Frozen Shoulder

That distinguishes it from most other shoulder problems, where movement is limited by pain rather than by physical restriction.

The three stages

Frozen shoulder follows a recognisable course, and knowing which stage you are in changes what treatment is appropriate.

Freezing. Increasing pain, movement starting to reduce. Often the most painful stage, including at night.

Frozen. Pain often eases somewhat, but movement is severely restricted. The longest stage for most people.

Thawing. Movement gradually returns.

The whole course typically runs many months and sometimes longer. Treatment appropriate in one stage can aggravate another, which is why assessment matters.

What it feels like

Deep shoulder pain, often worse at night and disturbing sleep. Progressive inability to reach behind your back, overhead, or across your body. Simple things, fastening a bra, reaching a seatbelt, putting on a jacket, become difficult.

Why it happens

Often no clear cause. It is more common in people with diabetes and in certain thyroid conditions, and it can follow a period of shoulder immobility after injury or surgery. It occurs most often between the ages of 40 and 60.

How we treat it

Treatment is matched to the stage. In the painful freezing stage the priority is managing pain and maintaining what movement you have, without forcing. Later, progressive stretching and strengthening restore range.

What to expect

Assessment includes testing movement both actively and passively, the pattern tells us whether this is genuinely frozen shoulder or another shoulder problem.

We will be honest about the timeline. Frozen shoulder is slow, and being told it will resolve quickly sets you up for disappointment.

How long it takes

Longer than almost any other shoulder problem: typically well over a year for the full course, though pain often improves considerably sooner. Treatment can improve comfort and range along the way.