A frozen shoulder is stiffness and pain in the shoulder.
A frozen shoulder usually starts after a shoulder injury that causes pain and does not allow you to move your shoulder enough. Sometimes, a frozen shoulder may occur for no known reason. If you have limited movement of your shoulder for weeks, months, or years because of an injury, the capsule around the shoulder joint may get very stiff. Your shoulder may develop scar tissue, or adhesions, in the joint.
Your shoulder will lose the ability to move in all directions. You may not be able to lift your arm above your head or be able to scratch your back. You may feel grinding or pain when moving your shoulder.
Your healthcare provider will examine your shoulder and may take X-rays. You may also have an MRI. In some cases, you may have an arthrogram (an X-ray or an MRI of your shoulder after dye is injected into your shoulder joint).
To treat this condition:
If your shoulder doesn’t get better with exercises and medicine, you may need a procedure to break up the scar tissue in your shoulder. For this procedure you are put to sleep with a general anesthetic and your provider moves your shoulder in various directions to break up the adhesions (bands of scar tissue). You may need arthroscopic surgery to see if there are other causes for your frozen shoulder.
The length of recovery depends on many factors such as your age and health, and if you have had a previous shoulder injury. The effects of a frozen shoulder can be long lasting and can get worse without treatment.
Everyone recovers from an injury at a different rate. Return to your activities depends on how soon your shoulder recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury has occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms before you start treatment, the longer it will take to get better. The goal is to return to your normal activities as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury.
You may safely return to your normal activities when:
After you have had an injury to your shoulder it is important that you do not limit your shoulder motion for a prolonged period of time. It is important to do your shoulder rehabilitation exercises as they have been prescribed. If you feel that you are losing range of motion in your shoulder you should see your healthcare provider.