Frozen shoulder is quite a disabling and sometimes severely painful condition that’s commonly managed conservatively .
Frozen shoulder (FS) also called as adhesive capsulitis is a common shoulder condition in which there is adhesion formation of the shoulder joint capsule with a chronic inflammatory response. There is a limitation in range of motion of the shoulder joint.
The “frozen shoulder” was initially called as “periarthritis. There is thickening and contraction of the capsule which becomes adherent to the humeral head” and therefore called as, “adhesive capsulitis.”
Pain, stiffness, and limited function and movement of the glenohumeral joint are the signs and symptoms , which adversely affects the entire upper extremity.
Patients typically describe onset of gradual shoulder pain followed by a progressive loss of motion. The most common range of motion which mostly limited are flexion, abduction, and external rotation.
Idiopathic (“primary”) adhesive capsulitis occurs on its own without a specific cause.
Secondary adhesive capsulitis might occurs after an injury to the shoulder joint or after any surgical procedure of shoulder 


Frozen shoulder may also mimic other clinical syndromes; therefore, it is important to rule out other pathologies and to have an accurate differential diagnosis.
Although the “stiffness stage” is the longest of the stages, adhesive capsulitis reversible in the acute pain stage.
In this condition – your shoulder becomes “frozen” due to pain and stiffness. This condition, is also known as adhesive capsulitis.

 In a normal shoulder, the upper arm, scapula, and collarbone close with the assistance of tendons and muscles called the shoulder capsule. Synovial fluid lubricates the capsule and therefore facilitates the joints for its smooth movement.
In patients with frozen shoulder, the capsule around the joint thickens and becomes tight. Stiff tissues called adhesions develop, and usually, there’s loss of joint play which further restricts the normal ROM. All of this combines to restrict movement in your shoulder joint
 A painful shoulder condition of insidious onset that was related to stiffness and difficulty sleeping on the affected side. There is a marked reduction in forwarding elevation and external rotation, the same condition had already been labeled “peri-arthritis” term “adhesive capsulitis. Although still in use, this newer term is unfortunate since, although a frozen shoulder is related to synovitis and capsule contracture, it’s not related to capsular adhesions. In clinical practice, every patient should not be labeled as Frozen Shoulder. Frozen shoulder is a specific condition that has a gradual onset and requires a management pathway that is completely different from such distinct shoulder conditions as a rotator cuff tear or osteoarthritis


There are three overlapping clinical phases of  adhesive capsulitis:


* Acute/freezing/painful phase: Gradual onset of shoulder pain at rest with sharp pain at end range of motion, and pain with sleep interruption which can last anywhere from 2-9 months. . During this phase, the stiffness of the shoulder is increased. Shoulder becomes increasingly painful, and there is loss of shoulder range of motion.

* Adhesive/frozen/stiffening phase: This stage immediately follows the freezing stage and is usually less painful though the stiffness remains Pain starts to subside, progressive loss of GH motion in capsular pattern. Pain is clear only at extremes of movement. This phase may vary last between 4 to12 months. During this phase, there is stiffness in the shoulder joint and has limited mobility, but the pain is gradually reduced.

* Resolution/thawing phase: This stage is where the shoulder slowly improves with either a complete return to normal or close to normal strength and motion. It’s a self-limiting condition that means shoulder ROM is regained gradually which may last from 4-24 months 

During this phase, patients gradually regain their shoulder range of motion.

* If you’ve got a frozen shoulder, the pain and stiffness it causes may seriously interfere together with your ability to do your activity of daily living, like a dress and bathe, or maybe work. Even once the pain of the frozen shoulder starts to enhance, the shoulder stiffness should be quite limiting. For instance, this condition will restrict you from overhead activities, movement to your side, or across your chest; or from rotating your arm all the way around from front to back. This could make it impossible for you to wash your back or put on sleeves of a jacket or a shirt


However, If we consider according to the development of symptoms, we recommended using 2-stage scheme: early and developed frozen shoulder.
* Freezing (2 to 9 months): Early.
* Frozen (4 to 12 months): Developed.
* Thawing (12 to 42 months): Developed.
Determine what stage you are in.
* Stage 1: “Prefreezing” During stage 1 of its development, it’s going to be difficult to spot your problem as adhesive capsulitis. …
* Stage 2: “Freezing” …
* Stage 3: “Frozen” …
* Stage 4: “Thawing”

 

So to make sure whether you are suffering from Frozen Shoulder or not contact your physical therapist.