Joint pain is a very common complaint a clinical practitioner comes across in patients. A joint is a structure in the body where two or more bones connect with each other. The other components of the joints besides the bones include – tendons, ligaments, cartilage and synovial fluid. Tendons are the fibrous connective tissue that connects the muscles to the bones. Ligaments are the tissue bands that connect bones to the other bones for joint formation. The cartilage of the joint refers to smooth, flexible tissue that covers the ends of the bones where they meet to form the joint. Synovial fluid is the lubricating fluid in the joint that functions to reduce the friction in the structures of the synovial joints when joint movement tatakeske place.

Stiff joint is a feeling when a joint feels tight on trying to move it or a feeling that the joint has a restricted movement. It can affect one or multiple jonts at a time. Stiffness of the joint is mostly felt after rest or waking up in the morning or after sitting for a long time period. It may be attended with pain, swelling, heat and redness of the joints. It could simply arise from sleeping in the wrong posture, ageing or it could be indicative of some underlying health issue. The main medical cause behind stiff joints is arthritis (i.e. inflamed joints). First among these is rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune joint disorder that leads to stiff, painful, red and warm joints. In the beginning, the small joints of the body like fingers, hands are affected followed later by other joints afterwards. Deformity in the joints may also appear in the long run if inflammation is not controlled well in time. Autoimmune disease means it arises when the immune cells of the body start damaging the lining of the joint out of a misdirected response.

Another type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disorder that results when the cartilage present at the end of the bones that forms the joints starts to wear down usually as a part of aging but can also occur from other reasons like injury. It can affect any joint of the body but usually affects joints of the knees, hands, hips and the spine.

Another kind of arthritis is gout. Gout refers to inflammation of the joints arising from increased uric acid levels. It initially tends to start from the joint of the big toe but can involve other joints afterwards. Other types of arthritis include psoriatic arthritis and infectious arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is a type of joint inflammation that can occur in some persons who suffer from skin disorder called psoriasis (an autoimmune skin disorder characterized by red inflamed patches on the skin covered with silvery white scales). Infectious arthritis is a type of joint inflammation that occurs from infection in the joints which reaches joints from other body parts via blood stream.

Stiffness can also occur in case of ankylosing spondylitis (it is an autoimmune disorder affecting the spine which causes stiffness in the back and hips. It may also cause stiffness of other joints like that of hands and feet). Besides arthritis, another cause is bursitis. Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa (small sacs filled with fluid that helps in lubrication and smooth movement of the joint during movement). Another cause can be fibromyalgia. It is a disorder that causes pain in the body along with general weakness, sleep problems and memory issues.

Homeopathic Management

Homeopathy can help wonderfully in managing stiffness of the joints. Homeopathic medicines boost the natural healing system of the body to overcome joint stiffness naturally. These medicines treat the root cause of stiff joints to ensure relief. The inflammation of the joints is controlled well by homeopathic medicines. Along with stiffness, they also manage pain, swelling, redness and heat in the joints. These medicines are 100% natural remedies without any side effects. The suitable medicine for these cases has to be selected separately for every case after detailed case evaluation based on the characteristic symptoms. So prior to taking any homeopathic medicine, it is advised to get any case of stiff joints evaluated by a homeopathic doctor and take medicine under the doctor’s supervision. Self-medication should not be done in any case.

Homeopathic Medicines for Stiff Joints

1. Rhus Tox – Top Most Medicine

Rhus Tox ranks first in the list of homeopathic medicines for managing stiff joints. Persons needing it have marked stiffness in the joints on first movement after rest. Stiffness is worse on getting up in the morning. Getting up from the chair also worsens the stiffness. Continuous movement helps to reduce the stiffness of joints. Along with the above-mentioned complaints, a person complains of pain, redness and swelling of the joints. The nature of pain is stitching type in most cases. It results in weak joints. Joint complaint is worse in damp, wet weather in cases needing this medicine.

2. Bryonia – Along With Red, Swollen, Painful Joints

Bryonia is an important medicine to manage stiffness of the joints attended with redness, swelling and pain in the joints. Stitching type of pain is felt in the joints in cases needing it. The most important symptom is worsening of the pain at the slightest movement and relief from rest. Applying warmth brings relief to joint pains.

