Mrs Prabhavati a 49 year old female was fine the day before and overnight she developed an excruciating shoulder pain. Then comes the first of many sleepless nights.
“For the first 3 month I went though pain in shoulder but was trying to bear it without medications. Honestly, I probably could have dealt with the pain if it wasn’t keeping me awake all night, every night. I felt like a zombie – a grouchy, half-awake version of myself” told Mrs Prabhavati
Like many patients, she was going to try to “tough it out.” No one likes going to the doctor, and I understand that. But take it from her – waiting too long isn’t worth it. She was fairly certain she’d developed a muscle pull while working in kitchen. I had to tell her, “Sorry, but no.” And I empathize with patients who try to trace the pain to a particular physical activity they should avoid in the future.
Welcome to mysterious and miserable world of frozen shoulder.One day my boss, asked me directly: “What’s going on with you?” I confessed I hadn’t been sleeping and poured out the agony of my mysterious shoulder ailment.
Instead of showering me with sympathy, he shrugged and said, “Sounds like frozen shoulder.” He’d had it, too, and now he’s fine. WHAT?!? I’d been struggling all this time with something that can be treated? I summoned my courage and tapped into my network of friends to find the best shoulder doctor in town.
Dr Anurag Aggarwal, M.D. an interventional pain specialist was at the top of the list. While I was eager to get answers, I was getting nervous as my appointment drew closer. I’ve never had surgery, and I was worried he might tell me I’d have to go under the knife and then be laid up for weeks.
Actually, quite the opposite happened. Dr. Aggarwal put me through a few diagnostic movements, like reaching behind my back and up toward my shoulder. Let me tell you – the bursts of pain brought tears to my eyes. But within five minutes, he diagnosed me with frozen shoulder just by watching my responses.
The clinical name for frozen shoulder is adhesive capsulitis. It happens when the lining (capsule) of the shoulder becomes inflamed and stiff, causing shooting pain with certain arm movements. Eventually, the shoulder “freezes” or becomes immobile over a few months for a year or longer.
Frozen shoulder is one of those spontaneous conditions we face as we age. Recovery can be long and grueling if you go it alone, which too many people do. Early intervention from a shoulder expert can get you back on track faster.
Dr. Aggarwal said it was a good thing I’d come in during the inflammatory phase, before the shoulder froze up. I was relieved when he said I wouldn’t need surgery. Keeping the shoulder moving would help with recovery, he said. Being sedentary is the worst thing for frozen shoulder
That’s why I hadn’t been sleeping, Dr. Anurag explained. At night, as you try to rest, the lining of the shoulder tightens up like a T-shirt that’s too small. So, any little motion will cause pain and keep you awake. Dr.Aggarwal recommended an anti-inflammatory injection and regular physical therapy, which I attended for one month. Within a month, of intraarticular injection and exercises, my pain began to ease the pain. I finally started to get sleep.
If you find yourself trapped in the world of frozen shoulder, don’t wait until you’re desperate, like I did. It started affecting my personal and professional life. Go to the doctor right away, if only to get some peace of mind about what’s wrong. And to finally get a good night sleep.
THE COLD, HARD FACTS ABOUT FROZEN SHOULDER
Prabhawati’s personal medical mystery was solved, but in a larger sense, the condition itself is still a puzzle. While we don’t know exactly why frozen shoulder develops – the condition was first noted in a medical textbook in 1872 – we know patients with thyroid problems and uncontrolled diabetes are more prone to the condition and have a tougher time recovering. Patients who have been in a sling or have been sedentary due to an accident or surgery also can develop frozen shoulder.Frozen shoulder can affect any adult, but it is most common in people ages 40 to 60. The majority of patients recover without surgery.
Most patients are women between the ages of 40 and 60, though frozen shoulder can affect any adult. We see several cases a week, though there are no national statistics on how many people develop frozen shoulder annually. Not everyone seeks care, and unfortunately, some patients who do get misdiagnosed.
For instance, we often see patients who’ve been told they have arthritis or a rotator cuff issue. With good intentions, their doctors recommend physical therapy tailored for these conditions. At best, those specific exercises won’t be effective for frozen shoulder; at worst, certain movements can feel like torture.
Recovery can be a long road. Ms prabhavati was wise to come in during the inflammatory phase. Once a shoulder is frozen, “thawing” it, or rendering it mobile again, will take much longer.
Patients who see a pain specialist early can recover in months as opposed to a year or longer without intervention. Eventually, frozen shoulder will resolve on its own, but that’s a long time to deal with intermittent pain, mobility issues, and sleep disruption.
Most patients recover with nonsurgical therapies. For severely frozen shoulder or patients who are fed up with the pain, we can do arthroscopic surgery. The surgeon looks inside the joint, releases the shoulder capsule, and restores your range of motion. However, you’ll still need physical therapy to regain full shoulder mobility.
If you struggle with shoulder pain that disrupts your daily life, or if you’re not seeing results from current treatment, come see our pain team and specialized physical therapists. Our doctors can help you relieve your pain and you will get back on track quickly. Don’t suffer Live Pain-free is our motto. For us, frozen shoulder is not mysterious at all. You can request an appointment online at www.painx.in or call+919717236321.
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