Are you suffering from a frozen shoulder? This painful condition can impact one of your most versatile joints, making everyday tasks seem impossible. Let’s discuss how you can thaw your frozen shoulder and return to normal activities.
Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition where the shoulder tissue thickens causing stiffness, pain, and, joint immobility. This condition appears in three stages, the freezing stage, the frozen stage, and the thawing stage. During the freezing stage, symptoms will appear and you will notice a gradual worsening of your stiffness and pain. During the frozen stage, your pain will likely lessen but your shoulder will be extremely stiff and seemingly impossible to move. During the thawing stage, you will gradually begin to regain mobility and function in your shoulder.
How Do You Encourage Your Frozen Shoulder to Thaw?
Most physicians will recommend conservative treatments to combat pain and increase mobility such as anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, or corticosteroid injections. In addition to these treatments, patients can take measures into their own hands to speed up the thawing process. Follow these tips and tricks to help thaw your shoulder:
- RICE Method: The RICE method involves rest, icing, compression, and elevation of the shoulder joint to encourage healing and manage pain.
- Shoulder Massages: Gentle massages for your frozen shoulder can relax your muscles, alleviate discomfort, and increase blood flow to encourage healing.
- Pain Management: Over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medications can help reduce swelling and alleviate shoulder pain.
- Targeted Exercises: As you regain mobility in your shoulder, practicing targeted exercises that can be done at home is a great way to encourage your shoulder to thaw out. Try different exercises like the towel stretch, pendulum stretch, finger walk, cross-body reach, and armpit stretch to regain movement.1
By using these tips, your frozen shoulder will thaw out in no time. For more guidance on treating a frozen shoulder or other conditions of your upper extremity, contact Dr. Jason Shrouder-Henry for his expert advice today!
AUTHOR: Jason Shrouder-Henry MD, MBA is a Board Certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder throughout Chicagoland.