3. Actaea Spicata – For stiffness of hands and fingers

This medicine is highly suitable for managing the stiffness of the joints of hands and fingers. Along with stiffness, pain is also felt in the joints of fingers and hands. Pain gets worse from touch and movement. Little fatigue also enhances joint pain.

4. Causticum – For Stiffness Of Knee Joint

Causticum is the most prominent medicine to manage the stiffness of knee joint. A tensive pain causing strain is felt in the knee. The stiffness and pain get worse when walking. Out of both knees, the left-sided knee is more prominently affected. Cracking in the knee is also felt when walking along with the above-mentioned complaints. Besides knees, this medicine can also be used in cases of stiffness of the ankle joint. Pain is felt in the ankle when walking.

5. Colchicum – For stiff joints of small joints

This medicine is well indicated when there is stiffness in the small joints like those of the hands and the feet. Along with this, pain and swelling attend. The joints are also sensitive to touch. The pain is worse in the evening and at night. The pain keeps shifting from one joint to another. Tearing and stitching type of pain is mostly complained by those requiring this medicine. Colchicum is the best remedy in cases of joint inflammation occurring in cases of gout.

6. Ledum Palustre – With Relief From Cold Water Application

This medicine is recommended when joint stiffness specifically gets better from the application of cold water on the joints. Only after applying cold water to joints, the movement of joints is possible. Tearing type of pain can occur in the joints along with stiffness. Pain is worse from movement. Heat is felt in the joints. In cases needing this medicine, all the joints in the body can be stiff but among these, the most prominent joints include those of knees, ankle and feet.

7. Sticta – For Stiff And Swollen Joints

Sticta is a good medicine for managing cases of stiff and swollen joints. In cases needing it, pain is also felt in the joints. Pain leads to sleeplessness. This medicine is also the best medicine for managing knee stiffness and pain in cases of bursitis. Moving about relieves the stiffness of joints.

8. Lycopodium – For Stiff Elbow, Shoulder, Knee And Ankle Joints

Lycopodium works well in cases of stiffness of elbow, shoulder, knee and ankle joints. There is a feeling as if a band is present around the joints. The knee and ankle are swollen along with pain on movement and touch. In elbow and shoulders joint, a tearing type of pain is felt. The stiffness is more during rest most of the time.

 

Swollen tender joints can occur due to multiple reasons. Swollen joints mean puffed joints resulting from increased fluid accumulation in the tissues present around the joints. Tender joints mean when one feels pain on touching the joints. So swollen tender joints refer to puffed joints that are painful to touch. It can affect any of the joints, and at a time one or multiple joints may be affected. The pain may also shift from one joint to another quickly in a short period of time. Depending on the cause, the affected joints may be red, stiff and warm to touch and may have decreased range of movement. The reasons for swollen and tender joints are summed below:

1. Rheumatoid arthritis: It is an autoimmune joint disorder resulting in joint inflammation beginning especially from the small joints of hands causing pain, stiffness, and swelling of joints. Autoimmune disorder means disorders in which the immune cells damage healthy tissues out of a mistaken response.

2. Gout: It is a type of joint inflammation (arthritis) resulting from the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints. This type of arthritis in most cases affects the big toe, though other joints can be affected as well.

3. Osteoarthritis: It is a form of arthritis that occurs from wear and tear of joints. It happens from deterioration of the cartilage present at the end of bones forming a joint that prevents rubbing of the bones together in the joint, during movement. The joints most affected in this are knees, hips and hands and joints of the spine.

4. Bursitis: It refers to inflammation of the bursa (i.e. a bag of synovial fluid around a joint) that helps in reducing friction between different structures of the joints during joint movement.

5. An injury or sprain: A joint injury can lead to swollen tender joints. Sprain can also be one of the causes. Sprain refers to overstretching or tearing of ligaments (band of fibrous tissue connecting two bones of the joint). Mostly, sprain tends to occur in the ankles.

6. An infection in the joint (septic arthritis): Also known as infectious arthritis, it happens from the spread of infection to the joint. It occurs mostly from a bacterial infection, but might also result from a viral or fungal infection.

