Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: symptoms, causes, stages and features of treatment

One of the main components of the human skeleton is the shoulder joint. It consists of three bones: the humerus, collarbone and scapula, each part of the bone is covered with a shell containing liquid.

About pathology

The joint capsule is a membrane that prevents friction of the joint bones with each other. Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder (ICD 10) - this is a capsule damage, manifested by severe pain and limited mobility in the shoulder area. This disease is also called a "frozen shoulder". Because if you do not take measures to treat it, then it can completely lose mobility, and a person will become disabled.

Several factors have been identified that contribute to the development of the disease. Most often, an adhesive capsulitis appears after injuries and damage to the shoulder joint. Various disorders of metabolic processes in the body, such as diabetes, also contribute to the development of this disease.

Causes

It is important to treat diseases of the spine in a timely manner, because the adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder can develop due to cervical or thoracic osteochondrosis. Even hormonal failures that occur in the body of a woman during menopause, leading to changes in metabolism, can give impetus to the development of this disease called adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. Causes may be different.

Work, in which the hands are constantly raised upwards, heavily loads the shoulder joint, which leads to the development of the disease. Particularly at risk people who have had a heart attack, stroke and other heart diseases, as well as surgery. Also, the adhesive capsulitis is promoted by inflammatory processes in the cartilaginous and articular tissues. It can provoke diseases of the respiratory system.

Stages of the disease

Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder proceeds in three stages:

• The first appears pain in the shoulder area. It can be very strong. The pains are not permanent, they appear often. They become stronger from physical exertion or work performed by hands. There is also an increase in pain at night. For some time the pain is progressing. The patient tries to make fewer movements of the diseased limb, looking for a comfortable pose for her. This period is quite long, about 6-8 months.
• In the second stage, the mobility of the shoulder joint is limited. The sufferer of this disease can not raise his hand high. The mobility of the hand and elbow is not violated. The duration of this stage depends on the therapy used. If the treatment was effective, then the next stage will follow.
• At the last stage, recovery occurs. The joint becomes completely mobile. The disease can last a long time - 1,5-4 years. Some patients can not normally move their hands all their life.

Diagnostics

However, if the adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder is not treated or the wrong method of therapy is selected, the illness will end with a disability.

In order to start treatment of the disease, it must first be properly diagnosed, and this can be done by a rheumatologist. Diagnosis begins with listening to patient complaints and simple examination. When palpation, pain is found in some points of the shoulder. The patient is asked to take hold of the head with both hands, put his hands on the waist, as much as possible to take his hands off the trunk. After this, the patient is assigned a more detailed examination: radiography of the shoulder joint, blood for analysis. But the most reliable way to identify the adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder is to conduct a study of the joint itself, called arthrography. This method allows you to see how much the volume of the joint capsule actually fell.

When it is normal, its volume is 12 ml. With articular pathology, the fluid decreases to 2-3 ml.

It is worth noting the fact that an experienced doctor and without expensive methods of diagnosis will reveal pathology. He will examine the contour of the shoulder and joint, find the thinning and sinking of the muscle.

What is the treatment for the diagnosis of "adhesive capsulitis shoulder" treatment?

Therapy

Based on the results of the examination, the doctor chooses the optimal treatment for the affected joint. There are several directions:

• At the first stage of the disease, the symptoms, consisting in strong pain sensations, stop. This is achieved by the use of drugs to relieve pain.
• It is necessary to stop the inflammatory process, because in it the cause of all ills. To do this, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are most often used , for example, Diclofenac, Indomethacin, and the like. A manual therapist with an adhesive shoulder capsule can also help.
• There is no need to immobilize the joint. This can even hurt him, because the forced restriction of the joint makes it difficult for him to return to mobility. The stage of recovery slows down. But hand movements should be cautious. They should not bring pain.
• In the case of very severe pain, a doctor may be prescribed intra-articular injections of glucocorticosteroids. Injections can be replaced by taking tablets, but they cause more adverse reactions. To eliminate the strongest pain, a blockade of the suprathmal nerve can be prescribed.

Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: therapeutic gymnastics

At the stage of recovery, a set of exercises is appointed, which will help restore the damaged joint to lost mobility. In order for the healing process to bring the expected effect, it is necessary to carry out special exercises every day several times.

