Frozen Shoulder Injuries

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Adhesive capsulitis is a condition in which people experience stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. Adhesive capsulitis is also known as frozen shoulder.  Frozen shoulder occurs with the capsule of connective tissue enclosing the shoulder joint tightens and thickens, restricting its movement.

Three Stages

Frozen shoulder usually develops in three stages.

The first is the freezing stage, and it typically lasts from 2-9 months. The shoulder’s ability to move becomes limited and any movement of the shoulder causes pain.

The second stage is the frozen stage, and it lasts from 4-12 months. The pain might lessen, but the shoulder becomes stiffer. It becomes more difficult to use the shoulder.

The third stage is the thawing stage, and it lasts from 5-24 months. Movement of the shoulder begins to improve.

Considering the timeframe of the three stages, symptoms of adhesive capsulitis can persist from 1-3 years. The pain is often worse at night for some people, causing sleep disruptions.

Causes and Workers Compensation

The most common cause of adhesive capsulitis is inflammation (pain and swelling) of the tissues surrounding the shoulder joint.

This may result from a traumatic event or accident, or from keeping your shoulder still for a long period of time, like after surgery or breaking an arm.

If the traumatic event occurred at work, you are likely entitled to workers compensation. In addition, if the frozen shoulder resulted from a previous shoulder injury or broken arm that happened on the job, that should also be covered by workers compensation.

Depending on your job duties, you may not have full use of your shoulder for years. Your employer may need to make accommodations for you. It is important to find an experienced workers compensation attorney to fight for you so that you get the medical treatment and compensation that you are entitled to under Illinois law.

Treatment

Performing range-of-motion exercises is often the course of treatment for adhesive capsulitis. Injections of corticosteroids and numbing medications are common as well. In some occasions, arthroscopic surgery is needed. The purpose is to loosen the joint capsule so that it can move more freely.

If you are suffering from frozen shoulder and your condition was caused by your job activities or an accident at work, please contact us any time. We can point you to an experienced workers compensation attorney who has represented others affected by frozen shoulder and has a track record of success.