Diagnosis of Frozen Shoulder

The podcast episode discusses a case study of a patient who was initially diagnosed with a frozen shoulder but presented with atypical symptoms. The patient was 38 years old, with no specific risk factors for frozen shoulder. The symptoms did not fit the typical pattern of insidious onset and gradual loss of movement associated with frozen shoulder. Further examination revealed restriction in external rotation, but the stiffness did not have the typical acute pain phase. The patient had been experiencing symptoms for eight months, but an initial x-ray was normal. Eventually, the patient was diagnosed with extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, which affects joints and bones in 1-10% of cases. This case highlights the importance of considering alternative diagnoses in patients with atypical symptoms and the potential value of blood tests and MRI imaging for accurate diagnosis.