Frozen shoulder is a stiff and painful shoulder joint. It can last for months or years.
Frozen shoulder is usually treated with painkillers and exercises. If these treatments do not work, you may need steroid injections. You may have surgery, but this is rare.
Causes of frozen shoulder
Frozen shoulder happens when the tissue around your shoulder joint becomes inflamed. The tissue tightens and shrinks, which causes pain.
It's often not clear why people get a frozen shoulder. It can happen if you had an injury or surgery that stops you from moving your arm normally.
You also have a higher risk of getting a frozen shoulder if you have diabetes. It is also not clear why this is.
If you have diabetes, go to your check-ups so problems such as frozen shoulder can be diagnosed early.
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP if
you have shoulder pain and stiffness that:
- does not go away and is worse at night
- is so bad it stops you moving your arm and shoulder
Treatment for frozen shoulder
Your GP may recommend different types of treatment. These depend on how much pain and stiffness you have.
Medicine and gentle movement
Your GP may first recommend that you:
- take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease the pain
- move your shoulder gently
- avoid movements that cause pain
If you are still in pain, your GP may then prescribe:
- stronger painkillers for a short while
- steroid injections in your shoulder to reduce swelling
Physiotherapy for frozen shoulder
When the pain has eased, you will need to focus on getting movement back. You can do shoulder exercises at home or with the help of a physiotherapist. Your GP may refer you to a physiotherapist.
How many sessions you need will depend on how stiff and sore your shoulder is.
The physiotherapist will check how much movement you have in your shoulders.
Your physiotherapy treatment may involve:
- stretching exercises
- massage
- warm and cold therapy (thermotherapy)
If physiotherapy does not help ease the pain, go back to your GP. They may recommend another treatment.
Physiotherapy may not be available everywhere and waiting times can be long. You can also get physiotherapy privately.
Find a registered physiotherapist - iscp.ie
How long frozen shoulder lasts
Frozen shoulder can take at least 1 to 3 years to heal. Sometimes it can be longer. But the pain and stiffness will usually go away eventually.
How you can help ease the pain yourself
Do
-
follow the exercises from your GP or physiotherapist
-
keep an upright posture and your shoulders gently back
-
move your shoulder - keeping it still can make the pain worse
-
try heat or cold packs on your shoulder
Don't
-
do not make up your own exercises - for example, some gym equipment can make the pain worse
-
do not slouch when sitting
Using heat or cold packs on your shoulder
Try either of these on your shoulder:
- a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel for 5 minutes, 3 times a day
- a hot water bottle wrapped in a tea towel for 20 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day
You can also buy heat or cold packs from a pharmacy.
