frozen shoulder

Frozen Shoulder: Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis

What is Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder is characterized by a generalized pain in the shoulder and progressive loss of mobility. So when assessing patients, they often have very nonspecific pain around the shoulder and they have difficulties in moving their arms in all directions.

Frozen shoulder or its other term is adhesive capsulitis and is a relatively common condition affecting typically women between ages of 40 to 60, that comes on for no good reason. Women tend to get it more than men.

What Causes Frozen Shoulder?

It’s an autoimmune reaction which means it’s your own immune system that becomes overactive and attacks your shoulder joint. It’s mainly the capsule and the ligaments around the shoulder joint that becomes really inflamed and painful.

This inflammation causes thickening of the capsule and the ligaments it causes adhesions and it causes fibrosis or scar tissue. All of that makes the capsule and everything contract and that narrows the joint space.

So, the natural kind of progression of a frozen shoulder is that it goes through a really painful stage. While it’s actively inflamed.

Two types of frozen shoulder:

Primary: A primary frozen shoulder is with an unknown cause. It has just developed for seemingly no reason.

Secondary: A secondary frozen shoulder is when you can usually attribute it to a certain trauma, surgery, or medical condition. Most commonly hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, high cholesterol, or diabetes.

Now, regardless of whether a frozen shoulder is primary or secondary, it typically follows three phases.

Frozen shoulder is classically described in the three phases.

Freezing phase: The freezing phase is also known as the painful stage because typically, this is the most painful stage of all. It is characterized by generalized pain with progressive loss of mobility in the joint. Now, this stage can last anywhere between 3 to 8 months and patients often have difficulties in pinpointing the exact location of the problem.
Frozen phase: During this phase, patients will often report that there’s less pain, but there’s also a lot less movement as well. This phase typically lasts between four to six months, although sometimes longer.
Thawing phase: This is the recovery phase, Patients will eventually enter the thawing phase, and in many cases, frozen shoulder is a self-limiting condition, meaning that eventually, it does get better, sometimes completely on its own. But that process can take sometimes up to two years or more.

What are your treatment options?

So in terms of treatment, for patients who are in that initial freezing phase, inflammatory phase, or having a lot of pain, anti-inflammatory medication can be helpful.

The key is gentle physical therapy under the direction of a skilled physical therapist or sometimes even just self-directed at home, which can be beneficial to help maintain range of motion.

Doctors also routinely employ the use of intra-articular corticosteroid injections, which is an injection that’s done directly into the shoulder joint.

So, if the patient is not getting better over a certain period of time.

A surgical procedure is actually performed it’s called an arthroscopic capsular release, so the procedures are done arthroscopically through small incisions and what’s actually done is under arthroscopic visualization, the stiff and fibrotic capsule is actually cut and released.

The bottom line is you have shoulder pain, and it’s affecting your daily living.

I think it’s time to get checked out initially, by your primary care physician, but certainly if the pain’s persisting and it seems like something is going on and it’s not just getting better on its own, it may be time to get checked out by orthopedics.

When should I see my Doctor?

It is recommended as a first step to see your primary care doctor and discussing the problem and at that point, the next step may be a referral to physical therapy or even evaluation by an orthopedist.

What can you expect at your first appointment?

At the first visit, a patient can expect, first of all, and perhaps most importantly a thorough history. That’s critical to making an accurate diagnosis. Secondly, thorough out a physical examination of the shoulder.

Types of Shoulder Fractures

The scapula (shoulder blade), clavicle (collarbone) and humerus (upper arm bone) are three bones involved in shoulder fractures. All three types of shoulder fractures can cause shoulder pain, swelling and tenderness. Also, it limits the shoulder’s range of motion. Let’s see these three major types of shoulder fractures and how it affects the human body.

Scapula Fracture

A flat triangular bone located in the upper back is known as the scapula. The scapula provides the primary connections between the arm and the chest. Scapula fractures are rare which approximately less than 1% of all fractures are. A scapular fracture may result from a contact sport like football and cricket or a traumatic event such as a car or bike accident.

Clavicle Fracture

The clavicle, commonly known as collarbone is a long and thin bone that begins at the base of the neck and extends out to the shoulder. This fracture can happen at any age, from new-borns to the elderly. Normally, this fracture occurs because of a fall, direct hit or a motor vehicle accident. Common symptoms are bruising, swelling, and pain over the clavicle region.

