Frozen shoulder is an all too common condition that tends to affect adults over the age of 40. The condition gets its name from the fact that it leads to stiffness and discomfort in the shoulder region, which in turn limits movement. In other words, it causes your shoulder to be stuck in a rather immobilized position.
Fortunately, frozen shoulder tends to respond very well to conservative treatment, but relief won’t happen overnight. Just like the spring after a cold winter, it takes some time for things to thaw. But how long will it take for your frozen shoulder to thaw, and is there anything you can do to speed up this process? We answer these questions and more in our blog.
Thawing A Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder is caused by inflammation in the tissues that surround your shoulder joint. This inflammation contributes to swelling, irritation and pain, making it difficult to comfortably move the shoulder. As you can probably imagine, decreasing this inflammation is the key to thawing your frozen shoulder. But how long does this process take?
The short answer is – it depends. Inflammation can take longer to resolve in some patients than others, but for most patients, the thawing portion of their recovery is measured in months, not weeks. Some patients will experience complete recovery in just a few months, but a more standard recovery timeline typically falls between six and nine months. You’ll regain some additional range of motion before your frozen shoulder has completely thawed, with internal rotation usually being the movement that takes the longest to achieve (internal rotation is the motion you perform when you reach to put your wallet in your back pocket).
After patients understand the typical recovery timeline, their next question usually centers around whether or not there is anything they can do to speed up this recovery process. There are plenty of things that you can do to speed up your recovery, but it’s impossible to say how much time they will shave off your recovery. Other care aspects are designed to prevent inflammation from worsening, which may not speed up your recovery, but it will keep it from being prolonged.
Common treatments that can help speed up or keep your frozen shoulder recovery on track include:
- Anti-inflammatory medications – Anti-inflammatory medications can help to control some inflammation in the shoulder joint, but you’ll want to pair medications with active treatment techniques.
- Activity Avoidance – You’ll want to avoid certain motions that put abnormal stress on the shoulder joint, which can serve to exacerbate inflammation. Your shoulder specialist can explain which motions should be avoided based on your lifestyle or job duties.
- Physical Therapy – Arguably the best form of treatment for frozen shoulder is physical therapy, which works to strengthen areas that support your shoulder joint and take pressure off the inflamed area. Again, PT won’t resolve your problems overnight, but many patients can speed up their shoulder thawing by pursuing physical therapy sessions in-clinic or at home over the course of 4-8 weeks.
- Stretching Exercises – Similarly, stretching exercises can help you expand your comfortable range of motion and make certain movements less painful.
Finally, you can help speed up your recovery from a frozen shoulder by connecting with a specialist who can provide you with individualized care and attention. In the greater Knoxville area, that specialist can be Dr. Holloway. He has helped countless patients overcome their frozen shoulder issues in the past, and he’d be more than happy to do the same for you. For more information, or for help with a different shoulder condition, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
