How can I Treat My Frozen Shoulder?

Unfortunately, people who suffer from Frozen Shoulder often experience a lot of pain. Frozen Shoulder can cause stiffness and soreness in the joint and can be very frustrating. It can even be difficult to perform normal day to day tasks. Many people struggle to find ways to cope with this condition because there is a small amount of awareness surrounding it and resources are limited. Luckily, there are some things that you can do to treat your Frozen Shoulder! At New York Sports Medicine Institute, our orthopedic surgeon in Manhattan wants to see your pain be relieved which is why we offer you resources and treatment!

What is Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen Shoulder is a condition that causes pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint. This happens when the shoulder capsule becomes too thick which makes moving difficult. This can cause scar tissue to form as well as limit the liquid that normally lubricates this area. Luckily, there are some ways to treat this condition!

How Do You Know If You Have Frozen Shoulder?

There are a few warning signs that someone may have Frozen Shoulder. Pain and stiffness are a huge sign of this condition but knowing the stages of Frozen Shoulder may help you diagnose it! The first stage of Frozen Shoulder usually includes pain in your shoulder that can worsen at night. This stage can last for a few months and limits your range of motion. The second stage consists of more stiffness than pain and makes it very difficult to do normal activities. The final stage is when you slowly begin to develop a larger range of motion and your shoulder goes back to normal. This is also the longest stage that can last up to two years.

What Causes Frozen Shoulder?

Although it is unclear why Frozen Shoulder develops, some groups are more at risk of developing the condition. People of the age of 40-60 are most likely to get Frozen Shoulder. It is also more common in women and people who have suffered from other medical conditions such as a stroke. Diabetes and heart conditions also increase your chance of developing Frozen Shoulder. Although a lot of these risk factors are unavoidable, you can do a few things to decrease your risk as well. Staying active and moving is a very important way to prevent Frozen Shoulder. Stiffness is less likely to occur if your shoulder is used to moving and holds a lot of strength. Staying active can also decrease your risk of many other conditions and even some conditions that are linked to Frozen Shoulder!

How to Treat Frozen Shoulder

The pain of a Frozen Shoulder can be unbearable for some which means you can’t just sit and endure the pain. There are a few ways you can limit this pain. They include:

• Don’t wear a sling! Frozen shoulder limits your ability to move and makes your shoulder stiff. A sling enhances these feelings by holding your arm in one place. 
• Use your arm! Just like wearing a sling will encourage stiffness, moving around and forcing your arm to do activities can reduce the stiffness.
• Try out some range of motion exercises. Exercises like these encourage you to test your limits and slowly work up to a higher range of motion.
• Try shoulder exercises. By including shoulder exercises in your daily routine, you can strengthen your rotator cuff and reduce pain!
• A corticosteroid injection from your doctor may reduce pain.
• Physical therapy is a great way to focus on exercises that can help you specifically and reduce stiffness and pain.
• Surgery may be an option in some cases to reverse your Frozen Shoulder.

Reaching out to an orthopedic surgeon in Manhattan may be beneficial and help relieve your pain. New York Sports Medicine Institute is here for you!

Contact Our Orthopedic Surgeon in Manhattan

We understand that it can be difficult to deal with a condition like Frozen Shoulder. You feel constant pain and discomfort all while struggling to do normal activities. We know the inconvenience of this condition which is why we want to help! New York Sports Medicine Institute works every day to learn more about Frozen Shoulder and what we can do to reduce your pain. We offer many resources and programs to help you! Contact our Orthopedic Surgeon in Manhattan today!