What is a frozen shoulder?
Another name is adhesive capsulitis, which implies the presence of the joint adhesions (practically scar tissue), that severely restrict a joint’s range of motion. It actually causes a shrinkage of the joint capsule.
Now, can I help you with a real frozen shoulder? The answer is, absolutely not.
BUT…
The question is whether it really is a frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder is, for the most part, diagnosed based on a solely severe restriction of shoulder range of motion. My 25+years of experience tells me that dx ”Frozen shoulder” in itself means nothing. A severely restricted shoulder range of motion does not mean there is a presence of scar tissue inside of the joint, which is the primary characteristic of the frozen shoulder. There could be a number of other reasons for restricted range of motion in all directions, including long limited use, post-trauma, post-fracture stiffening of the joint, problems with the rotator cuff, problems with the acromio-clavicular joint etc. Do these conditions constitute a frozen shoulder? Absolutely not, the mentioned conditions usually respond well to manual therapy as long as it is performed “lege artis”.
I estimate that frozen shoulder is overdiagnozed in a good 60-70% of the cases. Real frozen shoulder can be confirmed by arthrography and in that case there is nothing I can do for you, but usually that is not the case.
Unfortunately dx frozen shoulder is most often confirmed by the failure of so-called “physical therapy”, (ultrasound, electric muscle stimulation, rough exercises etc.) that is very secondary in the management of shoulder conditions and for the most part is pretty much a bunch of nonsense. The results are sad. People go through unnecessary manipulation under anesthesia, arthroscopic surgeries with all associated risks (breaking the arm bone etc.), based on a fact that”conservative therapy” did not work.
If the dx of frozen shoulder is false, these mentioned above procedures in any ways would not resolve a problem.
That is the situation with the frozen shoulder in a nutshell.
So, think. Think hard.
