Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulders, also known as “condensed shoulders” or “ice shoulders.” As the name suggests, most patients are around 50 years old, with pain in the shoulders, and the activity is greatly reduced like frozen shoulders. A small number of patients get fifty shoulders due to traumatic sequelae, but generally there is no obvious cause of the disease.

The symptoms are divided into three stages: (1) pain period; (2) coagulation period; (3) ice-dissolving period.

The length of each phase varies greatly and often lasts for 2 to 12 months, so it often gives everyone the illusion not fully recovered.
The disease is generally diagnosed based on medical history and clinical examination. X-rays can be used to exclude other lesions from the shoulder bones, while MRI scans can show changes in soft tissue lesions and sacral shoulders in the shoulder joint, but it is not necessary.

Frozen shoulders can be improved through non-surgical methods, such as anti-inflammatory painkillers, physical therapy, stretching exercises, etc., for up to 9 to 18 months. If the conservative treatment is not ideal, or the symptoms are not improved, the patient may consider having a surgery, such as the use of anesthesia to treat the loose shoulders, or endoscopic lysis.

To prevent frozen shoulders, making a diagnosis early, maintaining proper exercise in the early stages of pain, avoiding fixing joints, and reducing the chance of complicated stiffness are effective.