Ayurvedic Treatment For Frozen Shoulder Pain
Frozen shoulder is also known as “adhesive capsulitis” is a common condition. It is a very painful condition in which the shoulder is completely or partially immovable.
It is one of the most painful conditions of the shoulder (other conditions are calcific tendonitis or nerve referred to as a pain in the neck).
It has been studied that frozen shoulder is affecting about 3% of the population in the world today. It usually affects people over age 40 to 60 years, in women, it is found more often than men.
Frozen shoulder often starts from scratch, but can also be caused by a minor injury to the shoulder. It can be triggered by injury or previous surgery (heart or breast cancer).
Besides this, it is also associated with a range of medical conditions including diabetes, thyroid disease, Parkinson’s disease, and inflammatory disorders. It may occur on both shoulders of the person.
Three Basic Stage Of frozen shoulder problems
The condition usually goes through three phases, beginning with pain, stiffness, and then finally a resolution step that decreases pain and most of the movement in yields.
This process can take a minimum of three weeks; sometimes it may take up to two or more years.
- Freezing Stage: This type of frozen shoulder can last about 2-9 months and even last more in diabetics patients. Patients may have pain with activity and more pain at night with no significant restriction of motion.
- Frozen Stage: This type of frozen shoulder shows progressive stiffness, lasting up to 12 months. Pain occurs only in the cases of extremes motion, but the shoulder remains rigid.
- Thawing Output stage: This is the stage of the frozen shoulder where the movements improve over a period of 12 months to 2 years. This stage is typically not so painful.
Causes Of Frozen Shoulder
There are several reasons for frozen shoulder like synovitis, capsular rupture, or injury to the muscle complex round the shoulder.
The history of trauma may be the fixed arm at a specific position for a long time. Heart problems or lung disease are also responsible for shoulder pain.
Cardiac surgery can also lead to a frozen shoulder. Diabetes is a common condition associated with this problem.
What is Frozen Shoulder in Ayurveda
Ayurveda generally treats any ailment by understanding the cause of the illness, the disease, the nature of the person, complications if any, etc.
The Ayurvedic treatments of frozen shoulder are aimed at treating the pain and stiffness and preserve the mobility of the shoulder joint.
According to Ayurveda frozen shoulder is caused by increased Vata Dosha (which is the functional element of the body).
According to Ayurveda, a frozen shoulder is known as “Ababahuka”. Ayurveda describes 80 types of Vata nanatamaja roga(caused by vitiation of Vata dosha).
Ababahuka is also a nanatmaja vata roga. It is a pure vata dosha roga in which vitiated vata dosha absorbs the fluid (kapha) of the joint which causes Ababahuka.
Treatment for Frozen Shoulder
Ayurveda, the Frozen shoulder is usually treated with both Ayurvedic medicine and therapies which also include Ayurvedic diet and exercise.
Therapies and medicines are varying from person to person. Ayurveda treatment aims to bring vitiated vata into equilibrium.
The duration of the therapy is from 7-14-21 days depending on the severity of symptoms along with oral medications for 3-4 months. There are many massage therapy that is very effective to cure frozen shoulder below are some of them.
1.Abhyanga: In Abhyanga therapy, Application of medicated oil is applied all over the body followed by an herbal steam bath. This therapy increases blood circulation throughout the body, especially at the joints which are affected, improving overall health. This is a very effective massage to prevent frozen shoulder and other joint-related problems with patients of diabetics and psoriasis.
2. Pizhichil: In this therapy, the Application of warm medicated oil is applied to the affected joints. This improves movement and reduces pain very soon. Pizhichil treatment improves the condition better and fast other than surgery. In this therapy, the patients return to normal in terms of functional and physically within 21-28 days of this therapy
3. Elakizhi: This is a special herbal pack massage in which Elakizhi treatment is given along with Pizhichil that strengthens muscles and improves shoulder mobility.
4. Mudga Navara Kizhi : In this therapy, the Application of special formulation with mung, rice, herbs, and milk, which is boiled together, and hot paste is applied around the affected joint. This rejuvenates and physically increases hylourenic acid in the area of joints. This treatment is recommended at 14-21 days after Pizchil to rejuvenate joints.
5. Nasyam: This is a special panch karma therapy that is beneficial for all types of urdhvajatrugata roga.
For some physiotherapy treatment, Ayurveda aims at treating stiffness, pain and preserving shoulder joint movements with pain-relieving herbal and medicated oils fomentation.
