What is frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder is a common condition causing painful restriction of movement in the shoulder. It is caused by inflammation of the lining of the shoulder joint, and although it can come on after a minor injury to the shoulder such as a trip or a fall, it frequently develops spontaneously.

What are the main symptoms to look out for?

Although shoulder pain is one of the most frequent reasons for patients to consult their GP with a musculoskeletal problem, what sets frozen shoulder apart from most other diagnoses is that the shoulder becomes stiff. Other common symptoms are a sudden severe exacerbation of the pain if something pulls on the arm e.g. dog on lead or child holding your hand.

What is the treatment?

Thankfully, frozen shoulder is a simple condition to treat once the correct diagnosis is made. Often a MRI scan is undertaken to confirm the diagnosis. Successful resolution of the painful and stiff symptoms is quickly brought about by an injection into the shoulder called ‘hydrodilatation’ or, in resistant cases, by a minor keyhole procedure. The good news is that once you have recovered from frozen shoulder, you can’t get it again!

Book an appointment with Mr Peach here or call 0161 447 6888.