Frozen Shoulder

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A frozen shoulder feels exactly as it sounds. It feels frozen – painful, generally worse at night, and often the movements you can do with it are severely limited. This is because the capsule (bag) around the joint has become inflamed and sticky and it sticks to itself, preventing the shoulder from moving.

Symptoms of frozen shoulder include:

• pain:  pain is usually felt in the shoulder and has a tight band/gripping feeling around the top of your arm.  Pain may extend further down your forearm too.

• stiffness and limited movement:  This is a key feature of a frozen shoulder.  Sometimes the restriction in movement can be severe and debilitating.

• sleep disturbance:  You may find that the pain is worse at night.  It can be difficult to find a comfortable position for your arm and often wakes you from sleep.

Frozen shoulders develop in three stages.  Firstly the freezing stage.  This is when the shoulder is painful and starts to become stiffer and more restricted.  The frozen stage is a time when the pain is lessening but the restriction can still be severe. Lastly, the thaw, as the movement starts to return.  Each stage can last several months.

The earlier you can intervene with treatment for frozen shoulder, exercise and lifestyle advice, the sooner you can start your recovery.