FROZEN SHOULDERPAIN!
FROZEN SHOULDER is probably one of the most painful and debilitating conditions faced in the chiropractic clinic. What's more it remains extremely painful, and disabling, for a long period time, if not properly managed. Up to three years. Simple daily activities like taking off a t-shirt or putting on a coat, even combing one's hair become an ordeal. Sleep is invariably disturbed, which is why it gets such a high Quick DASH rating (see lower down). Prevention is the key! Nip the pain in the bud before your shoulder turns to ice. Shoulder pain is caused by many conditions. The majority, but not all, are the result of irritation of nerves in the lower neck or upper thoracic spine. That is why chiropractic treats shoulder pain so successfully. It is one of the more difficult conditions causing shoulder pain. It can be successfully treated with chiropractic, however the shrunken shoulder capsule, depending on how advanced the shoulder pain is, may take several months and very occasionally a whole year to resolve, even with chiropractic. Medically, the condition is acknowledged to take up to three years to resolve.
Searching for something specific like Rotator Cuff syndrome ? Type it in here... Custom Search Shoulder AnatomyTo give the arm the large range of motion it enjoys, the socket is shallow and there are FOUR complex joints to give the shoulder stability. To understand why this joint gives such trouble some understanding of the shoulder anatomy will be instructive.
What is a Frozen Shoulder? FSFS is a condition that causes substantial loss of movement in the shoulder joint. The joint capsule becomes shortened and tight, and adheres to the bone, hence the complete medical name for frozen shoulder is an ADHESIVE CAPSULITIS.Arm pain treatments at the Chiropractic Coalface always begin with a search for irritation of the nerves from the lower neck to the muscles, tendons, ligaments or capsule is usually, but not always, central to this condition. The diagnosis of frozen shoulder is often used for any painful shoulder condition associated with a loss of motion which is not strictly true. The pain and disability in frozen shoulder are often extreme. Any and all movements of the shoulder, particularly internal rotation, become severely limited. Chiropractic treats the shoulder frozen capsule particularly successfully, but it remains a nuggety problem.
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click here … BATS IN MY BELFRY >> What Are The Symptoms Of Frozen Shoulder?Frozen shoulder is characterized by a extreme loss of shoulder motion. Raising the arm, both forwards and sideways, and turning it inwards becomes very limited and extremely painful. Thus taking off a T-shirt and particularly putting on a coat may cause extreme pain. Reaching the bra hook behind the back is quite impossible.It is most common in the middle years around 40-50 and is twice as common in women as men. This condition begins with just a little irritation in the shoulder, but rapidly enters the acute phase, characterised by extreme pain, sleep disturbance and functional impairment - you can't brush your teeth, get a cup out of the cupboard or clean the bath. Because chiropractic addresses function, it is able to treat frozen shoulder particularly well. This is followed by a progressive stiffening phase as the shoulder motion worsens, particularly internal rotation, and raising the arm above the head. Extreme disability is common, with even simple everyday activities such as brushing the hair, dressing, and household work causing extreme shoulder pain. This phase may last several years if not properly treated. The final phase, inadequately treated, often only begins after a year or two, with a mountain of frustration first to be experienced, is the resolution or thawing phase identified by the gradual return of both motion and function. The overall course is variable but can last 12 - 36 months. COMMON CAUSES
FROZEN SHOULDER CAUSES AND CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT ... ATHEROSCLEROSISAny and all conditions of the human body are affected by a defective blood circulatory system and that includes frozen shoulder. Insufficient oxygen means that tissues can't heal. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS - hardening of the arteries explained in layman's terms. While these common causes of frozen shoulder may seem quite different, they all result in one or more of the following:
All of the above may lead to inflammation in the shoulder joint capsule. This capsule includes the ligaments that attach the shoulder bones to each other. When inflammation occurs within the capsule, there is less ability for the shoulder bones to move freely within the joints (there are four shoulder joints). For this reason a frozen shoulder is also called an adhesive (scarred) capsulitis (inflammed joint capsule).
"This condition is very poorly diagnosed and managed," Dr David Connell, a consultant in radiology at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore. CERVICAL RIBSRibs belong correctly to the thoracic spine but very occasionally a cervical rib may affect the nerve and blood supply to the arm causing amongst other things frozen shoulder. Usually the ribs are small and of little clinical significance, but every now and then... CERVICAL RIBS ...
How is it treated?Chiropractic Help treatment is directed at four domains:
Surgery should be avoided except in the most extreme cases. Steroid injections may help but there is risk of infection and tendon rupture. However manipulation under anaesthetic in extreme cases can have benefit.
For more information about the dangers of anaesthetics: ANAESTHETIC ALZHEIMERS ...
A word of advice: if the frozen shoulder has become chronic, the chiropractic regime of increased movement may initially cause increased pain. Don't be dismayed, just do the stretches more gently, more carefully, and perhaps fewer repetitions. Ironically, do more icing, followed by moist heat. Be patient! It will get better with chiropractic care. This is certainly one condition where the saying, Rome wasn't built in a day, applies. Treatment of the neck alone is not adequate. If your chiropractor is not treating the shoulder itself, talk to him. Perhaps consider a change to a sports-oriented chiropractor. FROZEN SHOULDER TREATMENTS - a systematic review of the literatureLiterature reviews find there is no place for anti inflammatories in the treatment of frozen shoulder. Vigorous mobilization of the joint, active and passive exercises reaching but not exceeding the pain threshold, deep muscle treatment and a invasive therapy known as hydrodilatation all appear to have some but limited benefit.There is no research showing that chiropractic treatment helps (that I know of any way), yet it is one of the favourite conditions that I like to treat. But... Rome wasn't built in a day, nor is a chronic frozen shoulder fixed in a week. Come early, within two weeks, and with chiropractic help you can expect the pain to be over in a month, perhaps less.
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BRACHIAL PLEXUS
Arm Pain
SHOULDER
"The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that originates from the spinal cord and controls muscle movements and sensation in the shoulder, arm and hand."
Mayo Clinic
Shoulder anatomy ...
Frozen shoulder ...
"My thumb, forefinger and middle finger went weak after cuff surgery."
"Hello,I take it you've been back to the surgeon.
It's probably temporary inflammation of the median nerve, but of course could be worse... I'm afraid I don't think chiropractic has anything to offer at this stage.
Once everything has healed up, if you don't get the strength back, or your fingers remain numb and tingly, then I'd consult a local chiro to see if there is also a problem in your neck or the first rib.
Dr B"
Letter from reader looking for advice.
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