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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staff
Most frozen shoulder treatment involves controlling shoulder pain and preserving as much range of motion in the shoulder as possible.
Medications
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These medications may help relieve pain and inflammation associated with frozen shoulder. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) also may be effective for pain relief.
- Corticosteroids. Injecting these anti-inflammatory medications into your shoulder joint may help decrease pain and shorten symptom duration during the initial painful phase. Repeated corticosteroid injections aren't recommended.
Therapy
A physical therapist can teach you exercises to help maintain as much mobility in your shoulder as possible, without stressing your shoulder to the point of causing a lot of pain.
Surgical and other procedures
- Distension. Injecting sterile water into the joint capsule can help stretch the tissue and make it easier to move the joint.
- Shoulder manipulation. In this procedure, you're given general anesthesia and then the doctor moves your shoulder joint in ways that help loosen the tightened tissue.
- Surgery. In a small number of cases, especially if your symptoms don't improve despite other measures, surgery may be an option to remove scar tissue and adhesions from inside your shoulder joint. Doctors usually perform this surgery arthroscopically, with a lighted, tubular instrument inserted through a small incision in your joint.
- Canale ST, et al. Adhesive capsulitis. In: Canale ST, et al. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/118357423-5/797903506/1584/341.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-03329-9..50047-7--cesec41_2408. Accessed Jan. 29, 2009.
- Anderson BC. Frozen shoulder. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 29, 2009.
- Krabik BJ, et al. Adhesive capsulitis. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/118477770-4/798285468/1678/13.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50012-2_144. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- Noble J, et al. Periarticular rheumatic disorders: Shoulder area. In: Noble J, et al. Textbook of Primary Care Medicine. 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2001. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/118477770-6/798316122/959/864.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-00828-3..50139-4--cesec16_4159. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- Neurological tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- An introduction to acupuncture. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/introduction.htm. Accessed Feb. 6, 2009.
- Miller RD. Management of chronic pain: Rehabilitation. In: Miller RD. Miller's Anesthesia. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/119273143-5/0/1255/1.html?tocnode=53060557&fromURL=1.html#4-u1.0-B0-443-06618-3..X5001-4--TOP_1. Accessed Feb. 6, 2009.
- Laskowski ER (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 6, 2009.
