Frozen Shoulder After Surgery? Why It Happens and How We Can Help

Surgery is often an extensive and involved process—and sometimes recovery can present challenges. One of the possible challenges our patients may face is a frozen shoulder after surgery. 

Those with a frozen shoulder can experience extensive pain when moving their shoulder and a limited range of motion. The joint may become stiff and difficult to use.

But don’t worry. If this happens to you, we have effective straightforward solutions to help resolve the issue and restore the full range of motion.

At the Raleigh Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic, we’re experts in minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery. This means you’ll recover faster with less postoperative pain. We’ve also treated many patients who have dealt with the discomfort and inconvenience of a frozen shoulder. The good news is that most resolutions for the condition do not require surgery.

If you are having issues with shoulder pain, we encourage you to schedule an appointment so we can get to the heart of the matter and arrive at a timely and accurate diagnosis to relieve your pain so you can return to the activities you love. 

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what a frozen shoulder is, why a frozen shoulder after surgery can occur and most importantly, how we can help.

What Causes a Frozen Shoulder After a Surgery?

During surgery, your shoulder is kept still and immobile for a long period of time. This immobility may continue throughout your recovery period as well, depending upon your individual case. 

As a result, this can cause connective tissue to tighten, causing the restrictive movement and pain of a frozen shoulder. Postoperative inflammation can also be a contributing factor.

In addition, you’re at greater risk of developing a frozen shoulder if you have underlying chronic health issues like diabetes or thyroid problems.

However, it’s not precisely clear why some people will develop a frozen shoulder after surgery and others won’t.

How to Prevent Frozen Shoulder After an Arm Surgery

The best defense against frozen shoulders is to take steps to prevent it. We give our patients extensive information to help them navigate surgery and recovery to minimize the likelihood of developing frozen shoulder.

Our tips include:

• Precisely follow your physical therapist’s and physician’s instructions after surgery
• Engage in gentle range-of-motion exercises
• Use your shoulder more if it is safely possible

Before you begin any type of exercise or activity to treat frozen shoulder, please speak with one of our orthopedic surgeons in Raleigh. We’ll provide the details you need and let you know which of these will be most effective in preventing frozen shoulder.

Did you know we have our own in-house physical therapy services? This means you not only have a trained team of certified professionals ready to help you, but you have the convenience of having your care and physical therapy all at one location. 

How Is Frozen Shoulder Treated?

The good news is that frozen shoulder will eventually get better over time, and surgery is rarely needed. But be aware that full recovery may take up to three years. 

Fortunately, basic, simple treatments are often enough to control your pain and help restore some of your motion. 

Some of the ways we help our patients overcome frozen shoulder include:

• NSAIDs: These anti-inflammatory medications are vital to reduce the swelling often associated with frozen shoulder.
• Steroid injections: We can inject cortisone directly into the shoulder joint that is causing the problem. 
• Hydrodilatation: During this process, we gently inject sterile fluid into your shoulder joint. This allows it to stretch and expand. This can often provide relief and help improve the range of motion.
• Physical Therapy: We mentioned this earlier, but it remains one of the best ways to help restore motion. If your physical therapist gives you exercises to do at home, be sure to follow the instructions precisely and speak with us if there are any questions. 

What Are the Signs You Might Be Developing a Frozen Shoulder?

Some of the symptoms to watch for include:

• Increasing pain and stiffness in your shoulder
• Limited range of motion
• Shoulder pain that disrupts your sleep
• Limited progress in physical therapy
• Slower recovery after surgery

As active partners in your health care, we’ll help you watch for potential signs that you’re developing frozen shoulder. Early intervention is often key in promoting a successful recovery. 

How We Can Help at the Raleigh Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic

We are keenly aware of the risk of developing frozen shoulder after surgery, an injury or any condition that requires your shoulder to be immobilized for a period of time. That’s why we take a proactive approach to your care. 

We assist you by:

• Providing early diagnosis and evaluation
• Giving proactive information on how to prevent frozen shoulder after surgery
• Implementing pain management strategies
• Providing a physical therapy team to work with you
• Coordinating care across the entire team to ensure you’re getting exactly what you need

Shoulder Discomfort? Joint Pain? Schedule an Appointment to Discover Why We’re One of the Most Well-Respected Orthopedic Practices in the Raleigh Area

Do you have a dull ache that has gradually been getting worse? Perhaps a limited range of motion or joint pain is holding you back. 

Don’t worry: Our leading orthopedic surgeons in Raleigh will help you find relief.

We adopt a conservative approach to medicine; we won’t suggest surgery unless other, nonsurgical methods have not been successful. We invite you to schedule an appointment and free yourself from shoulder pain.