Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition characterized by stiffness and pain in your shoulder joint. Signs and symptoms begin gradually, worsen over time and then resolve, usually within a two-year period.
Your risk of developing frozen shoulder increases if you’ve recently had to have your arm in a sling for several weeks, or if you have had surgery in which your arm was immobilized in a specific position for a prolonged period. Many times it develops overnight without any significant cause. Individuals suffering w/ frozen shoulder often comment they just started having pain one day and it continued to get worse to the point they could not move their arm. It is typically described as a constant nuisance and terrible pain with any movement of the shoulder that will get worse at night.
Provider Note: Frozen shoulder is a tricky one do to not fully understanding the reason it arises. We utilize FDM, stretching, and rehabilitative exercises. We see the greatest change in the amount of pain the individual suffers with. Most often it is significantly decreased. The range of motion improves as well but may take several months to get the shoulder back to a full pain free range of motion.
