Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is one of the few conditions where the honest timescale is the most useful thing we can give you. The capsule surrounding the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and then thickens and contracts, and the shoulder becomes profoundly stiff. It is not a strain, it does not behave like one, and it will not respond to being pushed through.
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The three stages
The painful or freezing stage comes first, where pain builds, night pain is often worst and movement is progressively lost. Then the stiff or frozen stage, where the pain typically eases somewhat but the shoulder is at its most restricted. Then the thawing stage, where movement gradually returns.
Each stage commonly lasts several months, and the whole process frequently takes eighteen months to two years or more. That is a hard thing to hear and much easier to cope with than being told repeatedly that it should be better by now.
What treatment does at each stage
In the painful stage, the priority is settling pain and protecting the movement you still have, not forcing range. Aggressive stretching here makes things worse. In the stiff stage, hands on treatment and graded stretching to work on range. In the thawing stage, restoring strength and full function, because months of not using an arm properly leaves it weak.
What else is worth knowing
It is more common in people with diabetes, so if you have not been checked recently that is worth mentioning to your GP. A corticosteroid injection in the painful stage can help significantly with pain and is worth discussing with your GP alongside physiotherapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does frozen shoulder last?
Should I stretch a frozen shoulder?
Is frozen shoulder linked to diabetes?
Would an injection help?
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