How long are you on sick leave?
If you have a stiff shoulder, you do not necessarily have to be written off sick or unable to work. However, if the patient is physically demanding or has to carry out work that requires regular and complex movement of the shoulder, then it must be discussed with the attending physician to what extent an incapacity to work can be certified or whether a temporary assignment in other areas of activity can be arranged with the employer. If shoulder stiffness surgery has been performed, then the patient is usually written off as unfit for work for 3 – 4 weeks. Then, depending on the pain, it must be tested how quickly the patient can return to work.
Prophylaxis
Since the cause of the capsule shrinkage or inflammation is not conclusively clarified, no preventive measures can be recommended. Neither can an inflammation of the mutual shoulder be prevented.
Duration
Frozen shoulder usually goes through three phases. Depending on the cause, severity and type of treatment, frozen shoulder will ideally disappear in between 9 and 18 months. If there are additional causes, such as arthrosis or defects in the rotator cuff, healing may be delayed.
In non-ideal cases, it can take several years for the frozen shoulder to heal completely. The first phase, the initial or inflammatory phase, is characterized by pain that also occurs at night and lasts for about 9 – 12 months. In the second phase, also known as the stiffening phase, patients complain of a loss of movement and are often unable to perform everyday tasks and movements.
This phase can last between 4 and 12 months. The last and third phase is called the thawing phase and can last several years in the worst case. It involves the mobility of the shoulder slowly returning.
Good physiotherapeutic treatment is a central component here. There may well be phases in which progress is better or worse. The complete healing process can vary greatly from person to person. Therefore, good cooperation with the doctor and the physiotherapists is important.
