If you’ve noticed your shoulder becoming gradually stiffer, more painful, and harder to move — especially when reaching overhead, turning your arm outward, or reaching behind your back — you could be experiencing a condition commonly known as frozen shoulder.
Frozen shoulder is a broad term used to describe loss of motion in the shoulder. The most common medical cause is adhesive capsulitis, when the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and thickened. This stiffened capsule makes movement difficult and painful.
Why Does Frozen Shoulder Happen?
In many cases, it develops without any clear reason.
However, there are certain known risk factors:
- More common in women
- Diabetes
- Thyroid disease
- Heart disease
It can also develop after an injury — especially those seen in contact sports or repetitive-motion activities like tennis, golf, yardwork, or lifting. Frozen shoulder can also occur when the shoulder has been immobilized for a long time — such as after a fracture, surgery, or other injury where the joint is rested for weeks or months.
The Three Phases of Frozen Shoulder
Adhesive capsulitis doesn’t happen overnight. It progresses in stages — and unfortunately, the full cycle can take 2–3 years or longer.
Phase 1 – Pre-Freezing (Inflammatory)
- Shoulder is very painful
- Range of motion is limited mostly due to pain
- Lasts several months on average
Phase 2 – Freezing
- Pain starts to ease
- True stiffness becomes more noticeable
- Motion becomes more restricted
- Typically lasts 3–9 months
Phase 3 – Thawing
- Slow return of strength, motion, and normal use
- Can last 1–2 years
Treatment Options
Even though the condition can take years to fully resolve, treatment can help reduce symptoms — and in some cases, restore movement sooner.
Common treatment approaches include:
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Physical therapy to improve or maintain range of motion
- Cortisone injections to reduce inflammation
- Minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures to break up scarring, when needed
Get Expert Care for Frozen Shoulder in Seattle
If your shoulder pain isn’t improving or you’ve noticed increasing stiffness and loss of motion, early evaluation matters. Frozen shoulder is easier to manage when addressed sooner rather than later.
Dr. Samuel Koo is a board-certified shoulder surgeon who performed more than 375 shoulder surgeries last year. He offers consultation and treatment for frozen shoulder at our Kirkland office — just a short drive from Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond.
Schedule Your Frozen Shoulder Consultation
To schedule an appointment for frozen shoulder treatment in the Seattle, WA area, contact shoulder surgeon Samuel Koo today. Dr. Koo performed more than 375 shoulder surgeries last year, and he may be able to help you, too. Give our Kirkland office a call at (425) 823-4000 or request an appointment through our secure online form. We’re located just a short drive from Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond.
