Nerve block an effective treatment for painful shoulder condition (Reduces “frozen shoulder” time by half)

Medical Xpress / Flinders University / RMD Open ^ | Dec. 21, 2022 | E Michael Shanahan et al

[ConservativeMind]

Treating the painful shoulder condition adhesive capsulitis with a nerve block is a safe, simple and effective treatment, according to recent results from a clinical trial.

Also known as frozen shoulder, adhesive capsulitis is a common shoulder condition that results in stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint.

Led by Professor Michael Shanahan, the trial assessed the efficacy of suprascapular nerve block—an injection around a major sensory nerve for the shoulder which runs from the neck into the shoulder region.

From a total of 54 patients, 27 received a steroid injection into the shoulder joint, along with physiotherapy and the suprascapular nerve block at the 3-monthly intervals, while the other 27 patients received the steroid injection and physiotherapy with a placebo injection.

"We found those who received the nerve block reduced the duration of their symptoms by an average of 6 months, while also reporting lower pain and disability scores and improved range of movement, compared to the placebo group," says Professor Shanahan.

"For patients in the placebo group, the average time for their symptoms to resolve was over 11 months, while for those who received the nerve block this was practically halved, down to around 5 and half months."

"Previous research has shown that treatment with steroid injections and physiotherapy can help improve the symptoms of frozen shoulder, but this trial shows that the addition of the nerve block can have much greater benefits, likely due to its role in reducing pain, thereby allowing patients to work harder at improving their range of movement."

Due to the ease, low cost and efficiency of delivering the therapy in a clinical setting, alongside its previously established safety, the authors say the treatment could be confidently implemented today.

[ConservativeMind]

I am not sure how blocking pain like this reduces the period of time to heal, but I do know inflammation can encourage inflammation, so, perhaps, that is part of the benefit.

It could also help patients sleep better, too.

[ConservativeMind]

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[dadfly]

makes sense to me.

when i fell on my shoulder, it froze up. could hardly lift it for weeks.

i got over it in a about half a year by working the shoulder through the pain every day (ex-jock so i was used to that).

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

If you have a frozen shoulder, you have to break the adhesions with physical therapy. And how quickly you can do that is largely based on how much pain you can take because it hurts like hell.

I had it and just used ibuprofen and a lot of teeth gritting. Worked it loose in a few weeks, but it was a most unpleasant experience.

[TheWriterTX]

I was able to cure my frozen shoulders by changing out my pillows and elevating my head (side-sleeper). Took the stress off my neck and shoulders and they healed on their own.

[Vaduz]

Nerve block an effective treatment for pain.

It’s true Biden hasn’t had a head ache in years.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Thanks! Not there yet, but I do have shoulder problems.