Proximal Humerus Fracture

The humerus is that long bone between the elbow and the shoulder. A fracture to the top of the humerus bone is called a proximal humerus fracture. The ball that rests in the shoulder’s socket is often referred to as the humeral head. A proximal humerus fracture is very common and it can occur at any age. It can often be treated without surgery. Whether the patient needs the surgery is depending on various factors like the amount of displacement, the involvement of the cartilage in the joint, the age and activity level of the patient.

This is the general information about Shoulder Fracture. We recommend you to take your doctor’s advice for proper guidance. We hope this information adds value to your knowledge. Watch out this space for more such information. Greetings for SYS Medtech International PVT. LTD.

Life after Arthroscopy

In the previous blogs, we’ve got information about arthroscopy, how it is diagnosed and why it is necessary. Now let’s discuss life after arthroscopy. Including the knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, hip and waist, these are six joints that are most frequently examined with the arthroscope. But we can use this instrument for all types of joints. Orthopaedic surgeons develop new techniques, as engineers make advances in electronic technology. So that other joints may be treated more frequently in the future.

Recovery after Arthroscopy

The small wounds take several days to heal. The adhesive strips can be applied to cover the small healing incision and operative dressing can usually be removed the morning after surgery.

It takes several weeks for the joint to maximally recover, though the puncture wounds are small and pain in the joint that underwent arthroscopy is minimal. A specific activity and rehabilitation program may be suggested to speed up the recovery. Also, it helps to protect future joint function.

It is usual for patients to go back to work or resume daily activities within a few days. Athletes and others who are in good physical condition may in some cases return to their athletic activities within a few weeks.

The doctor has recommended Arthroscopy to determine the cause of the knee pain and possibly to correct it. As a patient won’t require overnight nursing care after the arthroscopy, a same-day surgical facility or an outpatient unit at the local hospital is the ideal environment for the doctor to perform this procedure.

These facilities provide quality care without the inconvenience and expenses of an overnight stay. Following arthroscopy, a patient will recover comfortably in his/her own home, in the company of family and friends.

This is the general information about life after arthroscopy. We recommend you to take your doctor’s advice for proper guidance. We hope this information adds value to your knowledge. Watch out this space for more such information. Greetings for SYS Medtech International PVT. LTD.

All you have to know about Shoulder Arthroscopy

A surgical procedure used to visualize, diagnose, and treat various problems inside the shoulder joint and in the space surrounding is known as Shoulder Arthroscopy. This procedure is done through small incisions that allow the insertion of specialized instruments. An arthroscope is a pencil-sized tool, contains magnifying lenses and a light source. This is attached to a small camera that projects a clear image of the joint on a TV monitor which allows the surgeon to see all the structures inside the shoulder. It is used to treat a variety of common shoulder problems, including arthritis, impingement, rotator cuff tears and shoulder instability.

The Procedure
The arthroscopy is typically performed in an outpatient surgery setting. The anesthesia is used at the initial stage. Two or three small incisions, each the size of a coin, are needed to insert the scope and any necessary instruments. It is filled with sterile fluid to allow the surgeon to see more clearly. Mostly it takes less than one hour to perform. The patient will be given specific instructions about whether or not he/she is allowed to move immediately after the surgery. A proper rest, icing and anti-inflammatory medications will help decrease pain and swelling. The surgical area should be kept dry for the first 3-5 days. After this, simply change the dressings after bathing. Patients usually begin light exercise in 1 week.

Benefits
Benefits of arthroscopic surgery over those older open surgical techniques are-
• Minimal scars
• No overnight hospital stay
• Decreased pain and swelling
• Improved motion
• Quicker functional recovery
• Fewer risks and complications

Risk and Complications
Complications from arthroscopic surgery are rare. It may include bleeding, infection, blood clots, nerve or blood vessel injury, persistent pain and the need for further surgery. The most common reason patients experience continuing pain after arthroscopic surgery is from underlying damage to the lining cartilage of the joint.

This is the general information about Shoulder Arthroscopy. We recommend you to visit a doctor for proper guidance. We hope this information adds value to your knowledge. Watch out this space for more such information. Greetings for SYS Medtech International PVT. LTD.