7. Ankylosing arthritis: This form of arthritis begins with inflammation in the sacroiliac joint (a joint formed where the hip bone connects with the sacrum which is a triangular bone at the base of the spine).

8. Psoriatic arthritis: It is a type of arthritis that can occur in some people suffering from an autoimmune skin disorder called psoriasis. In psoriasis, red inflamed patches appear on the skin covered with silvery white scales.

9. Reactive arthritis: This kind of arthritis gets triggered after an infection in some other body part like in the urinary tract, bowels or genitals.

Homeopathic Management

There is excellent scope for managing swollen tender joints in homeopathy. Homeopathic medicines aim at rectifying the root cause behind swelling and tenderness of the joints. This brings long-term relief to the sufferer. Homeopathic medicines are recommended for both recent (acute) as well as long-term (chronic) cases of swollen, tender joints. Along with swelling and tenderness, these medicines also help to manage stiffness, heat and redness of the joints. Homeopathic medicines are free from any side effects as these are prepared from naturally occurring substances. There are numerous homeopathic medicines to manage cases of swollen, tender joints but these are not specific. Every case cannot be treated with the same one medicine but the most suitable medicine has to be found after detailed case evaluation of the symptoms. The symptoms that are characteristic in each case, like the worsening and relieving factors, are kept in mind to prescribe medicine in every individual case. So it is advised that a person should get his/ her case evaluated by a homeopathic physician for correct prescription.

Homeopathic Medicines For Tender Joints

1. Arnica – Top-Listed Medicine

To manage swollen tender joints, Arnica is one of the best-indicated medicines in homeopathy. This medicine is highly suited to manage joint complaints occurring after an injury, sprain or arthritis (inflammation of the joints). Persons needing it have swelling on the joints with intense tenderness and they fear touching the affected joint due to pain that occurs even from touching. There is acute pain and it feels as if the joints have been beaten with some blunt object. A characteristic feature that can be present where this medicine is required is pain starting from the joints in the lower part of the body, and then affecting joints in the upper body part. Pain gets worse from movement of the affected joint besides touch.

2. Rhus Tox – Along With Stiffness

This medicine is highly recommended when along with swelling and tenderness, joint stiffness is also present. Mainly stitching type of pain occurs on touching the affected joints. The joints are red and warm to touch. A key indicating feature for its use is the worsening of pain when at rest, and relief from movement. Stiffness gets relieved by warm application over the joints. This medicine is the most helpful for swollen tender joints due to arthritis and injury. When joint pain worsens in damp weather, then also Rhus Tox is quite effective.

3. Causticum – When Pain Relieves From Warm Applications

Causticum is another very beneficial medicine for swollen tender joints. The main indicating feature for its use is relief in pain from warm applications, like applying a heating pad, on the joints. Mostly tearing type of pain is felt in cases needing it. Causticum is also indicated for management of joint complaints when deformity has occurred in the joints from long-term inflammation.

4. Pulsatilla – With Shifting Joint Pains

Pulsatilla can be considered when joints are swollen and pain shifts from one joint to another rapidly. The affected joints are markedly swollen and red. A drawing type of pain occurs in the joints on touch. Pain gets worse from movement. Pain increases at night, it gets better towards the morning. Numbness is also felt in the affected joints.

5. Bryonia – When Pain Gets Better By Resting

This medicine works well when joints are painful to touch and better from absolute rest. Not even the slightest touch is tolerable. Pain worsens from the least motion. The affected joints are red, swollen along with marked heat. The nature of pain in the joints can be tearing or stitching type.

6. China Officinalis – When Pain Worsens From Touch And At Night

This medicine is useful for cases in which pain worsens from touch and also at night. The affected joints are highly sensitive and the slightest touch is painful. The joints also feel weak. Pressure is felt on the joints as from a load. Pains are worse when lying down or taking rest.

7. Ruta – From Injury Or Sprain

This medicine, like Arnica, is effective to manage swollen, tender joints from injury or a sprain. The affected joints are painful, besides causing restlessness. Affected joints also feel lame. Nodes may develop on the joints involved along with the above symptoms.

