Shoulder Pain and Frozen Shoulder: What Treatment Helps?

Stiff shoulder that hurts at night? Symptoms and care for frozen shoulder

What is frozen shoulder?
The medical name for frozen shoulder is adhesive capsulitis. It is a condition in which the joint capsule surrounding the shoulder joint thickens and stiffens, causing pain and limited movement. It mainly occurs in people in their 40s to 60s, but it does not occur only in people in their 50s.

What symptoms appear?
It may become difficult to raise your arm or reach behind your back, and movements such as getting dressed or washing your hair may become uncomfortable. Pain may worsen at night and disturb your sleep. A characteristic feature is that shoulder movement is limited not only when you move your arm yourself but also when a clinician moves it for you during an examination.

Is every painful shoulder that won't move well a frozen shoulder?
Similar discomfort can also occur with rotator cuff disorders or arthritis. We check when the symptoms began, the pattern of pain, and the shoulder's range of motion, and if needed, use imaging tests to rule out other causes.

How is it treated and managed?
Treatment aims to reduce pain and restore shoulder movement. Along with treatment suited to the level of pain, gentle joint exercises and stretching are done following your clinician's guidance. You should avoid keeping the shoulder still for long periods or forcing exercise through severe pain.

It may improve over time, but recovery can take months to years. If pain and stiffness persist or interfere with sleep and daily life, it is best to have your condition checked by a clinician.