Pain and stiffness in the shoulder may mean frozen shoulder. To learn what it is, why it’s caused, when to visit an orthopedic surgeon, and how to treat it, follow this guide.

What Is Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder is characterized by pain and limited movement in the shoulder. It occurs due to an inflamed shoulder capsule, a dense layer of tissue surrounding the shoulder joint filled with fluid. These tissues are called adhesions. As the shoulder capsule or adhesions swell and inflame, they make shoulder movement difficult and painful or numb. This is why frozen shoulder is also referred to as adhesive capsulitis.

Many times, frozen shoulder gets better on its own or with physical therapy. However, it can still take from 1 to 3 years.

Symptoms And Stages Of Frozen Shoulder

The major symptoms of frozen shoulder are pain and limited shoulder movement or the inability to move it altogether at one point, even when someone else tries to move it for you. It develops in three stages, which are also the symptoms of frozen shoulder:

Freezing Stage

This is the beginning stage of frozen shoulder. You feel pain in the shoulder when you move it, and it keeps worsening over time. Moreover, you also notice limitations in shoulder movements with pain. This stage can take anywhere from 2 to 9 months.

Frozen Stage

In this stage, the pain reduces, but the shoulder becomes stiffer, and any movement becomes very difficult. This affects your daily activities. The frozen stage can last from 4 to 12 months.

Thawing Stage

After about 9 months of the freezing stage and then another approx. 12 months of the frozen stage, the shoulder’s mobility slowly improves. This stage can take from 6 to 24 months.

Other general symptoms of frozen shoulder are:

• Dull pain in the shoulder
• Limited or no shoulder mobility
• Worse pain in the early stages of the condition (freezing stage)
• Pain can be worse at night, which can disrupt sleep and create sleep problems in some people

Causes Of Frozen Shoulder

The exact cause of frozen shoulder is not fully known. The condition can occur in either shoulder. However, it’s linked with factors like limited shoulder movement and some other conditions:

Immobilization Due To Injury

Many people who develop frozen shoulder are those who have had a shoulder injury or any other condition that made it necessary for them to keep the shoulder still or limit the shoulder movement.

For example, shoulder fracture or surgery mandates a still shoulder, which can then cause frozen shoulder in some people. This is why doctors and surgeons suggest joint movement as soon as it’s allowed.

Diabetes

A disease that’s common in people who suffer from frozen shoulder is diabetes. The condition and the stiffness is usually worse in these people, and it also stays in the freezing or frozen stage longer before reaching the thawing stage.

Thyroid Diseases

Studies reveal that people with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism are 2-3 times more likely to develop frozen shoulder.

Other Diseases

Stroke, cardiovascular diseases, and Parkinson’s disease can also be a cause of frozen shoulder.

History Of Frozen Shoulder

A person who developed frozen shoulder in one shoulder (even when it’s healed now) are also at a higher risk of developing the condition in the other shoulder. The risk increases if the frozen shoulder was caused by, or the person has conditions, like diabetes, thyroid disorder, cardiovascular disease, or stroke.

So, if you had frozen shoulder in the past, you should consult a shoulder doctor sooner rather than later if you notice pain or stiffness in the other shoulder. Athletes with stiffness in the shoulder should consult a sports medicine doctor Woodbridge.

Risk Factors

• People aged 40 or older are at a higher risk of having frozen shoulder. The risk increases for women of that age bracket.
• Limited shoulder movement or immobility when recovering from a shoulder injury. This is why it’s critical to consult your doctor for exercises and management practices to keep the joint moving.
• Diseases like diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Parkinson’s disease, cardiac diseases, stroke, and a history of frozen shoulder are linked with developing frozen shoulder.

Treatments For Frozen Shoulder

In most people, frozen shoulder goes away on its own. However, it can take from 1-3 years, so managing the pain and shoulder movement is important to avoid discomfort and further complications. In some cases, medical procedures are used as well.

Medication

Frozen shoulder is mostly about managing the symptoms, which are pain and inflammation. You can use NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or over-the-counter pain medication. However, if the pain levels are severe, your doctor may prescribe you stronger medication as required.

Shoulder Exercises

Apart from managing pain, you should try to preserve your shoulder movements as much as possible. This will help you perform your daily activities and also reduce the risk of worsening of the condition, which is a completely stiff shoulder.

You simply need to learn the exercises suggested by your healthcare provider and perform them at home. As you will be doing it yourself, be careful and perform movements as frequently as suggested by the doctor. There may be pain with movement, but it should not discourage you from doing the exercises.

Remember to learn the exercises properly before trying them at home, as incorrect movements can cause pain and further complications.

If required, your doctor may suggest you get the services of a physical therapist.

Occupational Therapy

As frozen shoulder can last from months to years, you may need occupational therapy to perform your daily activities independently, despite the stiff shoulder. OT includes techniques and tools for the purpose.

Steroid Injections

Corticosteroids can be injected into the shoulder to reduce pain and swelling and improve shoulder mobility. It’s recommended by the doctor usually early in the stage, to keep the condition from worsening.

Hydrodilation

Hydrodilation involves injecting sterile water into the joint capsule, the tissue that encapsulates the shoulder joint. This is to introduce fluid that may help the tissue in movement (expansion and contraction). This can, in turn, improve shoulder mobility. Your doctor can also suggest both sterile water injections and steroid injections.

Shoulder Manipulation

Your orthopedic surgeon can recommend this to increase shoulder movement, depending on the condition. In this, a general anesthetic is administered that puts you to sleep. Then, the specialist moves the shoulder in various ways to loosen the tightened tissue.

Surgery (Shoulder Arthroscopy)

Mostly, surgery is not required for frozen shoulder. However, if needed, the surgeon can perform shoulder arthroscopy. The specialist makes a small incision near the shoulder and inserts a small pencil-like instrument. It’s used to cut the problematic portions of the tightened tissue.

Surgery can also be combined with shoulder manipulation. Recovery could take from 1 to 3 months. You will need to perform physical therapy during the process to ensure the shoulder doesn’t freeze.

Conclusion

Frozen shoulder can limit your shoulder movement, cause pain, and affect your daily activities. If you’re noticing pain and stiffness in your shoulder, see a shoulder specialist Woodbridge as soon as possible.