Is There A Frozen Shoulder Cause?

November 1, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment

While related, frozen shoulder cause and effect are two very different things. One can be easily explained while the other is more of a mystery, even to physicians. For this reason, each requires its own discussion for a thorough examination of cause and effect to be made. So…ask yourself, “What is a frozen shoulder cause and what are the effects of it?”

Doctors do not really have a good explanation for a frozen shoulder cause. Some of the theories include that of shoulder injuries. Inflammation and stiffness caused by a shoulder injury are thought to be a cause of frozen shoulder. Also, any long-term immobility caused by a shoulder or arm injury may cause frozen shoulder.

A risk factor for developing frozen shoulder may be diabetes. Studies have shown that there may be links to autoimmune disorders. Blaming these disorders means saying that the immune system of the body would turn on itself and start attacking healthy tissues in the shoulder capsule, causing inflammation and pain.

Other risk factors for frozen shoulder may include lung diseases, hyperthyroidism, and heart conditions.

It is obvious what the effects of frozen shoulder are. When the shoulder is in its frozen state, the shoulder joint has become so enflamed and the tissues so sticky that the patient will report severe pain upon attempting to move the affected arm. If the tissues are sticky enough, movement may be impossible.

The frozen shoulder effect has three stages to it:

Freezing – During this stage the patient will begin to experience pain and stiffness and loss of motion in the arm and shoulder.
Frozen – Movement is impossible and any attempt at movement will be very painful.
Thawing - Range of motion is gradually restored and pain subsides as well.

Patients note the onset of frozen shoulder symptoms differently. Some report that the symptoms came on quite gradually, while others report that they appeared suddenly.

Physical therapy and deep-heat ultrasound massages are some of the various forms of treatment available today for frozen shoulder. However, they are not widely used because of the belief that the condition is capable of correcting itself when left alone. Most doctors will simply prescribe an anti-inflammatory and ice, along with rest as a remedy for the pain.