Frozen Shoulder

Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder is a painful, distressing condition that leads to mobility impairment. With typical treatment providing some symptomatic relief while the problem resolves on its own, alternatives may offer a faster resolution. This is why our Glenview, IL, clinic sees many patients complaining of frozen shoulders.  

What is the Main Cause of Frozen Shoulder? 

Frozen shoulder doesn’t always have a defined cause, but tendon inflammation or damage and rotator cuff conditions are common causes. Other frozen shoulder causes include diabetes and metabolic issues, which may be because of systemic inflammation. It is called the “50 year old” shoulder in China and Japan, and is more common in women, too. 

How Do You Know If You Have a Frozen Shoulder?

The symptoms of frozen shoulders develop slowly. You may have compensated for them over several months, believing that it is part of getting older or that the symptoms would quickly be relieved if you just rested. 

Generally, the course of frozen shoulder takes three years from initial onset to resolution. Pain lasts several months and is replaced by stiffness or even immobility after one year, with a gradual restoration of movement taking anywhere up to another two years. Unfortunately, 40% of people still have ongoing symptoms after three years. 

How to Heal Your Frozen Shoulder 

With three years being an unacceptably long time to heal, you don’t want to simply accept what is “normal”. At Health Box Clinic, we offer frozen shoulder treatment including: 

• Manual therapies and exercises can relieve pain and allow for gentle, gradual mobilization of the shoulder joint. 
• Cold laser therapy can soothe inflammation and promote healing of any underlying damage that may have triggered symptom onset
• Shockwave therapy causes tiny cavities of damage in the treated area. This not only leads to repair of the cavities, but the body overcompensates for the damage, so you’ll find yourself feeling better than before. 

Don’t be resigned to a three-year recovery time, especially if you’re still in the early stages of frozen shoulder. Contact Health Box Clinic here or at (847) 724-1777 to book an appointment with Dr. Lev Kipnis, D.N., or Olga Arbitman, D.N.