Frozen shoulder treatment in Kelantan

What is frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder means the shoulder is painful and stiff for months, sometimes years. The tissue around the shoulder joint becomes inflamed, then tightens and shrinks. The two main symptoms are:

• shoulder pain that can be worse at night and disturb sleep
• stiffness that makes it hard to lift the arm or reach behind your back

It often is not clear why it starts. It can follow an injury or surgery that stopped you moving the arm normally, and it is more common in people with diabetes, so regular diabetes check-ups matter.

Is it really frozen shoulder?

Many shoulder problems look alike. A rotator cuff tendon problem, shoulder impingement, arthritis or a pinched nerve in the neck can all cause shoulder pain. Our doctor and physiotherapist test how far the shoulder moves on its own and when we move it for you, check the tendons and neck, and use musculoskeletal ultrasound when it helps to look at the tendons. Getting this right decides which exercises are safe.

Frozen shoulder is most often seen in middle age. Tell us if you have diabetes, or if you kept the arm still for weeks after a fall or an operation. Your medical history and medicines help us plan treatment safely and decide whether you also need to see your own doctor.

Read more in Malay: frozen shoulder and sakit bahu dan leher.

Physiotherapy for frozen shoulder

Treatment is matched to how painful and how stiff your shoulder is right now:

• Painful stage: gentle movement within comfort, pain relief advice and supporting treatment
• Stiff stage: stretching, manual therapy to the joint and shoulder blade, and strength work
• Recovery: regaining full reach for daily tasks, work and solat

In Pasir Puteh we may add the Super Inductive System (SIS) and High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) to support pain relief. You will also get a short home exercise routine, because daily practice between sessions matters.

How long does recovery take?

Frozen shoulder can take months or years to settle, but the pain and stiffness usually go away eventually. The NHS notes that a course of physiotherapy usually lasts at least 6 weeks, with the number of sessions depending on how quickly the shoulder improves. We will not promise a fixed timeline; we measure your range of movement at visits so you can see where you stand.

At home: do and don't

• Do follow the exercises from your physiotherapist and keep moving the shoulder gently
• Do try a wrapped heat pack on the shoulder for up to 20 minutes
• Don't make up your own strenuous exercises or use gym equipment, which can make the pain worse

About injections

Some doctors offer a steroid injection for frozen shoulder. Jom Physio does not provide injections. If you are thinking about one, discuss it with your own doctor or a specialist; physiotherapy can continue alongside their care.

Where to get treated

Our Pasir Puteh centre in Padang Pak Amat is open every day from 9am to 10.30pm and has the SIS and laser machines. Patients from Kota Bharu, Machang and Tanah Merah can also book assessment, manual therapy and exercise sessions by appointment at Klinik Etika Kota Bharu, Jalan Dusun Muda. One session is RM140 to RM170, and laser is RM225 for 3 sessions; see packages.

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