Frozen Shoulder

What is frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder is when your shoulder becomes painful and very stiff. It gets this name because your shoulder feels "frozen" - like it can't move properly. This condition can last for months or even years, but it does get better over time.

What are the main signs?

There are two main things you'll notice:

Pain in your shoulder

• This can be worse at night
• It might stop you sleeping well
• The pain can be quite severe

Stiffness in your shoulder

• Your shoulder feels stuck
• It's hard to move your arm normally
• Simple tasks like getting dressed or reaching up become difficult

When should you speak to your GP?

You should see your GP if:

• Your shoulder pain and stiffness won't go away
• The pain is so bad that you can't move your arm and shoulder properly

Don't wait if the pain is making daily life very difficult.

How is frozen shoulder treated?

Treatment usually happens in three steps:

Step 1: Pain relief

• Avoid movements that hurt your shoulder
• Only move your shoulder gently
• Take paracetamol regularly (follow the packet instructions)
• If paracetamol doesn't help, try ibuprofen
• Stop taking ibuprofen if it doesn't work

Step 2: Stronger pain relief

Your GP might give you:

• Stronger painkillers
• A steroid injection into your shoulder

These stronger treatments are usually only used for a short time because they can cause side effects.

Step 3: Getting movement back

• Try gentle shoulder exercises at home
• Your GP might refer you to a physiotherapist if the pain continues

What does physiotherapy involve?

A physiotherapist will:

• Check how much your shoulder can move
• Give you stretching exercises
• Give you strengthening exercises
• Teach you about good posture
• Help with pain relief
• Sometimes give steroid injections

Physiotherapy usually lasts at least 6 weeks. The exact number of sessions depends on how quickly your shoulder improves.

In some areas, you can see a physiotherapist without seeing your GP first. You can also pay to see one privately.

What can you do at home?

Do:

• Follow any exercises your GP or physiotherapist gives you
• Keep moving your shoulder gently - keeping it still makes pain worse
• Take paracetamol regularly (following packet instructions)
• Use a heat pack or hot water bottle wrapped in a tea towel for up to 20 minutes at a time

Don't:

• Make up your own tough exercises
• Use gym equipment - this can make the pain worse

What causes frozen shoulder?

Often, we don't know exactly why someone gets a frozen shoulder. It happens when the tissue around your shoulder joint becomes swollen and inflamed. This tissue then gets tighter and shrinks, causing pain and stiffness.

You're more likely to get frozen shoulder if:

• You've had an injury or surgery that stopped you moving your arm normally
• You have diabetes

If you have diabetes, it's important to keep up with your regular diabetes check-ups.

Remember

Frozen shoulder does get better, even though it takes time. The pain and stiffness will usually go away eventually. If you're worried about shoulder pain that won't go away, speak to your GP.

---

Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.