A frozen shoulder is caused when there is constant pain in your shoulder. This pain typically prevents your arm from moving, which can cause stiffness, and maybe even the loss of mobility. The most common cause is inflammation. Inflammation can occur when the shoulder joint’s capsule has ligaments that hold the shoulder bones together and become inflamed. When that capsule suffers from inflammation, the bones can no longer move freely within the joint.
If you’re experiencing shoulder pain due to a common shoulder ailment, it may have been suggested that you consider steroid injections as a part of your treatment plan. A doctor would typically recommend conservative approaches like injections or physical therapy before advising surgery.
The most popular type of shoulder injection are steroids, also known as corticosteroids. These synthetic drugs closely resemble the hormone cortisol, which is produced naturally by your adrenal glands. Let’s take a look at the benefits of having a steroid injection in the shoulder.
Significant Pain Relief
While steroid injections can provide some people with significant pain relief, cortisone is not technically designed to relieve pain. It works as it reduces inflammation and swelling, which are key contributors to a number of different painful conditions.
Limited Exposure
The anti-inflammatory agent is directly administered where it’s required. So the effect is restricted to a specific area, and you, therefore, avoid your entire system being exposed to a high concentration of the drug.
It Treats a Variety of Conditions
In addition to treating a frozen shoulder, the powerful drug can be injected into your shoulder to help treat various shoulder conditions, such as inflammatory or degenerative arthritis, a frozen shoulder, a rotator cuff tear or impingement, bursitis, and tendinitis. These injections are readily available in your doctor’s office. Other conditions cortisone can treat include carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow.
Getting a Frozen Shoulder Diagnosis
Your healthcare provider will ask you questions about symptoms and give your shoulder an examination. They’ll often make a diagnosis if you’re unable to rotate your shoulder. They may also perform shoulder X-rays to confirm that no other problem exists, such as arthritis.
How Steroids Are Administered
The cortisone is injected under sterile conditions after a numbing spray is applied. You wouldn’t be required to be under anesthesia. You might feel pressure or slight burning, however. The injection is given through ultrasound imaging. This enables the person administering the injection to see your tissue on a monitor in order to enable a more precise procedure. The majority of patients are happy when they discover that the procedure isn’t a painful one.
Possible Side Effects
Any medication comes with possible risks or side effects. Common risks here include pain at the injection site, aggravation of inflammation, skin discoloration, and bruising. Cortisone can also diminish the healing rate for any subsequent surgeries, as well as weaken tendons. There is also the potential for an increased infection rate should you have the same joint replaced within three months. You should speak with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.
Other Ways to Manage Your Pain
While you’re waiting to speak with your healthcare provider about the possibility of steroids, there are other things you can do. While they may not entirely rid you of your pain, you’ll likely get some relief at least.
Eat a sensible diet. Avoid or reduce processed food. This type of food can contribute to conditions such as obesity (which in turn contributes to joint pain), inflammation, and headaches.
Try avoiding artificial sweeteners. The FDA has received numerous complaints from people who have said that artificial sweeteners have given them a headache, fatigue, and joint pain. Many people have overlooked this as a cause of extra pain. Try going without them for a couple of weeks and see if it has a positive effect on the level of pain you’re experiencing.
Get plenty of sleep. Pain and sleep deficits go hand-in-hand.
Exercise. The exercise you do (and how much) depends on your physical condition, age, and degree of pain. It may be that it’s as simple as a walk around the block. It might be light water aerobics. Whatever you do, go outside and move your body. If you’re limited to sitting in a chair and lifting a three-pound weight, go ahead and do it. The purpose is to exercise to the level you can safely perform at. It may be the best form of pain relief that you can get. When you’re exercising your body close to its limit – which you may need to build up to – your body releases nature’s pain reliever, endorphins.