How Frozen Shoulder Affects You and How We Can Help
Understanding Your Frozen Shoulder Pain
When you experience a frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), you may find significant loss of movement in your shoulder joint in all directions. This condition can severely impact your daily life, as you notice that no matter how you try to move your shoulder—or even when someone else tries to help move it—the motion remains restricted and painful.
How Frozen Shoulder Symptoms Might Affect You
Frozen shoulder often develops gradually, with inflammation leading to thickening and tightening of the tissue surrounding your shoulder joint. You may have initially experienced shoulder pain from tendinitis, bursitis, or a rotator cuff issue that has progressed to the more severe stiffness of frozen shoulder. If you have diabetes, inflammatory arthritis, or have undergone chest or breast surgery, you might be particularly vulnerable to developing frozen shoulder. Extended periods without moving your shoulder can also contribute to this painful condition.
Many patients with frozen shoulder describe increasing difficulty with everyday activities like reaching into cupboards, dressing themselves, or combing their hair. The persistent pain and limited movement associated with frozen shoulder can significantly disrupt your sleep, making it difficult to find a comfortable position at night.
How We Can Help Your Frozen Shoulder
Resolving your frozen shoulder typically requires a comprehensive approach. Dr Paul O’Keefe, your North Melbourne Osteopath, can work with you to develop a personalised treatment plan that may include manual therapy to gently improve your shoulder’s mobility and reduce muscle tension affected by frozen shoulder.
Your recovery journey from frozen shoulder might incorporate several complementary approaches, potentially including anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, or hydrodilatation alongside manual therapy techniques. Many patients with frozen shoulder benefit from a structured programme of rehabilitation that includes ultrasound, electric stimulation, carefully guided stretching, ice therapy, and eventually strengthening exercises once pain has subsided.
Recovery times for frozen shoulder vary based on the severity of your condition, with most patients seeing gradual improvement over weeks or months. Throughout this process, we’ll provide guidance on how to avoid re-injury and protect your shoulder as it heals.
For those experiencing persistent frozen shoulder symptoms despite conservative treatment, we can discuss whether more intensive interventions might be beneficial, such as arthroscopic surgery or manipulation under anaesthetic.
Dr O’Keefe is specifically trained to identify the exact nature of your frozen shoulder and develop a treatment approach tailored to your individual needs, lifestyle and recovery goals.
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For advice regarding Osteopathy for Frozen Shoulder call 9329 7077 or
