A frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a condition in which the capsule around the shoulder joint becomes inflamed, thickened and tight, causing pain and a gradual loss of movement. Reaching overhead, behind the back or across the body becomes difficult.
A frozen shoulder usually improves with time and non-surgical treatment, such as pain relief, physiotherapy and, in some cases, a steroid injection. A procedure is considered only when the shoulder remains very stiff and painful despite several months of proper treatment.
At PMG Hospital, Gota, frozen shoulder is treated without surgery and, when needed, arthroscopic capsular release. This page explains the condition, its phases, the link with diabetes, treatment options, recovery, risks and cost factors.
What Is a Frozen Shoulder?
In a frozen shoulder, the capsule of the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and then thickened and tight. It most often affects people between 40 and 60 years of age and is more common in women. It is much more common in people with diabetes and is also linked with thyroid disorders. It can also follow a shoulder injury, surgery, or a period when the arm was kept still.
In many people, it starts without any clear injury. Because the stiffness is caused by a tight capsule, both the movements that the patient makes and the movements that someone else makes with the arm are reduced.
Related pages: Rotator cuff repair·Shoulder bursitis·Arthroscopy
The Phases of a Frozen Shoulder
| Phase | What happens | Usual length |
|---|---|---|
| Freezing (painful) phase | Increasing pain, often worse at night; movement starts to reduce | Several weeks to several months |
| Frozen (stiff) phase | Pain may ease, but stiffness is marked | Several months |
| Thawing (recovery) phase | Movement gradually returns | Several months to two years or more |
The phases often overlap, and their length varies from person to person. The whole course often takes one to three years, and it can be longer, especially in people with diabetes. Most people improve with time, but some are left with mild stiffness for several years.
Symptoms, and How It Differs from a Rotator Cuff Tear
- A deep, aching pain in the shoulder, often worse at night
- Gradually increasing stiffness, first when reaching overhead or turning the arm outward, then when reaching behind the back
- Difficulty with daily tasks such as dressing, fastening a seatbelt or combing the hair
| Frozen shoulder | Rotator cuff tear | |
|---|---|---|
| Main problem | A thickened, tight joint capsule | A torn tendon |
| Movement | Both active movement (by the patient) and passive movement (by someone else) are reduced | Active movement may be weak or painful, but passive movement is usually preserved |
| Onset | Often no clear injury | Often after a fall, lifting or age-related wear |
| Main complaint | Stiffness and pain | Weakness and pain |
Frozen Shoulder and Diabetes
People with diabetes are much more likely to develop a frozen shoulder, and it is often more severe, longer-lasting and more likely to affect both sides. A frozen shoulder can sometimes be the first sign that leads to a diagnosis of diabetes. Good blood sugar control is important for general health and before any injection or procedure, and blood sugar should be monitored after a steroid injection, which can raise it for a few days.
Assessment Before Treatment
A frozen shoulder doctor in Ahmedabad - an orthopaedic surgeon - assesses the shoulder before advising treatment:
- 1History and examination: pain, the range of active and passive movement, strength, and the neck
- 2X-rays: to rule out other causes of a stiff shoulder, such as arthritis, calcium deposits in a tendon, or a missed dislocation towards the back of the shoulder
- 3Blood tests: blood sugar and thyroid tests, when needed
- 4Ultrasound or MRI: in selected cases, when another problem, such as a rotator cuff tear, is suspected
Frozen Shoulder Treatment in Ahmedabad
| Treatment | What it involves | When it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Pain relief and physiotherapy | Pain-relief medicines as advised by a doctor, and gentle stretching and exercises, progressed as pain allows | For almost everyone |
| Steroid injection | An injection into the shoulder joint to reduce pain and inflammation | Especially in the early painful phase |
| Hydrodilatation | Fluid, often with a steroid, is injected under image guidance to stretch the capsule | Selected patients with marked stiffness |
| Manipulation under anaesthesia | The shoulder is moved gently through its range while the patient is under anaesthesia | A shoulder that remains very stiff despite months of treatment |
| Arthroscopic capsular release | The tight capsule is released through keyhole surgery | A shoulder that remains very stiff and painful despite months of treatment |
A large UK trial of people referred to hospital compared three treatments: early structured physiotherapy with a steroid injection, manipulation under anaesthesia, and arthroscopic capsular release. All three improved most patients, and no treatment was clearly better; capsular release had more serious complications and the highest cost. Physiotherapy is part of every treatment, because exercise maintains the movement gained.
Source: Rangan A et al. The Lancet. 2020;396:977–989.