Types of Arthroscopy

We got the basic information about arthroscopy in the previous blog. Earlier arthroscopy is widely used for athletes as they face several injuries. But today, arthroscopy is used to treat non-athletes as well. Almost 80% of orthopaedic surgeons practice arthroscopy on their patients. They find arthroscopy valuable because it is generally easier than open surgery and recovers quickly. Here are some of the most common knee, shoulder and ankle problems that may benefit from arthroscopic surgery-

Shoulder Arthroscopy

Here are some of the most common problems that can be treated with arthroscopic shoulder surgery include:

Restricted Motion (Impingement syndrome) from a bone spur called the acromion
Ligament Tear
Inflamed tissue above the shoulder joint
Torn cartilage lining the shoulder joint (labrum), which leads to shoulder instability
A labrum tear on the lower part of the shoulder joint
A tear affecting the labrum and a ligament on the top of the shoulder joint
Biceps tendon tears
Inflammation in the lining of the joint
Arthritis of the collarbone (clavicle)

The surgeon may bring the edges of a torn tendon together, then attach the tendon to the bone with sutures or metal or plastic rivets which depend on the injury. Surgery may also require inflamed tissue or cutting a ligament or cleaning out or removing the damage. Most patients go home the same day and take a few weeks to a few months to heal and recovery time varies according to patients. The patient may need to apply ice, take pain medication, and wear a sling while rehabilitating the shoulder. The orthopaedic surgeon may recommend physical therapy to help strengthen the shoulder joint and restore range of motion.

Knee Arthroscopy

It is one of the most common knee surgeries orthopaedists perform. Frequently seen arthroscopic repairs to the knee include:

Fractures
Torn anterior or posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL or PCL)
Dislocated of knee cap (patella)
Torn meniscus (the cartilage between the bones in the knee)

Using arthroscopy, the surgeon will repair these issues with surgical techniques like suturing, repositioning bones, or inserting pins or rivets. Arthroscopy can be used to extract tissue or bone that may be impinging on your movement or causing pain and sometimes removal of tissue may also be necessary.

Ankle Arthroscopy

This surgery can be very effective in repairing and treating problems in the ankle. Frequently performed arthroscopic repairs to the ankle include:

Ankle fusion for end-stage arthritis
Fracture repair and proper bone and cartilage alignment after a break
Tightening of ligaments to treat ankle instability
Treatment of osteochondral defects (OCDs) caused by fractures or sprains

Depending on the ankle injury or problem, an orthopaedist may need to wash out the joint or shave away excess bone or remove tissue. Sometimes, ankle fractures may require a combination of arthroscopic and open surgery. Most patients go the same day and full recovery of the ankle joint may take a few weeks to a few months. If the injury cannot bear weight, a patient may need to use crutches while healing. Also, a brace or walking boot may be necessary in some cases. Doctors may recommend physical therapy.

This is the general information about Types of Arthroscopy. We recommend you to visit a doctor for proper guidance. We hope this information adds value to your knowledge. Watch out this space for more such information. Greetings for SYS Medtech International PVT. LTD.

What Is Arthroscopy?

Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure doctor which is a subspecialty of orthopaedic surgery. It is used to look at, diagnose, and treat problems inside a joint. The doctor may recommend it if there is inflammation in a joint, have injured a joint, or have damaged a joint over time. One can have an arthroscopy on any joint but mostly it’s done on the knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, hip, or wrist.

What happens during the Arthroscopy?

The doctor will perform arthroscopic surgery in an outpatient operating room or a hospital which allows the patient to go home the same day. The type of anesthesia depends on the joint and what your surgeon suspects are the problem. It can be general anesthesia where a patient will be asleep during surgery, or the doctor will give it through the spine. There is a possibility that they might also numb the area they are doing the surgery on.

The doctor will insert special tiny instruments through a small cut which is the size of a buttonhole. Also, they’ll use a tool called an arthroscope that has a camera lens and a light. By doing this, they are able to see inside the joint. They can see an image of the joint onto a screen that the camera projects.

Then they’ll look inside the joint, diagnose the problem, and decide what type of surgery is needed. If a patient does need surgery, the surgeon will insert special tools through other small incisions called portals. These portals are used to cut, shave, grasp, and anchor stitches into bone. If the surgeon decides a patient needs traditional open surgery to fix the problem, they may go for it. Afterward, they’ll remove the arthroscope and they’ll close the wound with special tape or stitches.

This is the basic information about Arthroscopy. We recommend you to visit a doctor for proper guidance. We hope this information adds value to your knowledge. Watch out this space for more such information. Greetings for SYS Medtech International PVT. LTD.