You are at more risk if you are aged between 40 and 60, and female!! Up to 1 in 20 people in the UK are affected at some time in their lives!
The main symptoms of frozen shoulder are restricted rotational movement which leads to pain.
Did you know there are 3 stages in the onset of Frozen Shoulder (or adhesive capsulitis)?
- ‘Freezing Phase’ You may just notice your shoulder aches and feels stiff , it may be quite painful when you try to reach for something or when you are lying on it at night. Lasts 2 – 9 months
- ‘Frozen Phase’ Shoulder becomes stiffer and everyday tasks get harder t perform. Pain does not necessarily get worse. Muscles can start to waste away due to lack of use. Lasts 4- 12months
- ‘Thawing Phase’ Gradually you start to regain some movement, pain can start to reduce as will the stiffness. Everyday tasks should get easier but full movement may never be recovered. Lasts 5 months to many years!
Your doctor would probably just give you pain killers and possibly corticosteroid injections depending on the severity. A good physio will show you some useful exercises which can help to loosen the muscles and return some mobility.
Surely months of pain and discomfort, not to mention inconvenience when you are struggling with simple tasks, is just too much though? Except I suppose if you don’t have to do the ironing!!! I hate ironing!
So whats the alternative?
Acupuncture, can help resolve frozen shoulder amazingly quickly! In fact I have been really surprised at the amount of improvement that I have seen clients achieve after just one treatment!!
This is because acupuncture has an almost immediate effect on the muscles, encouraging them to ‘let go’ and relax. It also has a direct effect on the brain and particularly the pain centre I n the brain!
There are a number of famous and ancient points which are particularly recommended for FS. One seemingly strange one is where we needle the opposite leg!
I use these points in conjunction with other local points around the shoulder joint area, and also points which encourage the body to heal - Chinese medicine views things very differently to Western medicine, we always like to look to see if there are any underlying issues which may have contributed to the condition.
For example Spleen Deficiency can cause muscles to become weak and stressed, Liver Blood Deficiency can cause muscular spasms, weakness and cramps (Liver Blood not nourishing the muscles and tendons). I would then use some points directly associated with improving these issues, thereby giving a better long term outcome.
If Frozen Shoulder is stopping you from building your snowman, then give me a call