What is Adhesive Capsulitis, AKA Frozen Shoulder?

For someone with shoulder stiffness and pain, there are a few concerns about potential ligament, tendon or joint damage. However, in some cases, it may not be severe damage or trauma; it could simply be “frozen shoulder.”

What is a frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is essentially stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. This is caused by thickening of tissues in the shoulder joint, which lead to tighter spaces within the joint itself. This limits range of motion and, as a result, leads to frozen or limited shoulder movement because there isn’t room for the joint to rotate properly. 

What causes frozen shoulder? 

There are a number of causes of frozen shoulder, ranging from:

• Lack of movement after surgery 
• Hormone imbalance
• Diabetes
• Autoimmune diseases that lead to inflammation
• Arthritis
• Thyroid disorders
• Trauma to shoulder joint (i.e. rotator cuff injury, etc.)

Symptoms of frozen shoulder

Frozen shoulder usually goes through stages, depending on the underlying cause that led to stiffness. For most people, the first couple of stages can be mild before the pain/stiffness progress to obvious levels. Then, the obvious symptoms begin to resolve. Stages of frozen shoulder include:

• Stage 1: Freezing. Shoulder movement causes pain and range of motion decreases.
• Stage 2: Frozen. Pain is lessened, but the shoulder’s movement is stiff and range of motion is almost zero.
• Stage 3: Thawing. Range of motion improves, pain decreases, and overall conditions improve. 

Many people seek medical help during Stage 1 where the pain is most obvious. Without proper treatment, however, your shoulder may remain the frozen stage indefinitely.

How to diagnose frozen shoulder 

http://leonmeadmd.com/dr-leon-mead-your-orthopedic-and-sports-medicine-doctor-in-naples/Orthopedic professionals will need to formally diagnose frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis. A physical exam will usually suffice, and specific range of motion tests may be performed. Touching your opposite shoulder with your affected arm is one of the most common tests, as it shows how limited your range of motion is. 

If range of motion tests are inconclusive, doctors may order an MRI or X-ray to rule out rotator cuff injuries or joint problems. If the scar tissue is thick enough, imaging may be able to identify adhesive capsulitis, as well. 

How to treat frozen shoulder 

In some lucky cases, frozen shoulder can resolve itself over time. But this requires a healthy joint, normal and consistent activity, and (unfortunately) a younger body. Without these things, the joint’s tissues may continue to thicken, further stiffening the joint. To help patients with frozen shoulder, orthopedic professional may recommend:

• Ice, heat and NSAIDs at home. 
• Steroid shots to decrease inflammation and pain.
• Physical therapy to support range of motion with appropriate exercise.
• Surgery to remove thickened scar tissue. 

In most cases of frozen shoulder, specifically, those that aren’t caused by an underlying health problem, relief can be found in a year or two. Surgery for people who do suffer from a condition that exacerbates joint problems can also help. 

However, it’s important to speak with your orthopedic professional if you are worried that you have frozen shoulder. While treatable, it’s important to rule out other problems before moving forward with physical therapy, steroids or even surgery. 

Orthopedic Corner | Leon Mead MD Orthopedic Doctor | 730 Goodlette Road North, Suite 201  Naples Florida 34102 | Phone: (239) 262-1119