Maximizing their hands, they make rotational movements, raise and lower them. You can try to take your hand behind your back and grab it with the other hand, and then pull it slightly to the buttocks. Also, a complex of exercises will be effective, helping to maintain muscles in the tone, as well as preventing the appearance of pain. This complex contains the following exercises:

• Head alternately tilted sideways;
• The head is turned in different directions;
• The shoulders are raised and lowered;

Neck muscles need to be trained. To do this, in the supine position on the back, raise and lower the head, while holding it while lifting it.

Simple exercises for the neck and shoulder will help stretch the muscles. When swelling the neck is not recommended to do active head movement in a circle.

1. The exercises should not bring pain. Proceed to their implementation only after consulting with your doctor, so as not to harm your health and not to reduce the result achieved by drug treatment to zero. Do not overstrain the joint. Excessive stress can damage it. Increase it gradually. Also, the purpose of therapeutic massage, laser, magnetic or sound therapy. Unfortunately, these methods of treatment do not always bring the expected effect. Its productivity depends on the degree to which the joint is affected.
2. In the event that a significant area was injured and as a result of treatment the mobility of the joint was not restored or restored, but not completely, then surgical intervention is necessary. It is necessary to conduct arthroscopy. This is an operation aimed at restoring the motor function of the shoulder joint.

The shoulder is pierced in several places. An arthroscope with a camera, which is inserted into the articular cavity, searches for a sore spot. The area of the other puncture is used to insert a special tool. It acts cold plasma on the joint, as a result of which splicing and wrinkling is eliminated.

After such a surgical intervention, the limb can be moved freely and painlessly.

Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: treatment with folk remedies

Before starting therapy with folk methods, it is necessary to consult with your doctor.

Compresses often use Dimexide. Cold blue clay, wax or paraffin is also effective. An alcohol mixture of camphor can rub on a sore shoulder. Also used in folk medicine mustard and egg white, ointment from the roots of burdock and butter.

It is recommended to take decoctions from the following plants inside:

• hawthorn;
• St. John's wort;
• eucalyptus;
• Melissa;
• Kidney pine.

Drink this need at least 4 weeks for a visible result.

Complications

Like any operation, arthroscopy can give complications. This can happen because of the following negative factors:

• Chronic diseases that have been carried over recently;
• Bad habits (alcohol, nicotine);
• Taking medications that cause bleeding;
• Operations on the shoulder, transferred earlier.

Possible complications are bleeding, infection, soft tissue or nerve endings, a negative reaction to anesthesia, joint stiffness, fracture.

It is urgent to see a doctor if:

• Anesthetic was taken, but the pain does not subside;
• The person is shivering and feverish, which means that the infection has begun to develop;
• Numbness, tingling in the arm and shoulder;
• Puffiness, inflammation, bleeding in the puncture area;
• There was vomiting, nausea.

After the arthroscopy, pain can last for several weeks, and a complete cure comes in six months.

In order to recover from the operation without complications, we must adhere to the following points:

• In the first two postoperative days, you must apply ice to the swollen area and keep it for 20-30 minutes;
• Take painkillers;
• Constantly change dressings;
• After the operation, the first time to sleep with a pillow under the elbow, it is better not in bed, but in an armchair, for example;
• Do the physical exercises that the doctor recommends.

How can I prevent adhesive shoulder capsulitis? The reasons and treatment we considered.

Prevention

There are a number of preventive measures that will help prevent the development of an adhesive capsulitis. It is important to keep emotional calm. Avoid stressful situations, they provoke muscle spasms, contribute to the appearance of seizures. In addition, anxiety, stress lead to rapid muscle fatigue. Correct breathing.

When working at a computer, it's important to sit properly. The pose should be comfortable. Hold the phone correctly. Clamp it with your shoulder when talking is not recommended. This can lead to pain in the shoulder joint. Drink plenty of water. Muscle fatigue will be less developed if the body maintains a water balance.

Conclusion

Capsulitis of the shoulder is a long-term disease. It happens that a person throughout his life can not completely get rid of the discomfort in this joint. Usually the capsulitis is affected by people over 40 years of age and mostly women.