Frozen Shoulder Syndrome

Adhesive capsulitis, also known as "frozen shoulder syndrome" is a painful condition characterized by stiffness in your shoulder joint and results in a severe loss of motion in the shoulder.  Signs and symptoms begin gradually, worsen over time, and then resolve usually within a 2 year period.  It may follow an injury or it can arise gradually with no injury or warning.  Frozen shoulder usually develops in three stages.  Each of these three stages can last up to a couple of months. 

Painful stage (pain occurs with any movement of your shoulder)    

Frozen stage (pain may begin to diminish however your shoulder becomes stiffer and range of motion decreases notabley)     

Thawing stage (the range of motion in your shoulder begins to improve)

The bones, ligaments and tendons that make up your shoulder joint are encased in a capsule of connective tissue. In frozen shoulder, inflammation in the joint makes the normally loose parts of the joint capsule stick together.  The capsule thickens and tightens around the shoulder joint, restricting its range of motion and movement.  Doctors aren't sure of the exact cause of frozen shoulder syndrome and why it happens to some people and not others. Allthough through extensive research they have found that certain factors may increase the risk of developeing frozen shoulder.  These include age (people over 40 and 70% of cases are in  women), immobility example: people who have just had surgery on their shoulder, or have had their arm in a sling for long periods of time.  Research has shown that some autoimmune disorders are linked to frozen shoulder syndrome like diabetes, overactive and underactive thyroid, tuberculosis, and cardiovascular disease.

Frozen shoulder can usually be diagnosed from signs and symptomes alone.  However imaging tests such as x-ray and MRI  are usually done to rule out other structural problems.  Treatments include therapy involving applying heat or cold to the shoulder along with stretching exercises.  Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used along with corticosteroids injections, and in a small percentage of cases surgery may be needed to loosen the joint capsule so it can move more freely.