"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.
When this problem is a result of trauma, it comes on quickly, but in most instances, it takes nearly a year to develop a case of calcific tendonitis that would be harsh enough for the sufferer to go get medical treatment. The reason is because in the beginning, the pain is not strong and the person has not lost much range of motion so their shoulder mobility is not limited.
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.
Treatments like shots of cortisone have helped many people, but there is a concern with those. The physician giving the shot must put it in a precise location. Finding the correct location is not easy, even for a well-trained physician, and so with the use of devices like x-rays and diagnostic ultrasonography, doctors can place the shot in the right spot.
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 mentioned the complete immobilization of your shoulder probably took months to create, and your therapy will also take months on months to receive complete relief. You will however, be able to mark your progress, albeit slowly. A number of other treatments are often tried, such as ice, heat, and you may also receive nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as well.
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!
Author Resource:
Tom Nicholson has spent years caring for carpal tunnel sufferers. Please follow this link to learn more aboutcalcific tendinitis .
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