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Frozen Shoulder Treatment

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Frozen Shoulder

Frozen Shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, is a painful condition in which your shoulder movement becomes limited. When the cover of the shoulder joint called the capsule becomes inflamed, it causes severe stiffness which ‘freezes’ the shoulder, thereby making shoulder movements difficult or almost impossible. That said, a frozen shoulder is common after shoulder injuries or dislocations, pacemaker insertions and chest and cardiac surgery. Also, it is commonly seen in diabetics and women.

Frozen shoulder is a treatable condition. The frozen shoulder treatment involves range-of-motion exercises. Rarely, arthroscopic surgery is needed to loosen the joint capsule so that it can move more freely.

Frozen Shoulder symptoms have been divided into three stages:

  • Freezing stage: Any movement of the shoulder during this early stage causes pain, and the shoulder's ability to move becomes limited. This stage lasts from 2 - 9 months.
  • Frozen stage: Pain may lessen during this second stage but the shoulder becomes stiffer. This makes it more difficult to perform daily tasks. This stage lasts from 4 - 12 months.
  • Thawing or recovery stage: Gradually the pain lessens during this stage and the shoulder's ability to move begins to improve. This stage lasts from 5 - 24 months.

While it's unclear why frozen shoulder happens to some people, it's believed to happen after keeping a shoulder still or immobilized for a long period, such as after surgery or an arm fracture.

When to See a Doctor If you’re experiencing a problem with your shoulder and there’s no improvement with typical at-home treatments like heat, ice and rest, get it evaluated within the first three to five days.

  • Frozen shoulder most commonly affects adults over 45 years
  • Any shoulder injury or surgery that results in the need to keep your shoulder from moving
  • Diabetics are at a risk of developing frozen shoulder
  • Other health diseases such as stroke, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, and Parkinson's Disease are some of the other risk factors.
Complications of frozen shoulder Without treatment or medical intervention, severe cases of frozen shoulder may cause:
  • Loss of mobility
  • Pain in the shoulders
  • Muscle trouble that can persist for a long time
  • Reduced range of motion
  • Complete immobilization

If during your physical exam your orthopedic doctor suspects that you have a frozen shoulder, they'll run tests to confirm their diagnosis.

Imaging Tests Common imaging tests to diagnose a frozen shoulder include:
  • MRI
  • Shoulder X-ray
Lab Tests Laboratory studies rarely are required for the evaluation of frozen shoulders. However, to rule out other possible diagnosis, like arthritis or a broken bone, the following tests may be ordered:
  • Complete blood cell count (CBC)
  • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

Medical Management

Frozen shoulder treatment usually involves pain relief methods until the initial phase passes. You may need therapy or surgery to regain motion only if it doesn’t return on its own.

Some simple and best treatment for frozen shoulder includes:
  • Hot and cold compresses: These help reduce pain and swelling.
  • Frozen shoulder medication: Medicines such as pain relievers help to reduce pain and swelling.
  • Physical therapy: Stretching and range-of-motion exercises are an effective frozen shoulder treatment.
  • Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulations (TENS): Use of a small, battery-operated device that reduces pain by blocking nerve impulses.
Surgical Management If the noninvasive treatments fail to give you relief from frozen shoulder symptoms such as pain and shoulder stiffness after about a year, your specialist may recommend other surgical procedures. These include:
  • Shoulder manipulation: This procedure involves general anesthetic, to make you feel unconscious and feel no pain. Then the specialist will move the shoulder joint in different directions to help loosen the tightened tissue.
  • Shoulder Arthroscopy: Surgery for frozen shoulder is rare and is suggested if nothing else helps. This surgery usually involves making small incisions for small instruments guided by a tiny camera inside the joint (arthroscopy).
Therapy Physical therapy is a very important part of frozen shoulder treatment and especially during the Thawing stage and while recovering from the surgery as it helps to maintain the range of motion recovered in surgery. Your doctor will immediately begin working with you on specific exercises you'll need to perform after your procedure. Our physiotherapists will provide you with workout progressions, including strengthening exercises, to help you regulate and maintain your enhanced range of motion. Some of the exercises that could be suggested are listed below:
  • Stretching and strengthening exercises
  • Pendulum stretch
  • Towel stretch
  • Finger walk
  • Cross-body reach
  • Armpit stretch
  • Inward rotation
  • Outward rotation
Lifestyle Modifications

Making adjustments to your daily activities can help manage frozen shoulder symptoms. This includes avoiding movements that cause pain, using a heating pad or ice pack for relief, and practicing good posture to minimize stress on the shoulder joint.

If you hurt your shoulder and have pain, it’s advisable to talk to your doctor so you can begin treatment as soon as possible.

Your doctor or physical therapist can develop an exercise plan to help you recover from your injury.

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Why Choose Felix Hospital for Frozen Shoulder Treatment?

At Felix Hospital, we provide unparalleled patient care, comprehensive diagnosis, and a spectrum of surgical and non-surgical interventions tailored to each person’s unique needs. Our team of experienced orthopedists, orthopedic surgeons and physiotherapists use cutting- edge technology under one roof, thus ensuring quality treatment to patients.

At Felix Hospital, we create personalized rehabilitation plans that restore mobility, prevent further injury and greatly reduce or eliminate pain caused from frozen shoulders.

Here’s what makes us the best choice:

FAQs

Frozen shoulders can usually be diagnosed from signs and symptoms alone. But imaging tests such as X-rays, ultrasound or MRI can rule out other problems.
Patients who consistently attend physical therapy will start to see some loosening up typically by two to six weeks. It normally does go away completely, but it can take several months to a year to subside. That said, early diagnosis and early treatment that includes frozen shoulder medication and physical therapy is the best course of action.
If you have a frozen shoulder, you will feel a dull pain in your shoulder and the shoulder muscles that wrap around the top of your arm. The pain may worsen at night and make it difficult for you to sleep.
The recovery from non-operative treatment of frozen shoulders can take one to three years. It is important for patients with frozen shoulder to understand the natural course of the disease and how long it can persist.
Rotator cuff tears are often confused with frozen shoulder as in the early stage there is pain and stiffness, but in the later stages shoulders may be relatively painless and weak.
Corticosteroid injections are commonly used for frozen shoulder and can be given as glenohumeral joint (GHJ) injection or suprascapular nerve block (SSNB). Both injection types have proven to significantly improve shoulder pain and range of motion.