What it is
The lining of the joint becomes inflamed and contracts, so the shoulder becomes both painful and genuinely stiff. It typically passes through a painful phase, a stiff phase and a thawing phase. It is more common in people with diabetes or thyroid conditions.
How it usually presents
- Severe pain first, including at night
- Progressive loss of rotation in every direction
- Stiffness that persists even when someone else moves your arm
How it is assessed
The diagnosis is usually clinical. X-rays are taken to exclude arthritis, and blood tests are sometimes helpful.
Treatment options
- Pain relief and a gentle, well-guided physiotherapy programme
- Hydrodilatation or intra-articular steroid injection
- Arthroscopic capsular release for shoulders that stay stuck
Non-surgical treatment is considered first wherever it is reasonable. Which option suits you depends on your symptoms, your goals and what you want from treatment, which is exactly what we discuss in clinic.
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