A chronic, painful condition that most commonly affects the arm or leg, but may develop in any part of the body. Shoulder-hand syndrome is most commonly seen in people who have had a stroke. Treatment includes reducing pain with medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, and providing the person with active range-of-motion exercises.
Pain and rigidity experienced in a single shoulder can extend to the hand on the same side. This hand might also exhibit increased warmth, sweating, and swelling. Furthermore, the muscles in the arm could potentially atrophy due to disuse.
The exact cause of shoulder-hand syndrome remains uncertain, although it can occasionally emerge as a complication following a heart attack, stroke, shingles, or a shoulder injury. Typically, recovery takes around two years. Nevertheless, this recuperation period can be reduced through physiotherapy and the administration of corticosteroid medications. In exceptional instances, a cervical sympathectomy might be conducted.