What is frozen shoulder and how long does it last?
Frozen shoulder causes pain and stiffness because the capsule around the joint thickens and tightens. It usually improves with time, but recovery may take up to 3 years and some stiffness may remain.
Who gets it
It most often affects people aged 40 to 60, and women more than men. Risk is higher with:
- Diabetes
- Thyroid disorders, Parkinson's disease or heart disease
- Keeping the shoulder still after an injury, a fracture or surgery
The three stages
| Stage | What happens | Typical length |
|---|---|---|
| Freezing | Pain slowly worsens and movement reduces | 6 weeks to 9 months |
| Frozen | Pain may ease, but stiffness stays | 4 to 6 months |
| Thawing | Movement slowly returns | 6 months to 2 years |
How it is diagnosed
The doctor checks movement, both when you lift the arm and when someone else moves it. Both are limited in frozen shoulder. An X-ray helps exclude other problems, such as arthritis. MRI or ultrasound is not always needed, but can show other injuries, such as a rotator cuff tear.
Treatment without surgery
- Stretching exercises and physiotherapy
- Anti-inflammatory medicines
- A steroid injection into the joint
- Hydrodilatation, in which sterile fluid is injected to stretch the capsule, if other treatment has not helped
- Good blood sugar control, for people with diabetes
When surgery is considered
Surgery is considered if symptoms continue despite other treatment. The surgeon may move the shoulder under anaesthesia to stretch the capsule, or release the tight capsule through keyhole surgery. The two are often combined. Your surgeon can explain the risks.
After surgery
Recovery takes about 6 weeks to 3 months, with physiotherapy to keep the movement gained. Some stiffness may remain, more often in people with diabetes.
When to seek prompt review
See a doctor promptly for shoulder pain after an injury or with fever.
Go to Accident and Emergency at once for shoulder pain with chest pain or trouble breathing.
This page gives general information. It cannot diagnose your condition or tell you which treatment suits you. See a registered doctor for advice about your own symptoms.