“What does it feel like when frozen shoulder unfreezes?”

Frozen shoulder typically goes through a cycle that lasts 9 months to a year. Once the problem resolves, ideally things go back to normal. Rehab may speed the process along. Also, rule out thyroid problems, as that is an independent risk factor for frozen shoulders. There is some evidence that diabetes may also be a risk factor, so keep that in mind.

Relief and increased mobility!

Frozen shoulder is really a misnomer it does not feel like it is cold... A rusted shoulder would probably more descriptive. As you gradually increase range of motion and strength your pain will gradually decrease it takes approximately 10 months to 12 months to address a frozen shoulder.

There should be increased freedom of motion, increased blood flow, relaxed skeletal muscularity, decreased pain from bursitis, and nerve irritation. To obtain this type of relief, the correct treatment must be ascertained and ALL parameters must be met.

This is one of the diagnosis I personally like to work with Physical Therapy on. You have to work on manipulating the joint and breaking down the adhesions for proper range of motion. When frozen shoulder unfreezes you get less pain, more range of motion, less compensation of guarding muscles, and mental stability.

Hi there!
Adhesive Capsulitis (aka frozen shoulder) often times resolves on its own but faster with soft tissue treatment and rehab and is HIGHKY correlated to Type II diabetes. The capsule doesn't always just "release" as much as it loosens over time. There still may be pain at end range after an inflammatory episode but in general, if it has calmed down, you will notice more range of motion and less pain. There is no magic "release". I hope this helps!

From what I have experienced from my patients and how the patients described it, "it feel's like the arm is initially dislocated and then there is a rush of circulation in the area."

Typically it means that the shoulder is pain free and the range of motion is back to normal

*Hello 39-year-old female hears what happens: **The shoulder stiffness lessens, and your range of motion increases*. However, some of your shoulder pain may remain, and a full range of motion may not be achieved without proper treatment. A shoulder could take anywhere from six months to two years to unfreeze on its own if ever. You got questions, I got answers.

When the shoulder of a patient with frozen shoulder unfreezes there is a feeling of relief and there should be a lot more mobility and stability. All ranges of motion active and/or passive should be normal or close to normal without pain. 

You can move your shoulder without pain and have full range of motion.

Technically, “frozen shoulder” is adhesive capsulitis, which is a painful condition that limits the movement of the shoulder. We aren't really sure why adhesive capsulitis occurs. We do know that it's more likely to occur in people who have diabetes or those who recently had to immobilize their shoulder for an extended period, such as after surgery or an arm fracture & people who are over 40, particularly women.

Frozen shoulder may be divided into 3 stages, where each stage can last weeks or months.

1.*Freezing stage*: where the shoulder becomes stiff & is painful to move. The pain may slowly increase or come on fairly rapidly. It may worsen at night. Inability to move the shoulder increases.

2. *Frozen stage*: pain often decreases, but the shoulder stiffness remains. This makes it more difficult to complete daily tasks & activities.

3. *Thawing stage*: pain decreases & shoulder movement slowly improves. In most cases, full or nearly full recovery occurs as normal strength & motion return.

In general, prompt treatment will speed recovery. At our Sports Medicine office, we utilize manipulation, phonophoresis (which combines ultrasound & topical anti-inflammatories. Ultrasound waves help the skin absorb the medication into the underlying tissues), muscle stimulation & dry needling. We ask patients to help at home with heat/ice applications (as appropriate) & range of motion exercises. Many patients will also use NSAIDs to help decrease swelling & pain.

If no progress is made; a steroid injection may be helpful. As a last resort, surgery may be used to cut the tissues in the shoulder to release the tightness. During surgery, swollen or damaged tissue may
also be removed.

Like it did before it froze.