Recovery from a frozen shoulder can be slow and the symptoms can last for several years. However, by doing frozen shoulder exercises full movement may be regained and the speed of recovery will be significantly improved. Treatment can be painful but by exercising regularly the shoulder will recover. Keeping the arm active allows blood to flow to the shoulder, stretching and strengthening exercises will eventually ease the pain and increase mobility of the arm.
Physiotherapy, massage therapy and medication will also help improve the recovery. More than 90% of patients improve with relatively simple treatments to control pain and restore motion.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen reduce pain and swelling and are most effective when they are taken regularly. However, there are some side effects associated with NSAIDs which need to be explained by the doctor. Generally, sufferers of asthma, high blood pressure or kidney or heart problems should not take NSAIDs.
Cortisone can be injected directly into the shoulder joint which is an anti-inflammatory medicine. Cortisone injections can help to relieve pain and improve the movement in the shoulder. However, the injections cannot cure the condition and the symptoms will gradually return. Too many cortisone injections can also damage the shoulder and so the number of injections is limited.
In some cases a doctor may manipulate the shoulder by moving and stretching it under anaesthetic. Afterwards, physiotherapy and frozen shoulder exercises will help maintain mobility in the shoulder.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a type of physiotherapy that may help to ease the pain of frozen shoulder. It works by numbing the nerve endings in the spinal cord which control pain, so that it can no longer be felt. Treatment with TENS is usually given by a physiotherapist. Small electrical pads (electrodes) will be applied to the skin on the shoulder. These will deliver small pulses of electricity from the TENS machine. The physiotherapist is able to control the strength of the pulses and how long they last.
Frozen shoulder exercises are designed to improve the range of the shoulder movement and it is important to maintaining this range of movement by doing frozen shoulder exercises several times a day. Treatment for a frozen shoulder varies depending on the stage of the condition and the severity of the pain and stiffness. The aim of the treatment is to keep the joint as mobile and pain free as possible while the shoulder heals.
There are alternative remedies, such as acupuncture which may relieve or prevent the symptoms of a frozen shoulder. However, due to the lack of research there is no conclusive evidence on its effectiveness.
If, after several months the various treatments described above are not improving then surgery may be needed. This is rarely necessary and is a last resort.