Adhesive capsulitis ("frozen shoulder")

Adhesive capsulitis ("frozen shoulder") - inflammatory condition involving the soft tissue surrounding the ball and socket shoulder joint. Trauma, prolonged immobilization, overuse, or surgery can lead to this condition.

Middle aged women, diabetics, or post-surgical heart patients are most commonly affected. Signs/symptoms include pain with shoulder motion, loss of shoulder motion and function, and swelling. The characteristic cycle includes inflammation >> pain >> limited use of shoulder >> stiffness >> pain > etc.

Treatment

Treatment is generally conservative or nonsurgical and includes reversing the cycle of the inflammation and pain to restore motion. It includes selective narcotic pain medicines, anti-inflammatory medicines, aggressive physical therapy to restore range of shoulder motion, and selective steroid injections. Recovery can sometimes take up to several years.

Surgery

Surgical treatment is reserved for failure of conservative treatment and includes manipulation of the shoulder joint under anesthesia or arthroscopic release of the soft tissue surrounding the ball and socket shoulder joint.