Symptom
Shoulder stiffness
Stiffness creeps up on people. Often the first sign is not being able to fasten a bra, reach a seatbelt or put a coat on without turning the whole body.
What it often feels like
- Movement that is limited whoever moves the arm, including someone else
- Pain at the end of a movement rather than through it
- Struggling to reach behind your back or into a back pocket
- A shoulder that has slowly become tighter over months
Common reasons it happens
- Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
- Arthritis of the shoulder joint
- Stiffness after an injury, fracture or a long period of guarding the arm
- Long-standing rotator cuff problems
What to expect at your consultation
We start with your story: how the problem began, what makes it better or worse, and how it affects your sleep, work and the things you enjoy.
I then examine your neck, shoulder and arm together, because they refer pain to one another. If a scan or nerve study would change what we do, I will arrange it; often it is not needed.
We finish by talking through the realistic options and deciding on a plan together.
Why we treat
Getting you back to the things this is stopping you doing
shoulder stiffness matters because of what it takes away. Your sleep, your work, and the parts of the week you look forward to.
Hobbies with friends
Walking the moors
Jobs around the house
Conditions this can point to
Book a consultation with Miss Aparna Viswanath
If this sounds like what you are experiencing, my secretary can arrange an appointment at Woodlands Hospital in Darlington.
Request an appointment