Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition in which the shoulder capsule becomes irritated and inflamed. When this happens, normal movement is restricted and the shoulder can become stiff, hence the name frozen shoulder. If you are cognizant of what’s going on in your shoulder and you approach treatment in the right way, you can actually help to “thaw” your frozen shoulder and regain normal movement in the area. In today’s blog, we share five tips for thawing your frozen shoulder.
How To Treat A Frozen Shoulder
You can learn more about the specific mechanics of frozen shoulder by checking out this blog we wrote on the condition, but for this piece, we simply want to focus on ways to help treat and thaw out your frozen shoulder. Here are five ways to help calm inflammation and restore flexibility in your shoulder if you’re dealing with adhesive capsulitis:
- Anti-Inflammatory Medications – While this tip is first on the list, it’s not going to be the treatment that drives home the most recovery. Anti-inflammatories and over-the-counter pain medications can help to calm discomfort and make it easier to pursue some other helpful treatments, but they won’t help you regain strength or flexibility in your shoulder. However, they can be very helpful in alleviating some of the more uncomfortable symptoms associated with frozen shoulder.
- Physical Therapy – Physical therapy is one of the best things you can do for a frozen shoulder, and it’s imperative that you connect with a professional to help with this process. You need to strike a delicate balance between stretching your shoulder and strengthening certain muscles without overdoing it and triggering an inflammatory response. A shoulder specialist or physical therapist can help you develop a therapy routine that helps to restore flexibility in your shoulder without overdoing it.
- Home-Based Exercise Program – Following through with a home-based exercise program can slowly help you make improvements in your shoulder’s range of motion. Many physical therapists recommend the broomstick technique, where you hold a broomstick out in front of you and slowly lift, lower and move the broom to the right and left as far as you can comfortably go, but you’ll want to talk with your PT about appropriate exercises to perform at home so that you don’t overstretch the shoulder and cause more issues.
- TENS Unit – Some patients will also notice some symptom improvement with the help of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, also known as a TENS unit. This is a small device that delivers tiny electrical impulses through electrodes placed on the shoulders to help drown out painful stimuli and reduce muscle hardness, which can help increase your flexibility. This non-invasive treatment can be used throughout the day as needed to help lessen symptoms.
- Shoulder Manipulation – If movement has become extremely restricted and uncomfortable, your shoulder specialist may recommend manual manipulation. This involves administering general anesthesia so that you’ll be unconscious and unable to feel pain. The specialist then manipulates the shoulder joint to help loosen the tightened and restricted shoulder tissues.
Shoulder surgery is also an option for severe cases, but the majority of frozen shoulders end up thawing after 6-18 months with the help of the above techniques and some patience. It’s not always ideal, but oftentimes you can avoid surgery and help thaw out the shoulder by carefully stretching and strengthening the area. To learn more about this process, or to connect with a shoulder specialist about the pain you’re dealing with, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
