Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder symptoms develop gradually and typically worsen over time before slowly improving. You may experience:

• Progressive shoulder pain that’s worse at night and with movement
• Severe stiffness that limits your range of motion in all directions
• Difficulty sleeping due to pain when lying on the affected shoulder
• Trouble with daily activities like reaching behind your back, overhead, or across your body
• Muscle weakness from decreased use of the affected arm
• Aching pain that may extend down your arm to the elbow

The condition typically progresses through three phases, with the initial “freezing” phase being the most painful, followed by the “frozen” phase with maximum stiffness, and finally the “thawing” phase as mobility gradually returns.

Frozen shoulder occurs when the capsule of connective tissue surrounding the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and forms adhesions. While the exact trigger isn’t always known, several factors increase your risk:

Medical Conditions: Diabetes significantly increases risk, affecting up to 20% of diabetic patients. Other conditions include thyroid disorders, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune conditions, and Parkinson’s disease.

Immobilization: Extended periods without shoulder movement due to injury, surgery, stroke, or wearing a sling can trigger the condition. Even minor injuries that cause you to avoid moving your shoulder can lead to frozen shoulder.

Demographics: The condition most commonly affects people between ages 40-60, with women being more susceptible than men. Previous shoulder problems or surgery also increase risk.

At Synergy Health Partners, our orthopedic specialists use a comprehensive approach to diagnose frozen shoulder. The evaluation typically includes:

Physical Examination: Your doctor will assess your shoulder’s range of motion, checking both active movement (what you can do) and passive movement (what the doctor can move your arm through). Frozen shoulder shows characteristic limitations in all directions.

Medical History Review: We’ll discuss your symptoms, when they started, any recent injuries or surgeries, and underlying health conditions that may contribute to the problem.

Imaging Studies: X-rays help rule out other shoulder problems like arthritis or fractures. MRI or ultrasound may be used to evaluate soft tissue inflammation and rule out rotator cuff tears or other conditions that can mimic frozen shoulder symptoms.

Early accurate diagnosis is important because frozen shoulder treatment differs significantly from other shoulder conditions.

You should schedule an appointment with one of our shoulder specialists if you experience:

Persistent shoulder pain that lasts more than a few days, especially if it’s interfering with sleep or daily activities. Early intervention can help prevent the condition from progressing to more severe stages.

Progressive loss of motion in your shoulder, particularly if you’re having trouble reaching overhead, behind your back, or across your body. Don’t wait for the stiffness to become severe.

Difficulty performing work tasks or daily activities like dressing, grooming, or household chores due to shoulder limitations.

Night pain that consistently wakes you up or prevents you from sleeping comfortably. This is often one of the first and most bothersome symptoms.

Remember, frozen shoulder can take months to years to resolve without treatment. Our specialists can provide therapies and interventions that may significantly shorten your recovery time and reduce your discomfort.