A frozen shoulder treatment hospital in Ahmedabad should provide physiotherapy and injections as well as surgery, because a frozen shoulder usually improves without an operation.
Frozen Shoulder Surgery in Ahmedabad: Step by Step
The main steps are similar in any frozen shoulder surgery hospital in Ahmedabad:
- 1Anaesthesia: usually general anaesthesia, often with a nerve block in the neck that numbs the shoulder and arm for pain relief after surgery
- 2Arthroscopy: small cuts are made around the shoulder, and the joint is inspected with a camera
- 3Release: the thickened, tight capsule is released with fine instruments
- 4Gentle movement: the shoulder is moved gently through its range
- 5Closure and early physiotherapy: the cuts are closed, and physiotherapy starts soon after surgery to maintain the movement gained
Recovery
After capsular release or manipulation, physiotherapy starts soon after the procedure, usually within a day or two, and continues regularly. Movement often improves within the first few weeks, with further gains over about three to six months. Regular exercises at home are an essential part of recovery. After non-surgical treatment, improvement is usually gradual over months.
Risks and Possible Complications
Procedures for a frozen shoulder carry risks. The surgeon explains these before taking consent.
- Stiffness that returns, which may need further treatment
- After manipulation: fracture of the upper arm bone, dislocation or a rotator cuff tear, which are uncommon but more likely in older people with weaker bone
- After capsular release: infection, and injury to nerves or blood vessels, which are rare
- After a steroid injection: a temporary rise in blood sugar, and rarely infection
- Anaesthesia-related and general medical risks, including temporary numbness of the arm after a nerve block; the nerve block in the neck can also weaken the breathing muscle on that side for some hours, so tell the anaesthetist if you have lung disease
Frozen Shoulder Hospital in Ahmedabad
When choosing a frozen shoulder hospital in Ahmedabad, check that the treating surgeon is a qualified orthopaedic surgeon with valid medical council registration, that the hospital regularly treats this condition and performs the procedures described, how infection is prevented, which injections, procedures and tests are available, what physiotherapy and follow-up are provided, and what the written estimate includes.
Look beyond general phrases such as "a frozen shoulder hospital with modern facilities" and ask which facilities are actually available on site.
Frozen Shoulder Treatment Cost in Ahmedabad
- The treatment needed, such as physiotherapy, injections, hydrodilatation, manipulation under anaesthesia or arthroscopic capsular release
- The type of anaesthesia
- Length of hospital stay and room category
- The course of physiotherapy and follow-up
A written, itemised estimate can be requested from the hospital after assessment.
Insurance
- Medically necessary treatment for a frozen shoulder is generally covered under health insurance policies, subject to policy terms, waiting periods and insurer approval
- Some policies have limits on room rent or implant costs; check these with your insurer before surgery
- Ask the hospital whether cashless treatment is available with your insurer, and which documents are needed
Frozen Shoulder Doctor in Ahmedabad
A frozen shoulder is diagnosed and treated by an orthopaedic surgeon, while a physiotherapist guides most of the day-to-day treatment. A family physician often sees the patient first, and other doctors help when diabetes, a thyroid disorder or a procedure is involved:
| Doctor or therapist | Role in frozen shoulder care |
|---|---|
| Family physician | First assessment of shoulder pain; checks blood sugar and thyroid function, and refers to an orthopaedic surgeon |
| Orthopaedic surgeon | Confirms the diagnosis, rules out other causes of a stiff shoulder, plans treatment, and gives injections or performs manipulation or capsular release when needed |
| Physiotherapist | Teaches and progresses stretching and exercises at every phase |
| Radiologist | Reports X-rays, ultrasound or MRI, and may give image-guided injections or hydrodilatation |
| Physician or endocrinologist | Helps control diabetes or a thyroid disorder |
| Anaesthetist | Checks fitness for a procedure and gives the anaesthesia and nerve block |
Frozen Shoulder Treatment Doctor in Ahmedabad
A frozen shoulder is usually treated without an operation, so the first discussion with a frozen shoulder treatment doctor in Ahmedabad is usually about pain relief, exercises and injections. These questions can help you understand the plan:
- Which phase of frozen shoulder am I in, and how does that change the treatment?
- Have other causes of a stiff shoulder, such as arthritis or a rotator cuff tear, been ruled out?
- Which exercises should I do at home, how often, and how much discomfort is acceptable while stretching?
- How many physiotherapy sessions are planned, and how will progress be measured?
- Is a steroid injection or hydrodilatation suitable for me, and how should my blood sugar be checked afterwards?
- After how many months without improvement would manipulation or capsular release be discussed?
