Frozen Shoulder: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Harsha Moole, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Frozen Shoulder?
An orthopedic doctor, a doctor who treats bone and joint problems, is the usual specialist for frozen shoulder. Physical therapy, a program of guided stretching and exercise, is the main treatment. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, causes pain and stiffness in the shoulder. Over time, the shoulder becomes very hard to move.
The shoulder capsule is the tissue that surrounds the joint. In frozen shoulder, it becomes thick, stiff, and inflamed.
Symptoms
The main symptoms are pain, less motion in the shoulder, and stiffness. The pain is usually dull or aching. It is typically worse early on and when you move your arm. The pain can be worse at night and disturb sleep.
Frozen shoulder develops in three stages:
- Freezing: the pain slowly gets worse and the shoulder loses motion. This stage typically lasts 6 weeks to 9 months.
- Frozen: the pain may improve, but the stiffness stays. This stage lasts 4 to 6 months, and daily activities may be very difficult.
- Thawing: motion slowly improves. A return to normal or close to normal strength and motion typically takes 6 months to 2 years.
Causes and who gets it
The causes are not fully understood. Most of the time there is no clear cause.
Frozen shoulder most commonly affects people between the ages of 40 and 60, and it occurs in women more often than men. It can happen to anyone at any time.
Risk factors include:
- Diabetes. Frozen shoulder occurs much more often in people with diabetes.
- Thyroid problems.
- Hormone changes, such as during menopause.
- A shoulder injury or shoulder surgery.
- Not moving the shoulder for a long time, for example after surgery, a fracture, or another injury.
Parkinson's disease and heart disease are also linked to frozen shoulder.
How doctors diagnose it
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and examine your shoulder. The doctor moves your shoulder in all directions to see if movement is limited. People with frozen shoulder have limited motion both when the doctor moves the arm and when they move it themselves.
You may have x-rays to rule out other problems, such as arthritis. An MRI or ultrasound is not required to diagnose frozen shoulder.
Treatment
Frozen shoulder generally gets better over time without surgery, although it may take up to 3 years. The focus of treatment is to control pain and restore motion and strength through physical therapy. Most people improve with relatively simple treatments.
Common treatments include:
- Pain relievers called NSAIDs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, which reduce pain and swelling.
- Steroid injections. Cortisone, a strong anti-inflammatory medicine, is injected into the shoulder joint.
- Physical therapy, with exercises that help restore motion.
- Hydrodilatation, if other nonsurgical methods do not help. This means gently injecting a large amount of sterile fluid into the shoulder joint to stretch the capsule.
Stronger pain medicine is usually used only for a short time because it can cause side effects. Keeping the shoulder still will make the pain worse, so try to move it gently.
Treating other health problems also matters. For example, better blood sugar control in people with diabetes can help speed recovery.
If therapy and other methods do not work, you and your doctor may talk about surgery. The goal is to stretch and release the stiff joint capsule. The most common methods are manipulation under anesthesia and shoulder arthroscopy. In manipulation, you are put to sleep and the doctor moves the shoulder to stretch or tear the tight tissue. In arthroscopy, the doctor cuts tight parts of the joint capsule through small cuts using pencil-sized tools.
A rare risk of surgery is that the arm can break if the shoulder is moved forcefully. Physical therapy is needed after surgery, and recovery takes 6 weeks to 3 months. Frozen shoulder can come back, though this is uncommon.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if you have shoulder pain and stiffness that does not go away. See a doctor also if the pain is so bad it is hard to move your arm and shoulder.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have chest pain or discomfort lasting two minutes or more, or trouble breathing.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Either can examine your shoulder, order x-rays, help manage related problems such as diabetes, and refer you to an orthopedic doctor or physical therapist.
Common questions
How long does frozen shoulder last?
It can take a long time, up to about 3 years in some people. Most people get better without surgery.
Who is most likely to get frozen shoulder?
People between the ages of 40 and 60 are most likely to get it, and women get it more often than men. People with diabetes are also at higher risk.
Does frozen shoulder go away on its own?
Yes, it generally gets better over time, though it can take a long time. In some people, some stiffness remains even after several years. Physical therapy is the main treatment recommendation.
Do I need surgery for frozen shoulder?
Most people do not. Surgery is discussed only if therapy and other methods do not relieve your symptoms.
Sources
- OrthoInfo (AAOS) - Frozen Shoulder - Adhesive Capsulitis
- MedlinePlus - Frozen shoulder
- NHS - Frozen shoulder
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
