Adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder: What helps?

I have been going to physical therapy with my local primary care physician's order. PT has really helped.

A couple of decades ago I experienced adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder.) It was very painful and long lasting. Then recently, I had it again in the same shoulder. (That's rare, I'm told.) However, this time I used a TENS unit, which I learned about on this site. It worked for me, and I'm again pain free. In my shoulder, at least. 🙂 Best wishes.

Can I ask for more details on how you used the tens machine? For example, did you use it multiple times in a day and where did you place the pads when you were using it. I have used it a couple of times, but it didn’t seem to help much with pain. Wondering if it takes several days for the muscles to respond.

I too am going to Pt for frozen shoulder
My mobility is slowly increasing

I'd advise anyone using this to first take time to carefully read the manual directions for procedures and for warnings as to which areas to safely use it on and which people shouldn't use it at all. I would NOT expect it to immediately eliminate pain as an aspirin might do for a headache. To answer your questions, I used two pads on the sides of my shoulder twice a day. Sorry, but I don't recall exactly how many days I used it. Might have been a week or more. However many, it was worth it! Best wishes.

Hello all. I would love to chat with others that are experiencing severe frozen shoulder. I have now developed it post surgery and am having a really rough time . It’s been 4 months now and could really use some advice/talk therapy with others that are going through it as well .

Sorry to come late to this conversation. I had what my GP ( UK) told me was frozen shoulder.I was a Psych nurse working with elderly many of which were non weight bearing and back in those days we had no hoists. After 10 yrs of suffering and still working my GP told me "you will have to change your career and learn to live with it".At which I answered "then I don't want to live with it anymore" and burst into tears. I couldn't lift my arm but as long as I kept my arm to my side or lifted it bringing it round in a semi circle in front of me I could still work. At my sudden tears he decided to send me to see an ortho surgeon. The surgeon told me as he walked into his office while I sat waiting " I am 90% sure I know what it is before we even MRI it and I can make you 99% pain free. I had a small build up of calcium that he removed and 6 weeks later I could lift my arm. I have since had the other shoulder done and the 1st one redone yrs later. I still suffer with a small amount of pain in and around that 1st one and I'm SURE if my GP had listened to me and sent me to see the surgeon sooner I wouldn't still have that residual pain. I think we have to be our own advocate and pressure Dr's to do more

I have it in my left shoulder going on 6 months now (I theorized that it was brought on by a flu vaccine because that’s when it started). I had it in right shoulder back in 2009, and it took what felt like forever to heal. My doctor says I didn’t have a flu shot that year. Back then I went to a physical therapist. Now it’s not as convenient so I haven’t resorted to that yet. Plus my doctor advised that physical therapy is best done during the frozen phase. I’ve tried Advil, Tylenol, Alieve for pain and none seem to help. I’ve used a TENS machine with mixed results. The latest and most effective thing I’ve tried for pain is topical. It’s a roll on lotion called Arnicare. They also make cream. I’m guessing other pain creams like Aspercream or Biofreeze might be just as effective but haven’t tried them yet. My biggest complaint is getting quality sleep (I have always slept on my left side). Arnicare has helped with that.

Good luck! Frozen shoulder is NOT fun!!!!

Hi @heather47 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Glad you found us. You will see that I did move your post to a long standing discussion on Frozen Shoulder. I did this so you can connect with members like @anniebrook, @drt, @deanna2, @collierga and @auntieoakley, who was the first person to start this post.
What type of treatments have you tried so far?

Physical therapy only
I have no pain just limited mobility
My PT is great she actually noticed shoulder when I was there for hip pain