 

Joint pain and swelling can occur in any body joint including small joints. Small joints include joints of hands, fingers, feet, toes, wrist and ankle. Hand and feet joints include – MCP (metacarpophalangeal) joints, interphalangeal joints and MTP (metatarsophalangeal) joints. MCP joints are the ones where the the bones of hands meet the bones of fingers and thumbs also known as knuckles.  MTP joints are the ones that connect long bones of foot to toes. Interphalangeal joints refer to joints between bones of fingers (phalanges) that join them with each other. The main reason behind small joint pain and swelling is arthritis. Arthritis means inflammation of joints that causes pain, swelling, redness, heat and stiffness of a joint.

Homeopathic Management

Homeopathic medicines are highly effective in managing small joint pain and swelling. These medicines are 100 pc natural remedies that reduce joint inflammation, prevent further joint damage and relieve the symptoms like pain, swelling, stiffness. The homeopathic medicines are helpful in both – cases of recent origin as well as long term chronic cases. These medicines are free from any toxic side effects. Homeopathic medicines for treating joint pains are selected based on individual symptoms in each and every case. Though it is safe to use homeopathic medicines, it is advised to consult a homeopathic physician prior to taking any homeopathic medicine for treating joint pains.

Homeopathic Medicines For Treating Pain In Small Joints

1.Actaea Spicata – Top Recommended Medicine

Actaea Spicata is the leading homeopathic medicine to treat small joint pain and swelling. This medicine proves effective when joints of the fingers, wrists, ankles and toes are affected. Among all these joints, the most prominent involvement is of wrist joint. In cases needing it, the affected joints are painful, red and swollen. The pain is drawing or tearing in nature. The complaint increases from touch and movement of affected joint. Even a little tiredness causes swelling in these joints.

2. Caulophyllum – When Pain Shifts From One Joint To Other

Caulophyllum is most important medicine to deal with cases where pain keeps shifting amongst different small joints. The joints affected include that of hands, fingers, feet, toes, wrist and ankles. Along with pain, the joints show stiffness too. Pain keeps shifting from one joint to another quite rapidly every few minutes.

3. Antimonium Crudum – For Finger Joint Pain

Antimonium Crudum is one of the best medicines to manage inflammation of finger joints. In cases needing it, there occurs marked pain in the joints of fingers. A drawing type of pain is prominent in the finger joints. Swelling occurs in the finger joints along with pain.

4. Arnica – For Painful, Swollen Joints Of Feet And Toes

Arnica is a suitable medicine to manage pain and swelling in the joints of feet and toes. The pain gets worse in the evening. The joints are tender and painful to touch. Swelling develops in the feet after walking. Burning sensation is also felt in the feet. It is also a top medicine for joint pain due to an injury.

5. Rhus Tox – For Joint Pain In Hands, Fingers And Wrists

Rhus Tox is one of the prominent medicines for managing joint pains in hands, fingers and wrists. It is well indicated for pain in the finger joints with swelling. Pain gets worse in the evening. Tearing type of pain predominates. It is also suitable for pain in the hands, attended with stiffness in the morning. Swelling is also noticed on the hands. It is also useful for joint pain in the wrist attended with swelling. Pain gets worse after rest and from cold treatment.

6. Colchicum – For Small Joint Pain And Swelling From Gout

Colchicum is an important medicine to manage pain and swelling in small joints caused by gout. This medicine gives excellent results when pain is in the joints of hands or feet due to high uric acid levels. Besides, swelling, heat and stiffness in the joints are well-marked. Among the affected joints, it has the most prominent action on the big toe joint. The big toe is sore to touch and painful while making any movement. A person may scream from pain when affected joints are touched. The pain may shift from one joint to another. The pain mostly gets worse at night. This medicine is also recommended for management of cases in which finger joints get distorted due to joint damage.

7. Pulsatilla – For Pain And Swelling In Joints Of Hands And Wrist

Pulsatilla works well for painful swollen joints of the hands and wrist. The joints of hands are also red along with pain and swelling. Pain is of tearing or drawing in nature. Pain hinders hand movements. The wrist joint is painful, swollen and red. Pain disturbs sleep at night. The wrist is also painful, and stiff on movement.

