Adhesive capsulitis symptoms
Adhesive capsulitis occurs when the shoulder capsule thickens, preventing full range of motion. Thick bands of tissue called “adhesions” develop around the capsule, and in many cases, patients experience a loss of synovial fluid in the joint. The primary symptoms of frozen shoulder include severe pain and loss of mobility in the shoulder.
Frozen shoulder develops in three stages: freezing, frozen, and thawing. The freezing stage can last anywhere from six weeks to nine months, and is characterized by gradually increasing pain and decreasing range of motion. When the shoulder is “frozen” (a period that typically lasts from four to six months), patients tend to experience more stiffness than pain, and may have trouble performing daily activities. Finally, the thawing stage sees a gradual return to normalcy over the course of six months to two years.
The most common symptoms of adhesive capsulitis include:
- Pain in the shoulder
- Stiffness in the shoulder
- Inability to move the shoulder, even with assistance
Source:
OrthoInfo