Health: What is a frozen shoulder?

Also known as stiff shoulder, frozen shoulder involves stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint.

Signs and symptoms usually start slowly and then get worse.

Pain and stiffness in the shoulder can make all activities and sleep difficult.

Deterioration shoulder pain, especially at night, it could mean you have frozen shoulder, says Christopher Camp, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at the Mayo Clinic.

“The scientific name we give it is adhesive capsulitis and, basically, it’s a condition that causes the shoulders to contract and be unable to move,” explains Dr. Camp.

He mentions that frozen shoulder happens when padding that surrounds the shoulder joint it becomes inflamed, probably as a result of a minor injury. Over time, this becomes thicker and forms scar tissue.

“There are three stages of frozen shoulder i symptoms and treatment options depend on the stage you are in. The first stage is inflammation,” he explains.

It’s a painful phase. Rest and injections steroids they can help. The second stage is less painful for the shoulder, but it begins to stiffen. In this case, physical therapy works well.

The third stage is “what we call distension, which means you’re finally starting to relax, soften and regain movement,” he adds.