8. Ledum Pal – For Ankle Pain And Swelling

Ledum Pal is a beneficial medicine for managing ankle joint pain and swelling. In cases needing it, the pain gets worse from walking. In the morning, pressure is felt in the ankles. The pain gets worse from warmth and better from cold applications over the ankle.

9. Lithium Carb – For Pain In Feet, Toes, Ankles And Fingers

Lithium Carb is another useful medicine for treating small joint pain including that of feet, toes, ankles and fingers. Pain is most marked on the right foot which gets worse at night. Ankle joint pain gets worse while walking. There is pain, swelling, redness of the finger joints with general puffiness around the affected limbs. Pain and swelling of the finger and toe joints get better by hot water application on these joints.

What Causes Pain In Small Joints?

1. Rheumatoid arthritis – The first most common type of arthritis that affects small joints is rheumatoid arthritis. It is an autoimmune disorder that results in painful, swollen and stiff joints. It affects the lining of the joints and initially involves small joints, especially finger joints on both the hands at the same time. As the condition progresses, the large joint may be affected as well. In later stages, joint deformity can occur and besides joints, other organs including eyes, skin, lungs and heart may be affected.

2. Osteoarthritis – This type of arthritis happens from degeneration of a joint due to wear and tear of cartilage at the ends of the bones. Cartilage is a cushion present at bone surface where bones connect to form a joint and allows smooth movement of bones in a joint. When cartilage is damaged, the ends of bones rub against each other leading to pain and stiffness in the joint. It can affect finger joints, wrist joint besides mainly affecting the knee joint.

3. Gout – It refers to joint inflammation resulting from accumulation of urate crystals in joints due to increased uric acid levels in the blood. It results in swollen, painful, red and warm joints mainly of the big toe.

4. Psoriatic Arthritis – It is a form of arthritis (joint inflammation) that tends to affect some people suffering from a skin condition called psoriasis which is an autoimmune skin disease with red spots on the skin covered with silvery white scales.

5. Injury to a joint can also result in joint pain and swelling

 

Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis is a chronic condition causing severe pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint. It usually begins gradually and worsens over time and is slow to recover. Though the condition is self-limiting and usually resolves on its own it can take a lot of time thereby making the condition disabling for the sufferer. Over time shoulder becomes hard to move and one may experience an extreme problem in working and performing daily life activities for an extended period of time. Homeopathic medicines for frozen shoulder can help relieve the presenting symptoms of the condition and also hold an advantage over other systems of medicine to aid treatment of the underlying cause. 

These medicines are of natural origin and have no toxic effects. Rhus Tox, Ferrum Metallicum and Sanguinaria Canadensis top the list of medicines to treat frozen shoulder. They help in relieving pain and stiffness of the shoulder and can even save a person from undergoing any surgical procedures.

Homeopathic Medicines for Frozen Shoulder

In the conventional system of medicine, different ways can be opted to get relief from the symptoms of the pain and stiffness. But, nothing can be done to fix the underlying cause which is leading to the occurrence of the condition. Physical therapy and massages can be given initially to relieve the pain. But if it does not work, a different type of medication is given including NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and corticosteroids. In some cases, injections are also given locally or systemically to relieve the condition. If medications fail to act, surgery is done to cut the adhesions. In severe and prolonged cases surgery is usually advised to loosen the joint capsule so that it can move more freely.

Homeopathy is completely different from the conventional system of medicine. Natural medicines not only help the individual to recover well from presenting symptoms of the condition but also treat the root cause responsible for the occurrence of the complaint. Homeopathy believes in treating the underlying or root cause because if the root cause will be removed there will be no symptoms of the disease persisting in an individual. Complete case history by the homeopathic physician which will involve taking information upon the duration of the symptoms, underlying cause, symptoms, and modalities peculiar to the patient will guide the doctor towards the medicine which is most suited to the patient. When the medication will be given according to the symptom similarity patient will be able to recover from the condition wonderfully. Homeopathy has always been helpful in treating symptoms of frozen shoulder and minimizing the chances of recurrence of the condition and can help an individual to maintain a healthy lifestyle once he has completely recovered from the condition. Rhus Tox, Sanguinaria Can and Ferrum Met are the top 3 remedies for frozen shoulder.

