessarily done, which helps to determine the volume of the joint cavity.
2. An analysis is made for C-reactive protein, ESR.

As soon as the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient is prescribed conservative treatment, while the use of drugs that are aimed at removing the inflammatory process, medical blockade of the shoulder joint and its development with the help of physical education is indicated.

Treatment methods

Get rid of the disease completely only if all the recommendations are followed correctly. It is necessary to carry out drug therapy, but also to perform all the necessary exercises for shoulder-shoulder periarthritis. First of all, not only doctors should take care to relieve pain, so nonsteroidal drugs are prescribed to the patient locally or by mouth. Injections can be used to relieve muscle spasm.

In the future, various physiotherapeutic procedures are carried out, which may include:

1. Ultrasound or laser treatment.
2. If there are no contraindications, then diadynamic currents are used.
3. Infrared and magnetotherapy are considered effective.
4. Mud therapy is applied.

Treatment can be supplemented with other methods, for example, it can be acupuncture, hirudotherapy, massage, manual therapy.

How long does the treatment last

Treatment of brachiocephalic periarthrosis is a very long process. Doctors recommend that all recommendations be followed, since the main effect is on the muscles brought together by spasm in the shoulder joint for several months in a row. Sometimes it takes years to completely get rid of the disease, and you have to be treated not only by medication, but also go to a sanatorium for recovery.

Therapeutic gymnastics Popova

Helping to defeat the shoulder-shoulder periarthritis of Popov's exercise. All human exercises are performed only in a sitting position. It is advisable to take at least a minute for one movement. Consider a few exercises Popov, which will help restore the motor function of the shoulders.

1. Sitting on a chair, hands need to be put on your knees. Sitting, you must imitate walking, moving your legs in such a way as to create the impression of steps. Hands at this time can not be taken off your knees.
2. Without stopping walking with your hands, you can begin to make circular movements on the hips, thus massaging them.
3. Sitting on a chair, hands should be lowered so that they hang down, one can imagine that the load is in the hands. In this position, it is necessary to begin the movement of the shoulder girdle.
4. Circular movements of the arms back and forth are an excellent option, but only such movements can be performed in the absence of severe pain.
5. It is recommended to do hand swings back and forth, while tilting the body.

If the patient is diagnosed with shoulder-shoulder periarthritis, the complex of proposed exercises is recommended to be performed every day until the disease completely disappears. By the method of Popov, there are many other exercises, but the main emphasis is on those that are listed above.

Bubnovsky treatment

Recall that it is medical exercises that are considered the main rehabilitation method during the recovery period with capsulitis. When the disease is in full swing, activity is prohibited, since in the future this can complicate recovery. Initially, gymnastics should be started under the supervision of a doctor. Most specialists prefer to choose treatment according to Bubnovsky. In many cases, frozen shoulder syndrome can be completely cured. Consider the basic exercises that are included in this complex:

1. Leaning, it is worth lowering your hands down. Hands should be relaxed, while trying to draw circles in the air. This movement must be repeated 15 times clockwise. Gradually, the diameter of the drawn circle should increase.
2. With both hands, a towel is taken behind his back, at this time a healthy hand rises and pulls the second hand.
3. A person becomes facing the wall, hands are bent at the elbows, and steps are taken along the wall. It is necessary to reach the maximum height, this will allow to develop the shoulder joint.
4. The sick hand should be taken with the healthy hand by the elbow and raised up. After that, you should take your straight arm to the side.
5. The next exercise is done while lying down. In this position, you will need to take the patient with a healthy hand and place it behind the head.

In no case can you do exercises through pain, you must remember that gymnastics, which will be constant, can cure the frozen shoulder syndrome. Additionally, before performing the complex, you can warm up the shoulder, it is enough to take a warm bath.

Prevention

Periarthritis of the shoulder blade is a rather serious disease that can be treated for a long time. But in spite of everything, even such a disease can be prevented by performing basic preventive measures.

1. Everyone should move more, so daily moderate physical activity will have a beneficial effect on health.
2. It is important to monitor your weight, as extra pounds increase the load on the joints and spine, which is why many people have frozen shoulder syndrome.
3. When playing sports in every possible way to avoid injury to the shoulder area.
4. To take care of proper nutrition, it must be balanced and include all types of foods, including calcium and fiber.
5. It is advisable to sleep on special orthopedic pillows and mattresses.

Conclusion

Today, many people suffer from frozen shoulder syndrome. The periarticular tissues are so affected that even the simplest movement causes wild pain. No doctor can clearly say how to treat this disease, but the fact that complex treatment can bring long-awaited relief, all experts say. In especially difficult cases, surgery may be required.