Dr. Soham Dinda, Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon in Tamluk, Purba Medinipur (MBBS Hons, NRSMCH; MS Orthopaedics, RG Kar MC&H), explains frozen shoulder, rotator cuff: symptoms, causes, tests and treatment options.
Why does the shoulder hurt?
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, which also makes it easy to injure. Pain may come from the joint itself, from the rotator cuff tendons around it, or sometimes from the neck. Pain on reaching up, combing hair, fastening a blouse or lying on the affected side are typical complaints.
Common shoulder conditions
- Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis): gradual pain and severe stiffness, more common in people aged 40 to 60 and in those with diabetes
- Rotator cuff tear or tendinitis: pain on lifting the arm, night pain and weakness
- Shoulder impingement: pinching pain when raising the arm overhead
- Shoulder dislocation or instability: the joint slips out after a fall or sports injury and may recur
- Arthritis of the shoulder: deep pain and stiffness from joint wear
- Calcific tendinitis: sudden severe pain due to calcium deposit in the tendon
Frozen shoulder: the three stages
Frozen shoulder usually goes through a painful stage, a stiff stage and a thawing stage. The whole course may last from several months to two years, but proper treatment, especially early exercises and pain control, shortens the suffering and improves movement. Diabetes makes frozen shoulder more likely, so blood sugar control is part of treatment.
When to see a doctor
- Shoulder pain lasting more than two weeks
- Not being able to lift the arm or comb your hair
- Night pain that disturbs sleep
- Shoulder that feels loose, or has dislocated once
- Pain after a fall, with swelling or deformity, which could be a fracture
- Shoulder pain with chest pain, sweating or breathlessness, which needs emergency care because it may be a heart problem
How the shoulder is assessed
Dr. Dinda examines your range of movement and strength and tests the tendons around the shoulder. An X-ray checks the bones and joint, while an ultrasound or MRI is advised when a rotator cuff tear or other soft-tissue problem is suspected.
Treatment options
Most shoulder problems improve without surgery.
- Rest from painful overhead activity, with short-term pain medicines as advised
- Physiotherapy: gentle stretching for frozen shoulder and strengthening for rotator cuff problems
- Hot packs before exercise and cold packs after, if helpful
- Steroid injection into the shoulder in selected patients, to ease severe pain and allow exercise
- Control of diabetes and other health conditions
- Arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery for rotator cuff repair, recurrent dislocation or persistent impingement that has not improved with non-surgical care
- Fracture fixation or joint replacement for broken bones and severe shoulder arthritis
For a dislocated shoulder, early reduction is important. Please see a doctor at once instead of trying to push it back yourself.
Simple home advice
- Keep the shoulder moving gently within pain limits, since complete rest worsens stiffness
- Avoid sleeping on the painful side, and support the arm with a pillow
- Do not carry heavy loads on the affected side
- Do the exercises shown to you daily rather than occasionally
Shoulder pain care in Tamluk
Dr. Soham Dinda treats shoulder pain, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff problems and shoulder injuries for patients from Tamluk, Mecheda, Panskura, Kolaghat and the rest of Purba Medinipur. See also our page on arthroscopy and sports injury.
সংক্ষেপে বাংলায়
কাঁধে ব্যথা, হাত তুলতে না পারা বা রাতে ব্যথায় ঘুম না আসা কাঁধের সমস্যার লক্ষণ। ডায়াবেটিস থাকলে ফ্রোজেন শোল্ডার বা কাঁধ জমে যাওয়ার সম্ভাবনা বেশি। ওষুধ, ব্যায়াম ও দরকারে ইনজেকশনে বেশিরভাগ রোগী ভালো হন। তমলুকে কাঁধের চিকিৎসার জন্য ডা. সোহম দিন্দাকে ফোন করুন ৮৯১০০৫১০৭২।
This page is for general awareness and does not replace a consultation. Please see a qualified doctor for diagnosis and treatment.