Frozen Shoulder/Adhesive Capsulitis
Applies to: Shoulder
Frozen Shoulder is a condition where your shoulder gradually gets more painful and harder to move. It often happens when the tissues around the joint swell, causing pain and irritation. This swelling can be triggered by surgery or the breaking of the arm, especially if you must keep your shoulder still for a long time. The symptoms start slow, worsen, and usually improve within one to three years.
Treatment involves doing exercises or physical therapy to help your shoulder move better. In some cases, your provider might inject corticosteroids and numbing medications into your shoulder joint. In some rare cases, arthroscopic surgery can be done to loosen up the shoulder to increase movement.
A Frozen Shoulder progresses through three stages similar to ice – freezing, frozen, and thawing. In the initial phase, known as the Freezing Stage, lasting from 2 to 9 months, any movement causes pain, and the shoulder feels locked up or less mobile. Following this is the Frozen Stage, spanning 4 to 12 months, during which the pain might decrease, but the shoulder stiffens, making it even more difficult to use. The final stage, the Thawing Stage, spans from 5 to 24 months, where the shoulder’s ability to move gradually starts to improve.