Frozen shoulder syndrome or FSS is a condition marked by stages of progressive pain and stiffness in the shoulder which can take months or even years to recover. A cure implies a short course of treatment or single intervention which would eliminate the physiological process of frozen shoulder syndrome or "adhesive capsulitis". A "cure" would also imply an immediate halt to the progression of the stages of FSS. None of the current treatments available for frozen shoulder have met the above criteria, although in my experience a well planned and developed program can hasten the end results a person with this condition desires, that is, return of normal and pain free range of motion. Therefore the term "cure" for the purpose of this article refers to reduction of pain and return of function.

Studies have shown while there is no one single "frozen shoulder cure", there are treatments available to reduce pain and speed return of function when otherwise just resting the affected limb will do little to no good.

WHERE TO BEGIN?

* Start with an accurate diagnosis by a qualified physician, preferably one who specializes in treatments of frozen shoulder or conditions of the upper extremity

* Educate yourself about this condition and try to determine what stage you are in. Education is key in helping you maintain the motivation to continue and to choose the right program or treatment

* Choose programs that are multi-faceted in approach and treat both the painful symptoms and return of function

* Good programs are ones designed by a licensed professional and provide follow up support or answers to your questions

An accurate diagnosis prevents unnecessary treatments, wasted time and carries with it the benefit of finally knowing why your shoulder hurts. I have seen numerous clients who self-diagnosed a frozen shoulder, put themselves through unnecessary injections and exercise only to find that the problem was coming from the neck (yes, you can have pain in the shoulder which is coming from a compressed nerve in the neck).

Education begins by asking questions. Never take your doctor's word or anyone's word for that matter as the "gospel" without probing a little further and asking what that strange word the doctor said means, and/or why you are getting the treatment you are getting. If you are seeing a doctor you are unfamiliar with, it doesn't hurt to as what his/her medical specialty is (if it's not obvious). In these days of Medicare cuts and changes the specialists are starting to branch out and see more diagnoses outside their specialty. If you decide to educate yourself via the internet, make sure you are familiar with the medical terminology within your diagnosis or otherwise your frozen shoulder "cure" you find on the web can turn out to be harmful or ineffective.

Decreasing the painful symptoms of a frozen shoulder is generally the primary criteria sufferers look for in any treatment or treatment procedure for frozen shoulder syndrome. Most treatments that focus only on relief of symptoms are doing nothing to actually "heal" this condition and warrant a closer look. While there are some products that have their place in short term symptom relief, a quality multi-faceted treatment or program will address return of range of motion and function and include exercises that accomplish this.

There is plenty of web sites with scholarly and well-meaning information about treatment of frozen shoulder syndrome, but give me a program designed by a professional that has his/her hands in it every single day! In this day and age everyone specializes and it is these specialists who truly know what works and what doesn't by virtue of having treated hundreds of cases of their specialty. In addition, internet based programs should provide some sort of follow up support (email, forum, etc...) for patient questions and answers.

The above four tips should be the starting point for any patient with FSS as this is a complex condition and cannot be approaced half heartedly. With persistence, patience, and due diligence however, most sufferers can eventually find their frozen shoulder "cure".