Frozen Shoulder Physiotherapy: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

A frozen shoulder is a condition wherein a person experiences acute pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint. It is more likely to happen if you are recovering from some other medical condition like stroke or mastectomy. The condition is more likely to occur in middle aged women. Aspirin and ibuprofen are the medications generally prescribed by doctors to reduce the inflammation and pain. If your problem does not get solved by these pain relievers, you may need therapy. Frozen shoulder can be cured by a good session of physio therapy in most cases. Steroid injections can also help in reducing pain. Joint distension is another procedure to heal the frozen shoulder. In extreme cases, one may need to go for surgery.

Physio therapy is known to cure most frozen shoulder pains. The physio therapist will suggest a range of exercises for your shoulder. All these exercises are chosen keeping in mind the severity of your condition and with the purpose to increase the mobility of your shoulder as soon as possible. Your dedication towards the process determines the amount of time it takes for your shoulder to heal. If the pain in your shoulder is unbearable, it can be reduced by injecting corticosteroids in your shoulder joint. In the process of joint distension, sterile water is injected into the joint capsule. This makes it easier for the tissue to stretch and increases the mobility of the shoulder. In case of frozen shoulder, surgery is rarely done. But if nothing else works you might have to resort to surgery wherein the surgeon will make small incisions in your shoulder and remove the scar tissues and adhesive from your shoulder joint.

If you experience acute pain and stiffness in your shoulder or you feel that you shoulder is frozen i.e. cannot move as much as it should, you should go and see a doctor. Get yourself treated in time.

Not every shoulder pain is frozen shoulder. If your pain is something that is curable by applying an anti inflammatory gel or spray, do no complicate matters.

Application of certain gels and ointments during physiotherapy and joint distention may cause mild irritation or redness in the skin for some time. There is nothing to worry about. These effects also heal quickly.

You must keep exercising well even after the treatment is done. Practicing the prescribed exercises regularly will help your shoulder to heal more quickly. The stitches after a surgery may be taken out after 10 days. One must keep proper care of the stitches until then.

Physio therapy, if started on time, may put things back on track for you in about 2-3 weeks. Recovery after surgery may take up to three months.

Physiotherapy and surgery for frozen shoulder can be found in India easily at very affordable prices ranging from Rs 1,500 – Rs 5,000 per session.

The results of therapy or surgery are fairly permanent if you keep exercising regularly and follow the doctor’s instructions strictly.

Frozen shoulder can be treated through acupuncture. It is a painless process which involves the insertion of fine needles in your hands. However, you must ensure the efficiency of the person conducting it before going through the process. Hot and cold treatments at home may help speed up the process of your recovery.