Do you have persistent shoulder pain and stiffness? Your symptoms could be getting in the way of your daily activities as the condition gradually worsens. What you’re experiencing is called adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder.

Without treatment, shoulder pain from adhesive capsulitis can last for years as your shoulder takes months to go through each of three characteristic stages: freezing, frozen, and thawing. Fortunately, a visit to Spine Correction Center in Fort Collins opens the door to treatment that can drastically reduce your recovery time. Here are the methods we use to thaw a frozen shoulder.

Early Stage Treatment: Relieve Pain

The freezing stage of a frozen shoulder is the most painful. That’s why early treatment focuses on pain relief. When you seek treatment at Spine Correction Center, we’ll almost certainly advise you to avoid movements and activities that cause you pain. However, it’s important not to completely immobilize your shoulder, or healing could take much longer.

NSAIDs

Start with over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen sodium. You can seek prescription strength painkillers if these aren’t enough to deaden the pain. Remember to read the label and follow dosage instructions carefully to reduce the chance of side effects.

Joint Injections

When painkillers can’t control your pain, try a corticosteroid injection at Spine Correction Center. This medicine helps to reduce pain right at the source and improves mobility in your shoulder. Just be aware that the effects are temporary; after three to four weeks, pain and stiffness may return, so it’s important to continue your treatment if you hope to heal fully.

Late Stage Treatment: Restore Range of Motion

As the name suggests, the frozen stage is characterized by stiffness. In this stage, the pain is minimal, but you can’t use your shoulder much. Here are the treatments we use to help speed up the frozen stage and start thawing your frozen shoulder.

Physical Therapy

As mentioned above, it’s important not to immobilize your shoulder, or it could make the stiffness worse. Physical therapy involves gentle stretches designed to thaw a frozen shoulder without doing any further damage. We may start with exercises here at the office, and then we’ll show you how to stretch your shoulder at home to speed up your healing time.

Hot & Cold Therapy

Applying ice packs and hot pads to your frozen shoulder has a therapeutic effect. Ice relieves pain, so you should only use cold therapy when your shoulder is aching. Heat widens blood vessels to increase blood flow to the injured area, reducing stiffness and providing pain relief.

One technique is to apply a warm compress between 145 and 170 degrees to your shoulder. Be sure to wrap the compress in a towel to protect your skin. Hold the heat in place for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Soaking in a warm bath is another relaxing way to thaw a frozen shoulder at home.

Massage Therapy

Manipulating the shoulder can help joint stiffness pass more quickly. You can rub your shoulder yourself or ask a friend to lend a hand, but for the most effective treatment, visit Spine Correction Center for a professional massage from one of our therapists.

Surgery

We do everything we can to treat your condition non-invasively, but if you don’t respond to treatment after six months, your frozen shoulder might require surgery.

Come to Spine Correction Center to Thaw a Frozen Shoulder

Whether you still need to diagnose your shoulder pain, or you’re eager to start a treatment plan that can reduce your pain and restore full range of motion, please contact Spine Correction Center in Fort Collins. We have the treatment methods you need to regain full health.

To schedule your free shoulder pain consultation, please contact us online or call our office at (970) 658-5115 today.