Frozen Shoulder: When You Can't Lift Your Arm or Reach Behind Your Back
It started as a small ache. Now you can't reach your back pocket, fasten your bra or comb the back of your hair. Lying on that side at night wakes you up. And every week the shoulder seems to move a little less. This could be a frozen shoulder.
What is a frozen shoulder?
The shoulder joint sits inside a soft bag of tissue. In a frozen shoulder, that bag becomes inflamed, then thick and tight, so the joint can't move freely. It's most common between ages 40 and 60, more common in women, and seen more often in people with diabetes or thyroid problems. Often there's no injury at all.
The three stages
- Freezing: pain builds up, especially at night, and movement starts to drop.
- Frozen: pain may ease, but the shoulder stays very stiff.
- Thawing: movement slowly returns.
Left alone, this can take one to three years. With the right care, many people get relief and movement back sooner.
Is it frozen shoulder or something else?
If your shoulder hurts when lifting but someone else can still move your arm fully for you, it may be a tendon problem instead. Read Shoulder Pain When Lifting Your Arm? A proper check tells the two apart.
How we treat it at Katasi Physiotherapy
In the painful stage, we focus on calming pain with gentle hands-on treatment, heat and easy movements, without forcing the joint. As pain settles, we add stretches and strength work to win back reach and rotation. You get a short home routine, because little and often works best for a stiff shoulder. If your doctor suggests an injection, we work alongside them.
Book in Westlands
Don't wait a year for your shoulder to "thaw." Visit Katasi Physiotherapy at Kerai Office, Mogotio Road off Muthithi Road, Westlands. Call or WhatsApp 0705 717 353 to book.