Among people in their 40s-50s with shoulder pain, some say: "I never injured my shoulder, but it hurts" or "It's fine during the day, but my shoulder hurts at night." If you visit a hospital with these symptoms, you may be diagnosed with frozen shoulder. Today, we'll discuss the early symptoms of frozen shoulder along with its definition and causes.
First, what exactly is frozen shoulder? The medical term is adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder, and it is commonly found in people in their 40s-50s. Frozen shoulder refers to a condition where the shoulder becomes painful and movement is restricted without any significant trauma. Inflammation develops in the tissue surrounding the shoulder joint, and the joint capsule adheres and stiffens, causing pain and limited movement. It primarily occurs in people in their 40s-50s and is more common in women than men. However, in modern society, the incidence of frozen shoulder has increased even among younger people. Contrary to common belief, frozen shoulder often resolves on its own within 1-2 years, but 20-50% of patients may have residual limitations in shoulder movement.
What causes frozen shoulder? The exact cause of frozen shoulder has not been identified. However, it is believed to be associated with conditions involving high metabolic rates and serious illnesses. It is also likely caused by a combination of multiple factors rather than a single cause. The causes can be broadly divided into two categories: - Primary (idiopathic) frozen shoulder: Develops without a specific cause. The internal tissue of the shoulder joint stiffens, causing pain and restricted movement. - Secondary frozen shoulder: Develops secondarily due to diabetes, thyroid conditions, cervical spine disease, trauma, etc. Secondary frozen shoulder is subdivided into intrinsic (rotator cuff tear, calcific tendinitis, etc.), extrinsic (cardiac, respiratory, cervical spine conditions, etc.), and systemic (metabolic diseases such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, etc.). Since primary frozen shoulder is more common, patients often have difficulty recognizing it early.
With frozen shoulder, both active movement and passive movement by others become limited. Pain is especially severe at night, making sleep difficult. Early symptoms include restricted shoulder movement and decreased arm range of motion. What are the early symptoms of frozen shoulder? - Unable to reach behind the shoulder - Unable to comb hair - Unable to scratch the back - Difficulty raising both arms overhead - Pain worsens at night Various early symptoms like these can appear. If your shoulder hurts without any history of impact or injury, there is a possibility of early frozen shoulder. As mentioned, characteristically, movement is not greatly restricted at first, and early symptoms gradually improve over time. However, forcing movement can cause pain. Depending on the patient, symptoms may not improve, potentially requiring surgical treatments such as manipulation under anesthesia or arthroscopic surgery. If these early symptoms are persistent rather than temporary, visiting a hospital is recommended. Frozen shoulder can be significantly improved when treated in its early stages. Since shoulder pain can have many different causes, early symptoms alone cannot definitively diagnose frozen shoulder. Getting an accurate diagnosis from a specialist is essential!
