Do you have a frozen shoulder?
Do you have pain, stiffness or limited range of movement in your shoulder? If so, you could be experiencing frozen shoulder.
When tissues around the shoulder joint stiffen, scar tissue forms and causes shoulder movement to become difficult and potentially painful. This can occur if you have a shoulder problem and stop using your shoulder joint normally.
The following factors increase your risk for frozen shoulder:
- Injury or overuse
- Chronic diseases, like diabetes or stroke
- Age: Individuals aged 40 to 70
- Sex: Women, especially postmenopause
Dr. Bradley Klumb, an orthopedic physician at Aurora Health Care, says, “If you’re having shoulder pain or discomfort, I recommend scheduling a physical exam to determine why you’re having limited shoulder movement. An X-ray may be done to rule out arthritis or any other issues.”
Although it’s not always known what causes frozen shoulder, there are some things you can do to help prevent it under the supervision of your health care provider. “In general, using your shoulder more after an injury or surgery is helpful,” Dr. Klumb says. “Using range-of-motion exercises in a gentle stretching rotation can help work through some of the stiffness.”
Treatment for frozen shoulder usually starts with nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen or aspirin. Applying heat and doing gentle stretching can also be effective.
“Icing the shoulder and a corticosteroid injection may also be used to reduce pain and swelling,” Dr. Klumb adds. “Physical therapy is another option that can help increase your range of motion. A frozen shoulder may take a year or more to improve. If treatment is not helping, surgery can loosen some of the tight tissues around the shoulder.”
Frozen shoulder often improves over time with patience and following provider recommendations.
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