Many people have to deal with issues related to aches, pains, and discomforts throughout their life, especially as they age. While some of the conditions that cause these issues are more problematic than others, it’s always natural for people to seek quality sources of relief whenever they’re feeling uncomfortable.
That said, what can help relieve the pain from one condition doesn’t always work on others, so it’s essential that people understand what sort of medical ailment they’re dealing with and how to address it as effectively as possible.
Below, our expert pain relief specialists from Herbal Ice will explain the basics you need to know about frozen shoulder and the steps you can take to treat it quickly and safely for rapid relief. Please continue to find out more, and consider exploring our wide selection of other medical education resources on our blog.
Related: Rhomboid Muscle Pain: Symptoms & Treatment Guide
What is Frozen Shoulder?
Adhesive capsulitis, more commonly called frozen shoulder, is a medical condition that causes people to experience severe stiffness and pain within their shoulder joint, which gradually worsens over time before resolving– usually within one to three years. Frozen shoulder typically develops in three distinct stages, each lasting up to several months.
- The freezing stage involves a gradual limitation in people’s range of motion in their shoulder, alongside pain that flares up with any shoulder movement.
- The frozen stage involves a potential diminishing of pain but an increased degree of stiffness and difficulty moving or using the impacted shoulder.
- The thawing stage involves a gradual increase in people’s range of shoulder motion and a potential decrease of any remaining pain.
What Causes Frozen Shoulder?
A frozen shoulder develops when the capsule of connective tissue that encases the tendons and ligaments in the shoulder thickens over time, gradually restricting shoulder movement and causing pain. While doctors don’t currently know the exact cause of frozen shoulder, they do know it’s more likely to impact people with diabetes or those who have to immobilize their shoulder for an extended period, such as after an arm fracture or arm surgery. Women between the ages of 40 and 60 are also more likely to develop the condition.
Herbal Ice is doctor formulated and tested to help provide maximum relief!
Quick & Easy Treatments For Frozen Shoulder
Now that we’ve covered the essential information people should understand about frozen shoulder, let’s explore a few of the quickest, easiest, and safest treatment methods people can leverage to find some relief from the condition.
- Specialized Pain Relief Products
Though some are highly superior to others, there is a massive range of quality pain relieving products. To find relief for your frozen shoulder pain, we highly recommend trying the doctor-formulated Hemp Muscle Rub created by our expert team of relief specialists at Herbal Ice.
The hemp rub expertly combines the cooling pain relief of menthol and various Chinese herbs with 500mg of hemp isolate to help reduce the impacts of aches and discomfort, packaged in an easy-to-use roll-on format that’s perfect for at-home and on-the-go travel. It’s lab tested, and made from purely organic, natural ingredients in the United States and is made to work well on all skin types to relieve muscle pain, joint pain, and swelling.
- Acupuncture
The muscles in the shoulder can quickly atrophy with the lack of movement. Often acupuncture is combined with electrical stimulation to quickly energize the muscles and reduce inflammation. It can also relieve pain and increase circulation into the weakened, tight shoulder muscles which can greatly quicken recovery time.
- At-Home Care
Regular at-home care and basic self-care practices are essential for treating the symptoms of frozen shoulder and reducing the pain it causes. Most people rely on an alternation between hot and cold compression packs to help relieve pain and swelling. Use each on your impacted shoulder for 15 minutes at a time, several times daily. Many also rely on transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) devices to help control pain. In many cases, consistent at-home care can help people improve their condition without needing physical therapy or surgery.
- Physical Therapy
One of the most common treatments for more severe cases of frozen shoulder is physical therapy (or physiotherapy), which helps people regain their lost range of shoulder movement by stretching the shoulder muscles and actively working the joint over several months. The key to treatment via physical therapy is consistency, and patients need to leverage the various exercises and techniques they learn every day to have the best chance of seeing good results.
Related: Soleus Muscle Pain: What to Know & How to Treat It
- Medications:
To treat some of the pain and inflammation caused by a frozen shoulder, many doctors will usually recommend using over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen and naproxen. However, not all pain killers are a good option for every patient. Before using any, please talk to a doctor to learn about their possible risks and benefits.
- Joint Distension
Joint distension is a medical technique that involves doctors injecting sterile water into the joint capsule to help stretch the tissue and facilitate a more extensive range of joint movement while reducing overall joint pain. The practice is much less invasive than surgery. It can be an excellent option for those suffering from more moderate to severe frozen shoulder but don’t want to undergo an entire surgical procedure.
- Steroid Injections
Medical specialists may sometimes recommend corticosteroid injections into the shoulder joint to improve shoulder mobility and reduce pain. This is a commonly used treatment method, especially in the earlier stages of frozen shoulder progression.
Related: Deltoid Muscle Pain or Strain: Treatment and Recovery Tips
Final Factors and Thoughts to Consider
Our team of passionate pain relief experts at Herbal Ice sincerely hopes that the above article has helped you learn more about the treatment options available to help you overcome your frozen shoulder pain and discomfort. Please consider exploring our shop today to learn more about our specially formulated pain relief products, or consider sending us a message so we can address all questions you might have about our fantastic relief solutions.
Are you looking for some new health and wellness products to maximize your relief? Try Herbal Ice today!
