Frozen shoulder is stiffness, pain, and trouble moving your shoulder. It may happen after an injury or overuse, or from a disease such as diabetes or a stroke. You may have pain that keeps you from using your shoulder. However, you need to move your shoulder. If you do not move it, it will get more stiff and sore. Your doctor may order an X-ray to make sure there is not another cause for your stiff shoulder.
You can treat frozen shoulder with heat, stretching, over-the-counter pain medicines, and physical therapy. Your doctor also may inject medicine into your shoulder to reduce pain and swelling. It can take a year or more to get better. Surgery is almost never needed.
Adhesive capsulitis is an inflammatory condition that restricts motion in a joint. It most often affects the shoulder joint, a condition called frozen shoulder.
The tissues around the joint stiffen, scar tissue forms, and any shoulder movement becomes difficult and painful. Any shoulder problem, such as an injury or surgery, can lead to frozen shoulder if a person does not move the shoulder through its full range of motion during treatment. Adhesive capsulitis can also be caused by some conditions such as diabetes or a stroke.
Adhesive capsulitis can be treated with over-the-counter pain medicines and physical therapy, and with steroid injections if needed. Surgery is rarely used.
When you have frozen shoulder, the tissues around the joint stiffen, scar tissue forms, and shoulder movement becomes difficult and painful. These problems limit the shoulder's range of motion.
Treatment for frozen shoulder usually starts with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and application of heat to the affected area, followed by gentle stretching. Ice and medicines (including corticosteroid injections) may also be used to reduce pain and swelling. And physical therapy can help increase your range of motion. A frozen shoulder can take a year or more to get better.
If treatment is not helping, surgery is sometimes done to loosen some of the tight tissues around the shoulder. Two surgeries are often done. In one surgery, called manipulation under anesthesia, you are put to sleep and then your arm is moved into positions that stretch the tight tissue. The other surgery uses an arthroscope to cut through tight tissues and scar tissue. These surgeries can both be done at the same time.
Gentle, progressive range-of-motion exercises, stretching, and using your shoulder more may help prevent frozen shoulder after surgery or an injury. Experts don't know what causes some cases of frozen shoulder, and it may not be possible to prevent these. Be patient and follow your doctor's advice. Frozen shoulder nearly always gets better over time.
Your doctor may suspect frozen shoulder if a physical exam reveals limited shoulder movement. An X-ray may be done to see whether symptoms are from another condition such as arthritis or a broken bone.
Frozen shoulder can develop when you stop using the joint normally because of pain, injury, or a chronic health condition, such as diabetes or a stroke. Any shoulder problem can lead to frozen shoulder if you do not work to keep full range of motion.
Frozen shoulder occurs:
Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is stiffness, pain, and limited range of movement in your shoulder. The tissues around the joint stiffen, scar tissue forms, and shoulder movements become hard to do and painful. The condition usually comes on slowly. And then it goes away slowly over the course of a year or more.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
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