06/25/2025
Shoulder discomfort can be a big disruption to your everyday life, especially when it’s caused by a frozen shoulder. This condition, medically known as adhesive capsulitis, can limit how you move your shoulder and shoulder blade, creating both pain and stiffness. But the good news is that a frozen shoulder doesn’t have to mean a frozen life.
This guide will explore what frozen shoulder is, its causes and treatment options to help regain mobility and improve your quality of life.
What is Frozen Shoulder?
A frozen shoulder develops when the connective tissue covering the shoulder joint thickens and tightens, reducing your range of motion. It often starts with a dull ache or stiffness, but symptoms can worsen over time without treatment. A frozen shoulder can occur in response to an injury, but often the symptoms also can develop spontaneously without an obvious cause.
The condition typically progresses through three stages:
- Freezing Stage: Shoulder pain intensifies, and movement becomes increasingly limited (about 2-9 months).
- Frozen Stage: Pain subsides, but stiffness makes normal activities challenging (4-12 months).
- Thawing Stage: Gradual improvement in mobility and less discomfort (5-24 months).
Frozen shoulder typically affects individuals between the ages of 40 and 60, with women and those with diabetes being at higher risk.
How to Identify Frozen Shoulder
Common Symptoms:
- Pain in the outer shoulder and upper arm, especially during movement or at night.
- A noticeable reduction in your ability to move the shoulder, even with assistance. The inability to get your arm all the way behind your back is one of the earlier symptoms.
- Difficulty with simple activities, like putting on a jacket or reaching overhead.
Diagnosis:
Doctors usually rely on physical examination by checking your range of motion, both actively (moving it yourself) and passively (having someone else move it). Diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays, ultrasounds or MRIs, may also be used to rule out other conditions like arthritis or rotator cuff injuries.
How to Treat Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder usually resolves on its own, but this may take several months or longer. The primary goal of treatment is to ease pain, improve mobility, minimize stiffness and expedite your recovery. Below are some common treatment approaches:
Stretching and range-of-motion exercises form the backbone of frozen shoulder recovery. A physical therapist can develop a program tailored for you, which may include movements like the pendulum swing and cross-body stretches.
At OrthoNebraska, our team specializes in creating personalized therapy plans to restore your shoulder’s mobility effectively. We also have home-based stretching protocols for those on the move.
- Injections and Medications
Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen can reduce pain and swelling. Corticosteroid injections directly into the joint may also improve symptoms and expedite recovery.
- Minimally Invasive Interventions
- Hydrodilatation: A procedure where sterile fluid is injected into the shoulder capsule to expand and stretch it.
- Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA): While under sedation, a physician gently moves your shoulder to loosen tightened tissues.
- Surgery
If other treatments don’t work, arthroscopic surgery may be used to remove adhesions and restore function. This is typically considered for severe cases in the frozen stage that are not improving.
Recovery and Prevention
While recovering, consistency is key. Committing to daily exercises can speed up the thawing process. To prevent future episodes:
- Stay active and avoid prolonged shoulder immobility.
- Incorporate light stretching into your regular routine. Stretch every day on your own!
- Manage underlying health conditions like diabetes.
Why Choose OrthoNebraska?
At OrthoNebraska, we specialize in diagnosing and treating frozen shoulder. Our integrated care approach combines clinical expertise with a focus on solving the root cause of your pain, not just treating the symptoms.
Whether you’re dealing with a mild frozen shoulder or searching for relief after months of discomfort, our team is here to guide you toward recovery. Combining advanced technology with personalized care, we provide tailored solutions designed for success.
Don’t wait another day to reclaim your mobility. Schedule a same-day appointment with us and take the first step toward a pain-free shoulder.
