01/03/2026
Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition causing significant pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint, often limiting range of motion due to the thickening and tightening of the connective tissue capsule surrounding it. It typically develops in three stages—freezing (pain), frozen (stiffness), and thawing (recovery)—often following immobility from injury or chronic conditions like diabetes. Treatment focuses on restoring movement through physical therapy, pain management, and sometimes injections or surgery. Recovery may take six months to two years. Causes and risk factors
Inflammation: The capsule surrounding the shoulder joint becomes thick, hard, and inflamed.
Immobilization: This often occurs after the shoulder has been rested for an extended period of time due to surgery, injury, or fracture. Medical conditions: Common in people with diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and thyroid disease.
symptoms
Pain: A dull, aching pain that is usually worse at night or early in the illness. Stiffness: A frozen sensation that makes it increasingly difficult to move your shoulder. This is known as limited range of motion.
Restricted movement: Difficulty performing everyday tasks, such as lifting a load over your head. frozen shoulder stage
Freezing (6 weeks to 9 months): Gradually increasing pain and loss of range of motion in the shoulder.
Freezing (4-12 months): Pain may decrease, but stiffness increases and range of motion is severely limited. Thawing (6 months to 2 years): Shoulder movement gradually improves.
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treatment options
Physical therapy: Required for stretching exercises to improve range of motion. Medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin, can help manage pain.
injection. Corticosteroid injections reduce inflammation and improve mobility. Hydrodilation (hydrodistension): injection of sterile water into the joint capsule to stretch the tissues.
Surgery/manipulation: Rarely, in severe cases, procedures under anesthesia are used to break up the scar tissue. +2
period
Frozen shoulder usually heals on its own, but the process can take a long time, from six months to two years.