Frozen Shoulder
Distinguishing between Frozen Shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) and Rotator Cuff Tear: When You Can't Raise Your Arm - **Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis):** - **Rotator Cuff Tear:**
Is it frozen shoulder, or have I torn a tendon?
- Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis): The shoulder becomes stiff, making it difficult to move in all directions, and even if someone else tries to lift it, it won't budge. Pain at night is common, often causing people to wake up.
- Rotator Cuff Tear: This involves a tear in the tendon, characterized by pain when trying to lift the arm oneself, but it may move when someone else lifts it. If left untreated, the tear can worsen.
These two conditions require different treatments, so it's important to have them differentiated through an examination and ultrasound (and potentially MRI) at an orthopedics clinic.
Source: 질병관리청 국가건강정보포털 · as of 2026-08-13
Frozen shoulder heals with time, but exercise is more effective.
Frozen shoulder typically improves on its own over a period of 1 to 2 years, but if left untreated, it can remain stiff.
- During periods of severe pain, medication and injections can be used to reduce the discomfort.
- Once the pain subsides, stretching exercises (using a towel, reaching for a wall) should be performed consistently to restore range of motion.
- This condition worsens if you avoid using it; continue moving within the limits allowed by your pain.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an injection in my shoulder (bone injection)?
Steroid injections into the joint capsule are an effective treatment for severe pain. However, repeated injections can be harmful to tendons, so the number of injections is limited. It's best to consider injections as a starting point for initiating physical therapy.
I have diabetes, and now I've developed frozen shoulder.
People with diabetes are more likely to develop frozen shoulder and experience it for a longer duration. Blood sugar management is important for shoulder recovery, and blood sugar levels may rise for several days after steroid injections, so please inform your doctor about your diabetes.
Sources for this page
· 질병관리청 국가건강정보포털 (as of 2026-08-13)Last checked: 2026년 8월 13일
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