1. Rhus Toxicodendron: Top Grade Medicine for Frozen Shoulder

Rhus tox is a medicine which is prepared from the fresh leaves of a plant which belongs to the Anacardiaceae family. Rhustox is a wonderful medicine that can help to relieve long-standing cases of marked stiffness in the shoulder joint. The shoulder is too stiff to move. The stiffness of shoulder gets usually better by warmth application. It can also be helpful in cases where motion and massages tend to offer relief in the stiffness. There is severe tearing, shooting pain at the top of the shoulder. Pains get worse during cold and wet weather. Pains become severe during the rest especially in night preventing the patient to fall asleep. There is a constant feeling of pressure on shoulders like a heavyweight is placed upon them.

Key Indications for using Rhus Tox:

Stiffness of the shoulder.
Tearing shooting pain in the shoulder.
Pains getting better by movement of the shoulder.

2. Sanguinaria Canadensis: For Right Sided Frozen Shoulder

Sanguinaria Can. is derived from the plant bloodroot of family Papaveraceae. Sanguinaria Can. is a great remedy which shows an affinity towards the pains occurring in the right shoulder. Pains are present in the top of right shoulder. Pains usually get worse during the night and while attempting to turn in bed. The patient feels great difficulty to raise the arm on account of distressing pains.

Key Indications:

Right shoulder is affected.
There is nightly aggravation of the pain.
Difficulty in raising the arm.

3. Ferrum Metallicum: For Left Sided Frozen Shoulder

Ferrum met. is an amazing remedy for treating a complaint of left-sided frozen shoulder. There is a pain in the left shoulder which is constantly present. Pain is of drawing, shooting, tearing and laming character. Pains are usually shooting downward and travel down the arm and patient may feel it impossible to raise the arm. The person requiring this remedy feels extreme heaviness in the shoulder joint. Slow movement of the shoulder gradually improves the condition. Warmth can be given to relieve the pains. Pain gets aggravated in bed, the patient has to get up and move about slowly to get some relief.

Key Indications:

Left shoulder is affected.
Aggravation of pain by motion.
Pains get better by warmth.

Other Important Remedies

1. Bryonia Alba: For Pains getting Worse from Least Motion

Bryonia is prepared from the plant wild hops which belong to the family Cucurbitaceae. Bryonia is an excellent remedy in cases where the pain in the shoulder gets worse from least motion. Pains are sharp and tearing in character which usually gets worse upon touch and by pressure. Relief of the pains takes place after the patient has complete rest. Application of the warmth can also be helpful in relieving the pains in the shoulder. There is painful pressure on the top of the shoulder. Stiffness is present in the shoulder joints.

2. Causticum: For Pains in Morning

Causticum is a good remedy in treating the cases of frozen shoulder where pains in the shoulder are worse in the morning. The patient may experience great discomfort and difficulty in moving the shoulder. There is a constant feeling of pressure and heaviness on shoulders. Pain which is dull, aching in character is present in the shoulder usually getting worse on motion.

3. Phytolacca: For Right Sided Frozen Shoulder

Phytolacca is prepared from the plant poke root which belongs to the family Phytolaccaceae. Phytolacca can be given in cases of frozen shoulder where the pain is present in the right shoulder. Pains in the shoulder and arms feel like electric shocks. Pains are shooting in character and travel from one part to the other. Pains usually worsen during the night and in damp weather. Patient experiences stiffness in the shoulder that usually makes him unable to raise the arm.

4. Ledum Palustre: For Pains on Raising the Arm

Ledum Pal is prepared from the plant wild rosemary which belongs to the family Ericaceae. Ledum Pal. suits well in the cases where the patient experiences severe pain in the shoulder while raising the arm. The pains are stitching and throbbing in nature. There is pain and pressure in both the shoulder joints which gets worse from motion.

5. Calcarea Phosphorica: For Pains getting Worse During Change of Weather

Calcarea Phos. can be given without a doubt in cases of frozen shoulder where pain gets worse from any change of weather. There is pain and stiffness in shoulders and shoulder-blades. Pains are dull, sore aching, bruised type in the shoulder and down the arm. Pains start from left then travel to the right and can travel downward to the arm as well.

