It offers a wide range of motion, but also makes it vulnerable to injury.Īt the shoulder, three major bones meet and create a 90-degree angle.
The shoulder is a complex ball-and-socket joint that allows full movement of the arm. Learn more about frozen shoulder treatmentHome » Shoulder » Frozen Shoulder Frozen Shoulder What is the shoulder? Make an appointment for frozen shoulder treatment Treatments can help manage pain and speed recovery. The recovery process is lengthy and can take up to two or three years.
A regimen of anti-inflammatory medications.An extensive course of physical therapy.In some cases, your doctor may choose surgical treatment when pain and shoulder motions have not improved after: However, some people never regain complete motion and stiffness remains after years.
Usually, the pain subsides over time and motion also improves. The two most common nonsurgical treatments for frozen shoulder are:
Those between the ages of 40 and 60 are more likely to get frozen shoulder. This stage can take anywhere from five to 26 months.Īccording to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, frozen shoulder occurs in 2 percent of the general population.Īge and gender are both risk factors for frozen shoulder. Thawing stage - occurs when the shoulder motion gradually returns to a normal state of functioning.This stage may last between four and nine months. Frozen stage - features an improvement in pain levels, but stiffness persists.This stage can span from six weeks to nine months. The shoulder begins to lose motion as pain progresses. Freezing stage - involves a slow progression of shoulder stiffness and pain.Frozen shoulder stagesįrozen shoulder often occurs in three stages: It's characterized by the inability to move the shoulder and may cause shoulder pain. Frozen shoulder syndrome is a rare condition involving the thickening and contracting of the muscles surrounding the shoulder joint.