"Frozen shoulder" which is the layman term for calcific tendonitis, occurs very frequently. However, it happens most often to women who are diabetic and above 40 years old. Of course the condition may be caused by some kind of accident, but doctors are unsure of the exact cause of calcific tendonitis.
Of course when caused by trauma it happens quickly, but in most cases it took close to a year to reach a case of calcific tendonitis severe enough for the patient to ask for any kind of medical help. This is because in the beginning, the pain is relatively mild, and the range of motion of the shoulder is not hampered at all.
Little by little, the pain increases, usually causing an interruption of sleep as the pain is usually worst at night. Along with the pain increasing, there is also the beginning of loss of the range of motion to the affected shoulder. For example putting away dishes into your cupboard will cause you to wince in pain. Or, someone who plays tennis, for example, may no longer be able to raise their tennis racket.
Your doctor may treat this condition with shots of cortisone; however, there is an issue with those. The doctor must administer the cortisone in an exact spot. Finding the precise spot is hard, even for a trained doctor that has performed this service for years. Thankfully, with the use of x-rays and diagnostic ultrasonography, many doctors can place the shot in the proper position required.
By following this advice, much of the pain related to calcific tendonitis will vanish, or at least decrease. You then must start intense physical therapy.
Generally, you may be able to accomplish the exercises in your home, but most people end up having to see a physical therapist in order to receive a proper supervised rehabilitation program. Most of the exercises are relatively simple. For example, standing and facing a wall, you use the fingers of your affected shoulder to simply walk up the wall. At first, you'll only be able to perform a few "steps" of this exercise, but after receiving therapy for a few months, you'll notice that you go higher and higher up that wall. Pilates have been known to be helpful in some cases.
As was mentioned before, the total immobilization of your shoulder took a while to develop so it will take months of therapy to remedy the problem. You will however notice your progress, even though it will happen slowly. Some other treatments are also tried like ice, heat, and the doctor may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) too.
If your calcific tendonitis resists all the therapies prescribed, and you've done them religiously for months on end, the final solution may well be surgery. You should, however, prior to having surgery, look toward all the other venues, such as more intense physical therapy first, and besides following surgery, you will still need to follow a very intensive physical therapy program!
Of course when caused by trauma it happens quickly, but in most cases it took close to a year to reach a case of calcific tendonitis severe enough for the patient to ask for any kind of medical help. This is because in the beginning, the pain is relatively mild, and the range of motion of the shoulder is not hampered at all.
Little by little, the pain increases, usually causing an interruption of sleep as the pain is usually worst at night. Along with the pain increasing, there is also the beginning of loss of the range of motion to the affected shoulder. For example putting away dishes into your cupboard will cause you to wince in pain. Or, someone who plays tennis, for example, may no longer be able to raise their tennis racket.
Your doctor may treat this condition with shots of cortisone; however, there is an issue with those. The doctor must administer the cortisone in an exact spot. Finding the precise spot is hard, even for a trained doctor that has performed this service for years. Thankfully, with the use of x-rays and diagnostic ultrasonography, many doctors can place the shot in the proper position required.
By following this advice, much of the pain related to calcific tendonitis will vanish, or at least decrease. You then must start intense physical therapy.
Generally, you may be able to accomplish the exercises in your home, but most people end up having to see a physical therapist in order to receive a proper supervised rehabilitation program. Most of the exercises are relatively simple. For example, standing and facing a wall, you use the fingers of your affected shoulder to simply walk up the wall. At first, you'll only be able to perform a few "steps" of this exercise, but after receiving therapy for a few months, you'll notice that you go higher and higher up that wall. Pilates have been known to be helpful in some cases.
As was mentioned before, the total immobilization of your shoulder took a while to develop so it will take months of therapy to remedy the problem. You will however notice your progress, even though it will happen slowly. Some other treatments are also tried like ice, heat, and the doctor may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) too.
If your calcific tendonitis resists all the therapies prescribed, and you've done them religiously for months on end, the final solution may well be surgery. You should, however, prior to having surgery, look toward all the other venues, such as more intense physical therapy first, and besides following surgery, you will still need to follow a very intensive physical therapy program!
About the Author:
Tom Nicholson has spent years caring for sufferers of carpal tunnel syndrome. Please click here to learn more aboutcalcific tendinitis.
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