Frozen shoulder can be difficult to live with because it is a painful condition that can take up to a year to resolve.

What is a frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis occurs when the joint lining — also called the capsule — sticks to the shoulder, causing shoulder pain and reduced range of motion.

Often, there is a lack of synovial fluid in the joint to lubricate the capsule. Also, thick bands of tissue known as adhesions can develop in the area.

Frozen shoulder stages

A frozen shoulder doesn’t happen overnight. Rather, it occurs over time in three distinct phases.

• “There is usually an inflammatory phase, which is the initial, very painful phase.”
• There can be a stagnant phase or an unchanged phase, in which the patient experiences loss of range of motion and discomfort.

• The third stage is the recovery stage when the adhesions disappear and the patient’s shoulder returns to normal.

Unfortunately, the causes of frozen shoulders are largely unknown.

Frozen shoulder most commonly affects people between the ages of 40 and 60, and is more common in women than men. There are also other possible risk factors for a frozen shoulder, including:

diabetic

Although the cause is unknown, the frozen shoulder often occurs in people with diabetes. They also tend to feel stiffer and last longer before they start to heal.

Paralysis, and immobilization of the shoulder after surgery or injury, as this may lead to a frozen shoulder.

Other diseases

There has been some evidence that a frozen shoulder is linked to heart disease, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and Parkinson’s disease.

Frozen shoulder symptoms

The initial symptoms of a frozen shoulder are pain and loss of range of motion.

The pain usually occurs in the outer shoulder and may radiate up the arm. These symptoms can vary based on the different stages of a frozen shoulder.

The different symptoms are very painful in the first stage, moderately painful in the second stage, and gradually fade away in the recovery stage.

Diagnosis of frozen shoulder

To diagnose a frozen shoulder, we need to undergo a clinical physical examination. This test will involve moving your shoulder in all directions to monitor movement and determine when pain is felt.

Movement is evaluated based on movements as well as when the doctor moves the shoulder.

An X-ray, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be done to find other causes of shoulder pain and lack of motion, such as arthritis or a rotator cuff tear.

Frozen shoulder treatment

In most cases, treatment for a frozen shoulder consists of rest, time, simple exercises, physical therapy, and medications. The goal of treatment is to reduce pain and restore shoulder movement.

Exercise and physical therapy

Frozen shoulder treatment begins with exercises that help restore mobility and strength.

Medications

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: to help reduce pain and swelling.

Steroid injections: Cortisone can be injected into the shoulder joint to reduce inflammation.

Hydrodilatation: Hydrodilation involves injecting sterile fluid into the shoulder joint to enlarge and stretch the capsule.

Frozen shoulder surgery

The surgery is to release the capsule.

There are two common types of frozen shoulder surgery:

Maneuvering under anesthesia: During this procedure, the doctor forces the shoulder to move, releasing the stiff tissue, which increases the range of motion.

Shoulder arthroscopy: During this procedure, the doctor cuts the narrowed portions of the capsule to release pressure and increase the range of motion.

No matter which treatment (or combination of treatments) is used, quick results are not expected.

How to reduce the risk of developing a frozen shoulder

Unfortunately, there are no specific steps you should take to reduce your risk of developing a frozen shoulder.

While this sounds frustrating, there is no reason to despair, especially since there are so many different types of treatment.