Frozen shoulder is a painful condition for many people but it is the day to day limitations of function that often lead to most frustration.

The condition arises due to inflammation in the joint capsule of the shoulder. The inflammation fluid causes the gristle around the shoulder (called the capsule) to shrink and stick to the underlying bone. This stickiness causes a restricted pattern of movement and produces the typical examination findings in a case of frozen shoulder.

Frozen shoulder is also known as "adhesive capsulitis" - adhesive because of the sticky fluid I mentioned above, and capsulitis because the joint capsule is inflamed. The suffix "-itis" just means inflammation in a medical context. So ... tonsillitis = inflamed tonsils, dermatitis = inflamed skin .... and so on.

 As a doctor with a special interest in frozen shoulder I've seen thousands and thousands of cases - and without doubt the biggest issue for most people is the problem they have getting dressed or undressed.

Getting a jacket on and off is the major concerned - followed shortly thereafter by sorting out the bra if you're a woman.

So - how can you make life easier?

Well, I have two simple tips. They are not panaceas but they certainly make a difference.

Tip number one:  Put the painful arm into your jacket first and then swing it round to get the non frozen shoulder doing all the work. This takes a bit of getting used to but it really does work. There's nothing worse than the sudden sickening stab of pain you get when you forget that your painful shoulder won't allow you a quick exit from your jacket sleeve.

Tip number two: This one is for the ladies - and I suspect many use it instinctively when the shoulder is painful. Fasten your bra in front and then use the pain free arm and shoulder to rotate it round your body until it sits comfortably.

These two tips - for all that they are simple, will really make your life easier and more comfortable. Give them a try if you have a frozen shoulder problem.

 Sleeping poorly is the other big issue for those with adhesive capusulitis or frozen shoulder.

Every time your roll over in bed onto the affected side the pain will wake you up. This leads to broken sleep, and when you feel more tired the next day it only serves to make the pain in your shoulder harder to cope with.

The best tip I can give to help you sleep more comfortably with a frozen shoulder is to use an extra pillow .... no .... not for your head, but beneath your shoulder on the affected side. This serves two purposes - it supports and comforts the stiff and painful joint but it also serves to prevent you rolling back onto the affected side. It's a very simple technique but surprisingly effective and most people find it a real "life saver." 

Local heat applied to the shoudler before you go to bed will also help in most cases. You can do this with a heat lamp, or with a rubbing oil or just very simply with a hot water bottle.

I hope these simple remedies help.

You can read a lot more about frozen shoulder here.

Remember - all cases of frozen shoulder do eventually get better - so stick with it and try not to get too depressed.