Frozen Shoulder Symptoms – Signs You Should Look Out For


Frozen shoulder symptoms might differ, based on how far the condition has progressed. Keeping an eye out for such symptoms and opting for frozen shoulder treatment instantly helps in rooting it out during the early stages.

Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis is a condition characterized by stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. The signs and symptoms of adhesive capsulitis begin gradually, worsen over time, and then resolve, usually within one or two years.

frozen shoulder symptoms
Frozen shoulder symptoms worsen during the night, when the pain tends to increase

Who Can Face Frozen Shoulder Symptoms?

The incidence of frozen shoulder is about 2% in the general population. It is prevalent in the age group of 40-60 years and women are more prone to this condition than men. Your risk of developing a frozen shoulder increases if you’re recovering from a medical condition or procedure that affects the mobility of your arm – such as a stroke or an open heart surgery.

Frozen Shoulder Risk Factors

In most cases, there is no particular cause for suffering from frozen shoulder. However, some of the risk factors include:

  • Cervical disk disease of the neck
  • Diabetes
  • Shoulder injury
  • Shoulder surgery
  • Open heart surgery
  • Hyperthyroidism 

Frozen Shoulder Symptoms You Should Be Aware Of

People who suffer from frozen shoulder usually experience a dull ache along the shoulder. The pain is usually centered over the outer shoulder area and sometimes along the upper arm. For some people, the pain worsens at night, sometimes even disrupting normal sleep patterns.

The pain can differ, based on the stage of the problem and how long it has been developing. The characteristic feature of this condition is an inability to move one’s shoulder, either actively or passively. Based on the stage of the condition, here are the frozen shoulder symptoms that you might face. 

  • Freezing Stage: During this stage, pain occurs even when the shoulder is slightly moved. Due to this, the shoulder’s range of motion becomes limited. The duration of this stage is about 6 weeks to 9 months.
  • Frozen Stage: The duration of this stage lasts for about 4 to 6 months. The pain experienced begins to diminish in this stage, but the shoulder remains stiff.
  • Thawing Stage: The shoulder becomes slightly usable through the course of this stage, and returns to normal towards the end. It may take about 6 months to 2 years for the shoulder to become completely normal or near-normal, and regain its earlier condition.

Once these frozen shoulder symptoms are detected in a timely manner, diagnostic and corrective measures can be chosen faster.


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