Learn About Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder is a condition in which the shoulder is painful and loses motion because of inflammation.
Adhesive capsulitis; Shoulder pain - frozen
The capsule of the shoulder joint has ligaments that hold the shoulder bones to each other. When the capsule becomes inflamed, the shoulder bones are unable to move freely in the joint.
Most of the time, there is no cause for frozen shoulder. Women 40 to 70 years old are most affected, however, men can also get the condition.
Risk factors include:
- Diabetes
- Thyroid problems
- Changes in your hormones, such as during menopause
- Shoulder injury
- Shoulder surgery
- Open heart surgery
- Cervical disk disease of the neck
Main symptoms of a frozen shoulder are:
- Pain
- Decreased motion of the shoulder
- Stiffness
Frozen shoulder can start with pain without any cause or minor trauma. The pain may be severe and prevent you from moving your arm. This lack of movement can lead to stiffness and even less motion. Over time, you are not able to do movements such as reaching over your head or behind you.
Pain is treated with NSAIDs and steroid injections. Steroid injections and physical therapy can improve your motion.
It can take a few weeks to see progress. It may take as long as 9 months to a year for complete recovery. Physical therapy may be intense and needs to be done every day.
Left untreated, the condition often gets better by itself within 2 years with little residual loss of motion. However, your other medical conditions may make the process last longer.
Risk factors for frozen shoulder, such as menopause, diabetes or thyroid problems, should also be treated.
Surgery is recommended if nonsurgical treatment is not effective. This procedure (shoulder arthroscopy) is done under anesthesia. During surgery the scar tissue is released (cut) by bringing the shoulder through a full range of motion. Arthroscopic surgery can also be used to cut the tight ligaments and remove the scar tissue from the shoulder. After surgery, you may receive pain blocks (shots) so you can do physical therapy.
Follow instructions on caring for your shoulder at home.
The University Of Texas At Austin
David Ring is a Hand Surgeon and an Orthopedics provider in Austin, Texas. Dr. Ring and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Frozen Shoulder. His top areas of expertise are Mononeuritis Multiplex, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Trigger Thumb, Nerve Decompression, and Osteotomy. Dr. Ring is currently accepting new patients.
Ortholonestar PLLC
Brian Hardy is a Hand Surgeon and an Orthopedics provider in Austin, Texas. Dr. Hardy and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Frozen Shoulder. His top areas of expertise are Rhizarthrosis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Trigger Thumb, and Ganglion Cyst. Dr. Hardy is currently accepting new patients.
Heinrich-Josey Orthopaedics
Louis Seade is an Orthopedics provider in Austin, Texas. Dr. Seade and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Frozen Shoulder. His top areas of expertise are Osteoarthritis, Frozen Shoulder, Tendinitis, and Arthritis. Dr. Seade is currently accepting new patients.
Treatment with physical therapy and NSAIDs often restores motion and function of the shoulder within a year. Even untreated, the shoulder may get better by itself in 2 years.
After surgery restores motion, you must continue physical therapy for several weeks or months. This is to prevent the frozen shoulder from returning. If you do not keep up with physical therapy, the frozen shoulder may come back.
Complications may include:
- Stiffness and pain continue even with therapy
- The arm can break if the shoulder is moved forcefully during surgery
If you have shoulder pain and stiffness and think you have a frozen shoulder, contact your provider for evaluation, referral, and treatment.
Early treatment may help prevent stiffness. Call your provider if you develop shoulder pain that limits your range of motion for an extended period.
People who have diabetes or thyroid problems will be less likely to get frozen shoulder if they keep their condition under control.
Summary: Frozen shoulder remains a challenging disease to treat as pain and loss of range of motion can persist for many months or even years. This loss of function can have a severe impact on the patient's activities, participation and overall quality of life. The use of ultrasound-guided (USG) suprascapular nerve blocks (SSNB) and/or intra-articular corticoid injections (IACI) has been supported by many ...
Summary: The goal of this multicenter pilot study is to validate the effectiveness of extending the injection interval between betamethasone doses from one to two weeks for treating frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) in adults aged 18 to 75. This study also aims to screen potential study centers and gather data to refine the sample size calculation for a larger, future trial. The main questions it aims ...
Published Date: December 12, 2022
Published By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Frozen shoulder. orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/frozen-shoulder. Updated March 2018. Accessed January 12, 2023.
Barlow J, Mundy AC, Jones GL. Stiff shoulder. In: Miller MD, Thompson SR, eds. DeLee, Drez, & Miller's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 51.
Finnoff JT, Johnson W. Upper limb pain and dysfunction. In: Cifu DX, ed. Braddom's Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 35.
Miller RH, Azar FM, Throckmorton TW. Shoulder and elbow injuries. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 46.