6. Chelidonium Majus: Where Motion Causes Pain in Shoulder

Chelidonium is prepared from the entire fresh plant called greater celadine belonging to the family Papaveraceae. Chelidonium is the most suitable medicine in cases where there is a pain in the shoulder which gets worse on moving arm. Pain in the left shoulder feels like as if it was sprained. Pains are tearing in nature. Pain usually travels downwards with coldness and stiffness of the arms.

7. Rhododendron: For Shoulder Pains Worse during a Thunderstorm

Rhododendron is prepared from the fresh leaves of the plant commonly known as yellow snow rose which belongs to family Ericaceae. Rhododendron can be of extreme help in cases where there is marked pain in shoulder and gets during a thunderstorm. The patient usually feels pains which get worse while lying upon it and getting relieved by turning to the other side. Violent, tearing and boring type of pains occur in the shoulder which can worsen from motion.

8. Guaiacum Officinale: For Marked Stiffness

Guaiacum is prepared from the plant Lignum vite resin of family Zygophyllaceae. Guaiacum can act wonders in cases where there is immovable stiffness of the joints taking place. There is a sharp stitching type of pains in the top of the shoulder. Pains are of drawing and lacerating nature which can travel down the arm.

9. Syphilinum: Where Pains get Worse on Raising the Arms

Syphilinum acts well on the patients of frozen shoulder well where the pain in the shoulder worsens on raising the arm. The patient is able to raise the arm only up to the level of the shoulder with difficulty. He fails to attempt to move the arm above the level of the shoulder.

10. Ferrum Phos.: Where Pain is Relieved by Gentle Motion

Persons requiring Ferrum phos. get in the shoulder which gets relieved by moving the arm gently. The pains are violent, drawing and tearing in nature and gets worse by the sudden or violent motion of the arm. As the condition is relieved by gentle motion, the patient keeps it moving and cannot make the arm still. The shoulder is stiff, painful and highly sensitive to touch.

11.Thuja: For Marked Stiffness

Thuja is prepared from the plant Arbor Vitae belonging to the family coniferae. Thuja can aid the condition well when there is marked stiffness of the shoulder joint. There is sticking, tearing, throbbing type of pains in the shoulder which can get worse even from hanging the arm lose. Pains can also get worse at night and by the warmth of bed. Placing the arm over the head is extremely painful for the patient. Stretching the joints produces cracking sound.

12. Lycopodium: For Tearing Pain in Shoulder Joint

Lycopodium is derived from a plant club moss which belongs to the Lycopodiaceae family. Lycopodium can help in relieving the condition of frozen shoulder where there is tearing type of pains in the shoulder joint. There is pain and tension in the right shoulder. Pain can occur even when the patient is at rest. Bruised pains in shoulders and in the region of scapula and upper arm. One may also experience twitching in the shoulders.

13. Sulphur: For Marked Heaviness in the Shoulder

Sulphur can be helpful in treating cases where extreme heaviness in the shoulders is felt by the patient. There is a feeling of pressure on the shoulder while walking in the open air. There are pains in the left shoulder as if it was sprained or bruised. There is stitching type of pains in the shoulder on attempting to move. The patient usually experiences worsening of pains, especially at night.

Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder

This condition has two main symptoms which are pain and stiffness in the shoulder. Pain is of dull aching character which can occur in the outer shoulder or upper arm. Usually, one side gets affected but in rare cases, both sides can get involved. Pain can become severe over time and can get worse during:

Weather changes: Some patients may experience worsening of pain or stiffness particularly during cold or dry weather.

Night: Pains usually gets worse during the night which can cause difficulty in getting proper sleep and further leading to sleep deprivation in the patients suffering from frozen shoulder.

Motion: Movement of the shoulder joint is difficult for the patient resulting in restricted movement of the shoulder joint. The range of motion might also get affected.

