Frozen Shoulder

If you have frozen shoulder, then your symptoms will likely appear in 3 distinct phases:

• The “Freezing” Stage: During this phase, a dull pain emerges around the ball of the upper arm (or the head of the humerus). Over the course of 6 weeks to 9 months, the pain will intensify during periods of shoulder activity. As the pain worsens, the shoulder will stiffen, indicating that scar tissue is beginning to form.
• The “Frozen” Stage: Somewhere between 2 – 6 months, the pain in your shoulder will begin to abate. But, as the pain of the “freezing” stage fades away, the stiffness in your shoulder will become more pronounced. When the shoulder becomes “frozen,” very little range of motion will remain in your arm. As a result, your arm muscles will become week, or atrophy, and you will have difficulty completing everyday tasks, like buttoning a shirt.
• The “Thawing” Stage: Most individuals with frozen shoulder syndrome report a thawing of symptoms after 6 months to 2 years. As your shoulder repairs itself, you will slowly regain the motion in your arm and the pain should disappear. However, some individuals never reach the thawing phase. If you have had frozen shoulder for longer than 6 months, then you should revisit your doctor to discuss advanced treatment options, like shoulder surgery.

In addition to the stages presented above, patients with frozen shoulder often report experiencing the following symptoms:

• Dull Pain: You may experience aching or a dull throb around the outside of the arm or deep inside the shoulder joint. Pain may worsen with activity or when you are lying on your side at night.
• Stiffness: As the ligaments tighten around the shoulder joint, your shoulder will begin to lose it’s normal range of motion.
• Everyday Impairment: As your range of pain-free movement declines, you may have trouble completing your everyday tasks. Getting dressed, lifting or reaching for an object, driving, or raising your arm may become extremely painful.
• Muscle Weakness: If your condition severely limits the use of your arm, then you may notice that your muscles start to weaken from disuse. In addition, this can cause dull cramping or the occasional muscle spasm.
• Insomnia: You may find it impossible to sleep on the same side as the affected shoulder.

Do these symptoms sound a little too familiar? To find out if you have frozen shoulder, contact one of our joint and orthopedic experts today! Our doctors specialize in pain management techniques, conservative treatments, and surgical interventions for shoulder pain!

If you have frozen shoulder, then your doctor will begin by prescribing conservative (or non-surgical) treatments. For instance:

• Anti-Inflammatory Medications: 9 out of 10 patients with frozen shoulder find that simple, over-the-counter medications are sufficient for treating their pain. Non-addictive drugs, like ibuprofen, work to reduce swelling and loosen up the shoulder joint. If these medications don’t do the trick, then your doctor may suggest a steroid injection into the shoulder joint.
• Physical Therapy: As your shoulder heals on its own, your doctor may recommend that you see a physical therapist (PT). A PT will help you develop a regimen of exercises that keep your shoulder strong and enhance its natural flexibility.
• Hydrodilation: Before considering surgery, your doctor may attempt hydrodilation, or dilating the shoulder capsule with water. During this procedure, your doctor will inject a small quantity of saline into your shoulder capsule. This gentle wash encourages the stiffened shoulder capsule to expand and relax.

If these interventions do not produce the intended results, then your doctor will likely recommend surgery. Surgical treatment options for frozen shoulder include:

• Arthroscopic Surgery: Keep in mind that frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is often caused by adhesions that develop in the tissues of the shoulder capsule. During a shoulder arthroscopy, therefore, your surgeon will relieve the pressure on the shoulder joint by cutting through this scar tissue.
• Manual Manipulation: During this approach, your surgeon uses his or her hands to move (or manipulate) your shoulder through a range of movements. Forcing your shoulder to move creates tears in the shoulder capsule, restoring movement.

Do you have frozen shoulder? If so, then you need an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in pain management and arthroscopic shoulder release. To restore your quality of life today, contact our shoulder specialists at New Jersey Spine & Ortho! Our doctors are ready to help you get your life back!