- How can I sleep more comfortably while the shoulder is painful?
- Which signs mean I should come back before the planned follow-up?
Frozen Shoulder Surgery Hospital in Ahmedabad
Only a small number of people with a frozen shoulder need a procedure. When one is needed, the hospital should be able to give anaesthesia safely, perform keyhole surgery and start physiotherapy soon afterwards. These are the facilities that matter most:
| Facility | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Physiotherapy on site | Stretching starts within a day or two of a procedure and continues for months |
| X-ray, with access to ultrasound or MRI | Rules out other causes of a stiff shoulder |
| Image-guided injections | Used for hydrodilatation and some steroid injections |
| Operation theatre for shoulder arthroscopy | Needed for capsular release, with strict infection control |
| Anaesthesia services, including nerve blocks | Allow safe anaesthesia and pain relief after the procedure |
| Blood sugar monitoring | Diabetes is common in people with a frozen shoulder, and steroids can raise blood sugar |
The facilities available at PMG Hospital are listed further below on this page.
Treating Surgeon
At PMG Hospital, frozen shoulder treatment, including arthroscopic capsular release, is performed by:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Dr. Hiren Patel |
| Qualification | MS (Ortho), B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad |
| Specialty | Orthopaedics |
| Designation | Director & Head Joint Replacement Surgeon, PMG Hospital |
| Registration status | Registered Medical Practitioner |
| Registration number | Gujarat Medical Council Reg. No. G-20583 |
| OPD availability | Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM |
Facilities at PMG Hospital
- Orthopaedic OPD, Monday to Saturday
- Emergency and trauma care, 24×7
- Orthopaedic physiotherapy centre
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I see a doctor about a stiff shoulder?
See an orthopaedic surgeon if your shoulder becomes increasingly painful and stiff, with night pain and difficulty reaching overhead, behind your back or across your body, especially if you have diabetes or a thyroid condition. An assessment also checks for other causes of a stiff shoulder, such as arthritis or a missed dislocation.
How long does a frozen shoulder last?
A frozen shoulder usually passes through a painful phase, a stiff phase and a recovery (thawing) phase. The whole course often takes one to three years, and it can be longer, especially in people with diabetes. Most people improve with time, but some are left with mild stiffness for several years.
Do I need surgery for a frozen shoulder?
Usually not. Most people improve with pain relief, physiotherapy and, in some cases, a steroid injection. Procedures such as hydrodilatation, manipulation under anaesthesia or arthroscopic capsular release are considered when the shoulder remains very stiff and painful despite several months of proper non-surgical treatment.
Why is frozen shoulder more common in people with diabetes?
People with diabetes are much more likely to develop a frozen shoulder, and it is often more severe, longer-lasting and more likely to affect both sides. The exact reason is not fully understood. Good blood sugar control is important for general health, and blood sugar should be monitored after a steroid injection, which can raise it for a few days.
How is a frozen shoulder different from a rotator cuff tear?
In a frozen shoulder, the arm cannot be moved fully either by the patient or by someone else, because the joint capsule is tight. In a rotator cuff tear, the patient may not be able to lift the arm because of weakness or pain, but someone else can usually move it.
Does a steroid injection help a frozen shoulder?
A steroid injection into the shoulder joint can reduce pain, especially in the early painful phase, and make physiotherapy easier. The benefit is usually short to medium term, and it works better when combined with an exercise programme.
What is arthroscopic capsular release?
It is keyhole surgery in which the tight joint capsule is released through small cuts, and the shoulder is then moved gently through its range. Physiotherapy starts soon afterwards to maintain the movement gained. It is considered only when the shoulder remains very stiff and painful despite several months of treatment.
What facilities should a hospital have for frozen shoulder treatment?
It should provide physiotherapy, image-guided injections when needed, and, for the few patients who need a procedure, an operation theatre suitable for shoulder arthroscopy with strict infection-control practices and anaesthesia services including nerve blocks.
What decides the cost of frozen shoulder treatment?
The cost depends on the treatment needed, such as physiotherapy, injections, hydrodilatation, manipulation under anaesthesia or arthroscopic capsular release, the type of anaesthesia, the length of hospital stay, room category and the course of physiotherapy. A written, itemised estimate can be requested from the hospital after assessment.
Contact and Location
PMG Hospital
3rd Floor, Athena Avenue, B/H Jaguar Showroom, Nr. Eulogia Inn Hotel, Gota, Ahmedabad, India
- Phone / WhatsApp:
- +91 96627 70141
- OPD:
- Mon – Sat · 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Emergency and trauma care:
- 24×7