In our daily lives, a lot of us have dealt with shoulder pain and stiffness. However, a frozen shoulder or apabahuka can cause persistent pain and stiffness that gets worse over time. When recovering from an injury, such as after a fracture in a sling, frozen shoulder can happen. Interestingly, frozen shoulders are important warning signs of underlying diseases like diabetes. The pain from frozen shoulders gets worse over time, and eventually it becomes unbearable and interferes with your daily activities. As a result, I constantly counsel patients at my Ayurveda clinic in Chennai to check such symptoms at the earliest possible stage rather than concealing them with medications. But what exactly is a frozen shoulder ayurvedic treatment, and how can Ayurveda treat it? Here are some specifics.
What signs of frozen shoulders are there?
A chronic condition known as frozen shoulders also causes pain and stiffness in one or both shoulders, particularly at the joint. The condition progresses gradually over time. When you move your shoulders or upper arms at first, it hurts. Significant neck pain is also felt by the patients. As a result, you are only able to move the shoulders so far. Although your pain may lessen over the next few days, you may still experience shoulder stiffness. You find it challenging to perform your routine tasks, such as fully rotating your arms or raising your arms, due to the restricted range of motion. Later on, while the shoulders are sleeping, the pain will recur during the night.
What causes frozen shoulders?
Women and people over 40 are more likely to have this condition than men. The tissues around the shoulder joint thicken in this condition as a result of prolonged immobilization following an injury, surgery, or associated conditions. It might also happen if you don’t do any physical activity at all. Critical underlying conditions like diabetes, thyroid problems, heart problems, etc. can also cause frozen shoulders. It can also occur when a cervical disc condition exists. Hormonal imbalances and a sedentary lifestyle can also contribute to it. This condition is linked by Ayurveda to a vata roga imbalance.
Options for shoulders that are frozen
This condition can be treated with a specialized regimen of physical procedures, internal herbal medications, exercise, and lifestyle changes. To get an accurate assessment and the best treatment plan, you must follow the advice of an experienced Ayurveda physician. The various Ayurveda treatment modalities that your doctor will select from are listed below.
Fomentation: Fomentation relaxes the muscles in the shoulders, and the heat will help the area’s tissues receive better blood flow. This will facilitate better movement.
Massage: To relax the muscles and improve circulation to the shoulder area, follow your Ayurvedic doctor advice and start getting shoulder massages. Additionally, panchakarma detoxifies the body and improves shoulder motion, both of which are astounding benefits.
Changes in lifestyle: Completely cut back on stimulants like caffeine and alcohol, as well as carbonated beverages and packaged foods. Make sure to always eat when the food is warm and avoid skipping meals. Make sure to go to bed at the same time every night and avoid being too cold. Watch your workouts and try to avoid exerting yourself too much.
Medication: Make sure you adhere to your Ayurvedic physician’s recommendations when taking medications like amla-based formulations, ashwagandha, fenugreek, etc.
Managing diabetes involves controlling blood sugar levels through medication and a restricted diet, if the condition is caused by diabetes. Similarly, it’s important to manage any other underlying medical condition.
Exercise: Under the strict supervision of therapists, stage-by-stage improvements in range of motion are possible through exercises that not only expand the range of motion of the shoulders but also improve circulation.
