Shoulder pain that starts slowly, often without a noticeable cause, that restricts range of motion, and that persists for many months is possibly an inflammatory condition called frozen shoulder. Medically known as adhesive capsulitis, it’s a common problem for people between the ages of 40 and 60, more often affecting women than men.
The reasons why frozen shoulder starts aren’t fully understood, and it’s a condition that usually gets better on its own. However, it could take 18 months or more, and you may not regain full range of motion without treatment and/or physical therapy.
David Dickerson, MD, and Shawn Denning, DNP, APN at Performance Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, specialize in shoulder injuries, including frozen shoulder. There are a variety of therapies that can help you regain full range of motion, and these may also shorten the duration of your recovery.
If you’ve suffered a shoulder injury or had surgery, the immobilization of the shoulder after the event may make frozen shoulder more likely. For many patients, though, there’s no clear reason why frozen shoulder occurs.
The condition itself progresses through three stages that follow its temperature-based name. The freezing stage begins with pain as you move your shoulder and the range of motion starts to decrease. This stage can last between two and nine months.
The frozen stage may have less pain overall, but your shoulder has the most limited movement, and it may not be very functional. One tell-tale sign is your inability to hold your hand in a thumbs-out hitchhiking pose. This stage could last up to a year.
Thawing sees pain fade and motion return, and this stage could last as long as two years. For some, the symptoms of frozen shoulder are primarily a nighttime issue, where discomfort and pain interfere with your sleep.
While frozen shoulder will likely heal on its own, you can speed recovery and control pain with a mix of medication, home care, and physical therapy. In rare cases, arthroscopic surgery may help if your shoulder develops scar tissue that interferes with recovery.
Over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medications can help you deal with the discomfort, particularly when it interferes with your sleep. If necessary, our team can prescribe stronger medications. Corticosteroid injections and other injectable treatments can help to reduce pain and increase mobility.
Physical therapy typically focuses on range-of-motion exercises that help to break up adhesions. Once you learn the exercises from your therapist, the onus is on you to continue these at home. Shoulder manipulation is a similar process, performed under general anesthesia, where a therapist moves the shoulder through a series of stretches that would be too painful to do without anesthetics.
Contact Performance Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine by phone or through the online link to schedule an exam and consultation. Get started on the road to frozen shoulder recovery today.
