Women’s Health: Women’s Health Experts Say This Common Menopause-Linked Condition Can Make Everyday Movements Painful

Women’s Health recently interviewed Natasha Trentacosta, MD, a sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, about frozen shoulder, a painful condition that can severely limit shoulder movement but often improves with early treatment.

Also known as adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder is surprisingly common, affecting up to 1 in 20 people during their lifetime. While the exact cause is not known, it most often affects women between 40 and 60—an age range that overlaps with menopause. Experts believe hormonal changes during menopause may play a role.

Trentacosta told Women’s Health that the condition causes the shoulder joint’s range of motion to become increasingly limited over time, and discomfort can be severe.

“Frozen shoulder can be one of the most painful shoulder conditions I see in the office,” she said.

Trentacosta told Women’s Health that inflammation of the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint causes tissue to thicken and tighten, leading to stiffness, pain and reduced mobility. She said that anyone experiencing symptoms should seek medical evaluation, ideally by a sports medicine physician or orthopedic surgeon.

“A plan of treatment can be developed that may include a combination of physical therapy, possible oral medication, and possible injections to the shoulder,” she said, adding that managing underlying health conditions such as diabetes or hypothyroidism—also thought to be linked to frozen shoulder—can help.

Above all, she emphasized that acting quickly makes a difference.

“Early intervention is important to decrease the length of course of the disease,” she said.

Frozen shoulder typically improves within 18 to 24 months, although some people experience lingering pain or stiffness for longer.

Read the complete article from Women’s Health.