There is a course which is usually followed in the occurrence of a frozen shoulder. The three main stages are:

Stage I: The Freezing Stage
In this stage, the pain begins slowly, the range of motion starts getting limited with a stiffness of the joint. Any movement of the shoulder causes pain, and as the pain progresses and becomes worse, the shoulder tends to lose its mobility. These symptoms can last for six weeks to nine months.

Stage II: The frozen Stage or adhesive stage.
In this stage, slow improvement in the pain takes place but the stiffness remains. Using the shoulder becomes more difficult causing hindrance in performing daily life activities. These symptoms usually last from four months to a year’s time.

Stage III: The thawing stage or stage of recovery.
In this stage, the motion of shoulder slowly returns towards normal and a range of motion in the shoulder begins to improve. These symptoms generally last from 6 months to two years of time.

Causes of Frozen Shoulder

The shoulder is a ball and socket joint. It is made up of three bones namely Humerus (bone in the upper arm), Scapula (shoulder blade), Clavicle (collarbone). Strong connective tissue or shoulder capsule surrounds the joint and holds everything (bones, ligaments, tendons) together. Also, there is the presence of synovial membrane which lines the joint capsule and produces synovial fluid. Synovial fluid helps in providing lubrication to the joint and the capsule and reducing the friction between the bones, making the movement of the shoulder easier.

When inflammation of the shoulder capsule starts and thick bands of the tissue or adhesions start developing, there is less room in joint for the humerus, making the joint painful and stiff to move. It can further progress to a restriction of the movement of the shoulder.
In some cases, the synovial fluid can get reduced due to different causes. Reduction in the amount of the fluid can lead to limiting the motion of the shoulder even more due to the occurrence of pain during motion.
Any fall on the shoulder or any injury to the adjacent tissues of the shoulder can also give rise to this condition. Alternately, it may have an autoimmune component involved as thickening and swelling can occur as a result of a misguided immune response. In some cases, this condition can arise with no absolute cause.

Risk Factors

Age: It is more common in people who are 40 years of age and above.

Sex: It is more common in females than in males.

Immobility: Immobility of the joint can happen in cases where one is recovering from any health condition which is preventing him from using the arm or the shoulder. In such cases, one may get prone to develop the symptoms of frozen shoulder. This can happen after surgery, stroke, rotator cuff injury, fracture etc.

Systemic Diseases: People who are suffering from any systemic diseases like diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease are at a higher risk of developing frozen shoulder, as these usually affect different parts of an individual at a particular time.

Connective tissue disease: Anyone who is suffering from connective tissue diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus can be on a higher risk to develop symptoms frozen shoulder.

Diagnosis and Investigations

Diagnosis can be usually made only upon the basis of the physical examination and signs and symptoms provided by the patient. In cases where required, X-Ray and MRI can be conducted on the advice of the physician to confirm the diagnosis. MRI is usually helpful in detecting the severity of the complaints.

Complications

This condition is usually self-limiting and is not life-threatening. But, it can affect one’s quality of life as it can cause trouble at times to perform daily life activities and can be distressing to the patient. Known complications of the condition are:

Sleep Deprivations: As the pains become worse usually during the night so it can lead to problems in falling asleep easily thereby making the sufferer deprived of sleep.

Depression: If one has a tendency to develop the symptoms, again and again, a person might develop anxiety and depression due to prolonged suffering.

It can start from one shoulder but there are chances that the condition can progress to affect the other shoulder also.

Problems in neck and back can also take place in cases where the condition is not treated well and has progressed.

Prevention and Management of Frozen Shoulder

The condition can be prevented if one keeps a check on a few things.

Frozen shoulder usually starts from immobilization. Often, the shoulder starts to pain when progressing towards becoming stiff. This may cause someone to move the joint less and leading to further adhesions of the shoulder joint, preventing the movement of shoulder in full range. One should keep the shoulder in complete motion to avoid the occurrence of this condition.

If one is having any injury which prohibits movement the shoulder joint a few exercises must be performed to maintain the range of motion in the shoulder joint on a daily basis.

Management of the condition aims at restoring the joint movement and reducing the shoulder pain. Management can be done by performing physiotherapy, massages, stretching exercises. One must perform exercises which involve a range of motion of the shoulder joint so that the adhesions start to loosen up and shoulder can move freely.