Question
What kinds of treatment options are there for shoulder stiffness?
Answer
Generally, shoulder stiffness is a condition medically known as adhesive capsulitis. Shoulder movement is stiff, painful or limited. This is considered a chronic condition. Usually it starts with some injury or overuse. Essentially, after this relatively minor injury, internal scar tissue can form. Conditions such as diabetes makes this scar formation much worse.
The best treatment is motion. To assist with this motion, a cortisone injection can help, and then movement directed by a physical therapist. It may take many months to cure this condition, so work closely with your doctor to make sure that you are making progress. If not, you might then need to see an orthopedic surgeon to have this manipulation of the shoulder done under sedation.
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