“What is a frozen shoulder?” Frozen shoulder is a medical condition that is more popularly known by physicians as adhesive capsulitis. The symptoms of frozen shoulder are very similar to those of arthritis: stiffness and pain. However, arthritis and frozen shoulder are actually two very different conditions.
The symptoms of frozen shoulder can sometimes appear and go away gradually. Other times, they may appear very suddenly and then just be gone one day.
The sticky fluids from the bursa sac can increase in volume when the shoulder is inflamed. When this happens, raising the arm over the head or rotating the shoulder joint can be very difficult. The pain and stiffness caused by the added fluid in the bursa sac, the sticky tissues, and the inflammation in the shoulder joint can all give the patient the feeling that their shoulder is frozen in one place.
While some doctors will still prescribe physical therapy for frozen shoulder, most agree that the condition will resolve itself when rested and given the right amount of time. Physical therapy can sometimes put the patient through unnecessary pain and suffering that may or may not be beneficial in the long run. For this reason, most doctors will leave the patient to heal on their own and treat the frozen shoulder mostly with anti-inflammatories.
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